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Rentista / Digital Nomad Visa ("Nómadas Digitales")

Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa 2026

Costa Rica's digital nomad law (the Law to Attract Remote Workers and Service Providers) is one of the most genuinely nomad-friendly deals in the Americas, and its headline feature is not a beach — it is the tax code. Under Costa Rica's territorial system, foreign-sourced income is exempt from Costa Rican income tax entirely, and the nomad legislation adds perks like duty-free import of your teleworking equipment. The entry bar is modest: prove stable monthly income above $3,000 ($4,000 if you bring family) received outside Costa Rica, hold comprehensive health insurance for the duration of your stay, and pass a background check. The visa runs for one year and can be renewed for a second, with some guides reporting that renewal requires at least six months of in-country presence during the first year. Applications can be filed digitally through the DGME's TrámiteYa platform or in person, and in-country filing is reported as possible — though you should confirm current practice before planning around it. The trade-offs are real: the two-year ceiling makes this a chapter rather than a base, the bureaucracy is Costa Rican in pace, and every document needs translation into Spanish with legalization. But for remote workers who want two tax-light years between the Pacific and the Caribbean, with some of the world's best surf an hour from the capital, the Nómadas Digitales route is the easiest legal long stay Central America offers.

Verified October 8, 2026Official source: Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería — DGME (official portal) ↗Report an error

Costa Rica digital nomad visa for your nationality

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Key facts at a glance

Minimum income

€2,760/month

$3,000/month (about €2,760 at approximate rates); $4,000/month if bringing family — verify with DGME.

Savings required

None set

No savings alternative is published; the monthly foreign-income test is the only financial route.

Maximum stay

Up to 2 years

Renewable

Processing time

2–3 months typical.

Application fee

$100 government fee at filing (paid in colones at the Central Bank rate)

plus a document-issuance fee on acceptance (reported ~$90 — confirm current totals with DGME).

Degree required

No

Income does the filtering

Full requirements

Program
Rentista / Digital Nomad Visa ("Nómadas Digitales")
Minimum income
€2,760 per month ($3,000/month (about €2,760 at approximate rates); $4,000/month if bringing family — verify with DGME.)
Savings
No fixed requirement — No savings alternative is published; the monthly foreign-income test is the only financial route.
Duration & renewal
Up to 2 years. 1 year, renewable for 1 additional year (2 years total).
Processing time
2–3 months typical.
Fees
$100 government fee at filing (paid in colones at the Central Bank rate), plus a document-issuance fee on acceptance (reported ~$90 — confirm current totals with DGME).
Family
Spouse and dependents are included at the higher $4,000/month income bar. Dependents' documents must be legalized or apostilled and translated into Spanish.
Apply from abroad
Yes — File digitally through the DGME's TrámiteYa platform or at a Costa Rican consulate. Applications are decided within a short statutory window, but allow the full typical range.
Apply in country
Yes — In-country applications are reported as possible via the TrámiteYa platform or at immigration offices — confirm current practice with DGME before traveling to file.
Degree / experience
Not required — No degree or experience requirement; the income threshold does the filtering.
Remote work history
Not officially specified — No fixed minimum is published; expect to show 12 months of bank statements proving the income level, with certification.
Health insurance
Required — must be valid for the full stay

Tax notes

The headline feature: Costa Rica's territorial tax system exempts foreign-sourced income from Costa Rican income tax, and the nomad law adds duty-free import of teleworking equipment. Your home-country tax obligations still apply — this exempts you from Costa Rican tax, not from tax generally.

Tax rules are simplified here and change often. Confirm your position with a qualified tax advisor before making decisions.

Frequently asked questions

At least $3,000 per month in stable foreign income for a single applicant (about €2,760 at approximate rates), or $4,000 per month if you bring a spouse or dependents. The income must be received outside Costa Rica — typically proven with 12 months of bank statements plus certification.

Sources & verification

Not legal advice. Visa rules change frequently and consulates interpret them differently. Always verify current requirements with the official consulate or immigration authority before applying.

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