Digital Nomad Visa Guide

---

Frequently asked questions: Costa Rica’s Digital Nomad Visa

What is the Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa?

The Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa allows remote workers, freelancers, and online business owners to live legally in Costa Rica for up to 2 years while earning income from outside the country. It’s faster and simpler to obtain than traditional residency visas, making it one of the most popular options for location-independent workers who want to experience Costa Rica without committing to permanent residency.

What is the income requirement for the Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa?

You must earn at least $3,000 per month if applying as an individual, or $4,000 per month if you’re bringing dependents. All income must come from sources outside Costa Rica — a foreign employer, foreign clients, or an online business with non-Costa Rican customers. The $4,000 threshold applies regardless of how many dependents you include.

What counts as qualifying income for the Digital Nomad Visa?

Qualifying income includes salary from a foreign employer, freelance or consulting income from foreign clients, and revenue from an online business serving customers outside Costa Rica. You’ll need 12 months of bank statements demonstrating consistent income at or above the required threshold, plus a Certified Income Statement produced by a Costa Rican accountant. Income earned from Costa Rican sources does not qualify.

Can I include my spouse and children on my Digital Nomad Visa?

Yes. Your spouse or long-term partner and dependent children under 18 can all be included under your application. Including any dependents raises the income threshold to $4,000/month — but that same $4,000 covers your entire family regardless of how many children you bring. Each dependent needs proof of relationship (apostilled marriage certificate or birth certificate), a valid passport, and qualifying health insurance.

What documents do I need to apply for the Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa?

The core requirements are:

• Valid passport
• 12 months of bank statements showing qualifying income
• Certified Income Statement from a Costa Rican accountant
• Proof of health insurance covering at least $50,000 in medical expenses per applicant
• Proof of Consular Registration
• Spanish translations of required documents by a government-approved Costa Rican translator
• Government application fee payment (~$338 per applicant)

Compared to long-term residency visas, the documentation requirements are relatively light — notably, no apostilled background check or birth certificate is required for the main applicant.

Do I need health insurance to get the Digital Nomad Visa?

Yes. Each applicant — including dependents — must have proof of health insurance covering at least $50,000 in medical expenses for the duration of their stay. This is a hard requirement, not optional. Private international health insurance plans commonly used by expats typically meet this threshold.

How long does it take to get the Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa?

The process has several stages, and timelines vary. Creating your online account and completing the initial “Filiation Procedure” takes up to 2–3 weeks. Once approved, you have 5 days to submit your full application, which can take another 2–8 weeks to be approved. After approval, you have 90 days to complete an in-person appointment in Costa Rica to apply for your DIMEX card, which takes an additional 4–8 weeks to be ready. In total, steps 1 through 3 can take anywhere from 3–12 weeks, making it significantly faster than traditional residency visas.

How much does the Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa cost?

For a single applicant, total costs typically run $1,400–$1,600. Main expenses include the government application fee ($338), a Certified Income Statement from a Costa Rican accountant ($200–$300), document translations ($25–$35 per page), an online submission fee ($13), and the DIMEX card ($20–$30). Document procurement costs vary by country of origin. Families should budget for per-applicant fees for each dependent.

How do I apply for the Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa?

The application is mostly completed online through Costa Rica’s official portal at tramiteya.go.cr. The process has four main stages: creating your account and completing the Filiation Procedure, submitting your full application with documents once approved, completing a final in-person appointment in Costa Rica to obtain your DIMEX card, and then renewing before your card expires. Plan to begin the renewal process 4–6 weeks before your DIMEX expiration date.

Can I work for a Costa Rican company on the Digital Nomad Visa?

No. The Digital Nomad Visa explicitly prohibits employment with Costa Rican employers. You can only earn income from foreign sources — a foreign employer, international clients, or a foreign-facing online business. If you want to work locally or for a Costa Rican company, you would need a different immigration status.

Will I owe Costa Rican income tax on my earnings?

No. One of the most significant benefits of the Digital Nomad Visa is that your foreign income is not subject to Costa Rican income tax. Costa Rica only taxes income earned within the country, so as long as your income originates outside Costa Rica, you won’t owe anything locally. You will still need to file a U.S. tax return and report your worldwide income, though the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion may significantly reduce what you owe.

Does the Digital Nomad Visa lead to permanent residency or citizenship?

No — this is the most important limitation to understand before applying. The Digital Nomad Visa is capped at a maximum stay of 2 years and does not count toward permanent residency or citizenship eligibility. If your plan is to stay in Costa Rica long-term, you’ll need to transition to a traditional residency visa (Pensionado, Rentista, or Inversionista) to start building toward permanent residency and eventual citizenship.

Should I get the Digital Nomad Visa or apply directly for temporary residency?

It depends on your situation. The Digital Nomad Visa makes the most sense if you want to move quickly, aren’t ready to commit long-term, need legal status for an employer, or want time to make an investment or real estate decision before choosing a residency pathway. Traditional temporary residency (Pensionado, Rentista, or Inversionista) takes 8–14 months to process but leads to permanent residency and citizenship. If you’re already certain about staying in Costa Rica long-term and know your visa pathway, you could skip the Digital Nomad Visa and apply for residency directly — though many people use the DNV as a bridge while their residency application is in process.

Can I do border runs instead of getting the Digital Nomad Visa?

Technically, Americans can enter Costa Rica as tourists and stay up to 180 days, then exit and re-enter. Some people do this for short stays. However, frequent border runs create legal uncertainty, can be disruptive for families and pets, and don’t provide the proof of legal status that some remote employers require. The Digital Nomad Visa eliminates all of that uncertainty for a relatively modest cost and effort — making it the better choice for anyone planning to stay more than a few months.

Can I renew the Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa?

Yes, once. The visa is initially granted for 12 months and can be renewed for one additional 12-month period, for a maximum total stay of 2 years. After that, you must either transition to a long-term residency visa or leave Costa Rica. Begin the renewal process 4–6 weeks before your DIMEX card expires to avoid any gap in legal status.

What happens after my Digital Nomad Visa expires?

You have several options. If you’ve decided Costa Rica is right for you, you can apply for a long-term temporary residency visa (Pensionado, Rentista, or Inversionista) — ideally well before your DNV expires, since residency processing takes 8–14 months. Some people begin their residency application while still on their Digital Nomad Visa to minimize any gap. If Costa Rica turns out not to be the right fit, the 2-year window gives you plenty of time to figure that out without having made a long-term commitment.