Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa Guide 2025: Work Remotely in Paradise

Costa Rica is a relatively small country, but it packs incredible diversity into an area roughly the size of West Virginia or Denmark. It has two coastlines, rainforests, cloud forests, and a stunning volcano. This is a place where you can watch turtles nesting on the Pacific Coast and zipline through the misty canopies of a cloud forest, then enjoy incredible food and stunning biodiversity. No wonder it's often considered one of the happiest countries in the world.

With the Costa Rica tourist visa, you can visit Costa Rica and see what makes it so special, but for remote workers who want to stay longer, there is also a Costa Rican Digital Nomad Visa to let you live and work on this island nation and enjoy everything it has to offer at a deeper level.

Let's take a closer look at how you can stay in Costa Rica. We'll guide you through the application process and everything you need for your Digital Nomad Visa application. By the end of the article, you'll learn everything you need to know about Costa Rica's Digital Nomad Visa, and whether you're eligible to live in Costa Rica in the medium to long term.

What is the Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa?

Officially called the 'Stay for Remote Workers and Service Providers', this document allows digital nomad visa holders to perform remote work in the country for up to 12 months. You can also extend the visa for an additional year, meaning you can move to Costa Rica for a total of two years.

The visa allows you to enter and leave Costa Rica as a digital nomad as many times as you want during the 12 month stay. However, remember that if you intend to apply for the Costa Rica digital nomad visa renewal for another 12 months, you must have spent at least 180 days in Costa Rica during your first 12 month visa. You will also need to qualify for the minimum income requirement again.

Being a digital Nomad in Costa Rica is a great option - as long as you are eligible.

Eligibility Requirements

To apply to live and work in Costa Rica, you need:

•  A valid passport from outside of Costa Rica

• A stable monthly income of at least US$3000 (US$4000 if you have dependent family members)

• All your income must come from outside Costa Rica. You can be a freelancer or employed by a company, as long as no one you work for is based in Costa Rica.

  
  

Find A Place To Stay in Costa Rica

How to Apply

Required documents

You will need:

• A valid passport, with at least six months validity left.

• Going to prove your income, such as bank statements or a contract from an employer.

• Proof of health insurance that will cover you for the length of your stay for at least US$50,000.

• A criminal record check from your home country.

• A marriage certificate and birth certificates for any dependent family members.

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These documents will need to be translated into Spanish, Costa Rica's official language.

Apply for Costa Rica's Digital Nomad Visa

You can apply online here.

The website is available in Spanish and in English, and you will need to create an account before you can access the application form. Alternatively, if you are already in Costa Rica on a tourist visa, you can go to an office of the General Directorate of Immigration (DGEM) and fill out a physical form.

The form is a fairly simple one-page document. You will be asked if you are an employee or freelancer, and for your address. You will need to confirm that you make the minimum income required, and you will need to sign the form.

Then, you will either turn in the physical form at the immigration office, or submitted online, along with your documentary proof. You must include:

• A copy of the photo page of your passport.

• A copy of the page in your passport that has your Costa Rican entry stamp, if you are already in the country.

• 12 months of bank statements accompanied by an affidavit declaring that the statements were requested and obtained from your bank. The statements must provide evidence of your income and show that you have been making at least US$3000 per month for the previous year.

• If you can't get an affidavit from your bank, you can get a certification of your bank statements from a public accountant or Notary Public in Costa Rica or in your home country. If you go down that road, you need to get this certification apostilled by the Costa Rican embassy.

• A receipt of payment for your visa application fee.

  
  

Usually, your application will be processed in around 15 days. Once your visa is approved, you will need to go in person to a Migration office for an interview. There, you will need to show your passport, your fee payment receipt, and proof of medical insurance.

Depending on the country you come from, you may also have to pay a security deposit. This is intended to cover the cost if you have to be deported back to your home country, and you should get it back when you leave Costa Rica at the end of your visa.

How Much Does a Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa Cost?

It costs US$100 to apply for the visa. The deposit must be made by a wire transfer to the central bank of Costa Rica, Banco de Costa Rica. The account details are: Account number 001-0242480-0 IBAN CR15015201001024248003

Tax Considerations

Besides its pura vida lifestyle and low cost of living, Costa Rica is an attractive destination for digital nomads because of its tax system. Foreign income is not subject to taxes in Costa Rica. Remember, though, that you will still need to pay whatever taxes your home country charges.

Cost of Living

Along with the lack of taxes for digital nomads and the incredible lifestyle available here, Costa Rica's cost-of-living makes it an attractive place to live and work.

Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the center of the city will cost around US$800-US$900 per month, and closer to $500-$600 outside of the city center. A meal in an expensive restaurant is around US$10, and basic utilities in an apartment will cost you around $100. Budget $50-$60 per month for high-speed Internet.

The average monthly salary in Costa Rica is around US$1000 after tax, so if you are earning the minimum income requirement to get your visa, you're making three times what the average local does.

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Becoming a digital nomad in Costa Rica

There are lots of reasons to consider Costa Rica as your next digital nomad destination. An incredible lifestyle full of natural beauty and great weather almost year-round make this a wonderful place to live. Plus, not having to navigate the local tax system and the ability to renew for an additional year and increase the duration of your stay make this really tempting. The digital nomad visa is available to anyone who meets the minimum income requirements, and the $100 fee to apply is quite reasonable.

Remote workers and service providers are discovering for themselves how much Costa Rica has to offer. If you qualify for the Costa Rica digital nomad visa, it's well worth thinking about what this country has to offer.

Looking for somewhere more historical? A digital nomad visa for Italy lets you explore one of the most desireable countries in the world.