Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa - Rentista and Requirements

What is the Costa Rica digital nomad visa?

Costa Rica has two parallel routes for digital nomads. The first is the dedicated Digital Nomad Visa created by Law 10008 of August 2021 (regulations issued 2022), formally called the Estancia de Trabajador Remoto. It is a 1-year residence permit renewable for one additional year, designed specifically for remote workers earning at least USD 3,000 per month (or USD 4,000 for a family) from a foreign employer or business. The visa is administered by the Direccion General de Migracion y Extranjeria (DGME).

The second route, often preferred by nomads with savings rather than monthly salary, is the older Rentista Visa, which has existed in Costa Rican immigration law for decades. The Rentista requires either USD 2,500 per month of guaranteed income (proven via a 2-year bank guarantee or pension) or a USD 60,000 lump-sum deposit in a Costa Rican bank, drawn down at USD 2,500 per month over 24 months. The Rentista is valid for 2 years initially, renewable indefinitely, and crucially it counts toward permanent residency after 3 years - the dedicated DN visa does not.

Both routes give zero tax on foreign income, full access to the Costa Rican private healthcare system, the right to import a car and household goods tax-free (Rentista only), and the right to live anywhere in the country. See the global digital nomad visa hub for how Costa Rica compares with other Latin American options.

Requirements and income threshold

The dedicated DN visa and the Rentista have different financial requirements but similar paperwork. Most nomads choose Rentista for the longer renewability and PR pathway; freelancers and recent remote workers without 24 months of income history often choose the DN visa.

All foreign documents must be apostilled in the country of origin and translated into Spanish by an officially certified Costa Rican translator. The bank guarantee for the Rentista must come from a Costa Rican bank or a CR-recognized foreign bank, and must guarantee USD 2,500 per month for 24 months (or USD 60,000 lump sum equivalent).

Tax treatment

Costa Rica is a pure territorial tax country, which is one of the biggest selling points for digital nomads. Foreign-source income - meaning income from work performed for foreign clients or employers, paid to foreign bank accounts - is not taxed in Costa Rica regardless of how many days you spend in the country. This applies to both the dedicated DN visa and the Rentista, and it applies indefinitely. There is no 183-day trigger that flips foreign income into the Costa Rican tax base.

Only Costa Rican-source income is taxable in Costa Rica. If you take a local job, sell to local clients, or generate rental income from a Costa Rican property, that income is taxed at progressive rates of 0 to 25 percent (employment) or 5 to 30 percent (self-employment). Most digital nomads owe nothing to Costa Rica's tax authority (Direccion General de Tributacion) as long as their work and clients remain abroad.

How to apply - step by step

Costa Rica's process can be fully completed in-country, including the initial application, which is unusual and helpful. You can arrive on a 90-day tourist permit and file from inside Costa Rica without leaving.

1. Gather documents in your home country: apostilled birth certificate, apostilled criminal background check (max 6 months old), proof of income or savings (bank statements, employer letter, or bank guarantee for Rentista), copy of passport, passport-style photos, marriage certificate if applicable.
2. Translate all foreign documents into Spanish by a Costa Rican-certified translator (do this in Costa Rica or hire a remote certified translator).
3. Enter Costa Rica on a tourist permit (visa-free for most Western nationalities; 90 days). Open a Costa Rican bank account if going the Rentista deposit route.
4. Complete the online application form via the DGME portal (https://www.migracion.go.cr) and pay the application fee of USD 250 (DN visa) or USD 500 (Rentista) by bank deposit at Banco de Costa Rica.
5. Schedule and attend an in-person submission appointment at the DGME office in San Jose or one of the regional offices (Heredia, Liberia). Submit all original documents plus copies.
6. Wait 3 to 6 months for the decision. DGME has historically been slow, but the DN visa is processed faster (often 1 to 3 months).
7. If approved, pay the residency issuance fee, enroll in the CAJA (Costa Rican public healthcare) at the local CAJA office, and complete biometrics.
8. Receive your DIMEX card (Documento de Identificacion Migratoria para Extranjeros) at the DGME office. Use it to access banking, health, telecom, and lease services. Renew the DN visa once after 1 year; renew the Rentista every 2 years.

Cost breakdown

The visa is moderately priced compared to other Latin American DN visas. The main wildcards are translation costs (Costa Rican certified translators charge USD 50 to 100 per document) and the CAJA enrollment, which is mandatory once residency is granted.

Cost of living

Costa Rica is more expensive than its Central American neighbors and significantly pricier than Colombia or Mexico. The Central Valley (San Jose, Escazu, Santa Ana) is the cheapest region for residents; beach towns like Tamarindo, Nosara, and Puerto Viejo charge near-Florida prices. Compare to Mexico or Colombia for cheaper Latin America options.

Family and dependents

Costa Rica allows the primary visa holder to bring a spouse and dependent children under 25 (if economically dependent or studying full-time). For the DN visa, the family income threshold rises from USD 3,000 to USD 4,000 per month for any family unit (spouse and/or children). For the Rentista, the same USD 2,500/month income covers the whole family with no formal uplift, which makes Rentista more family-friendly.

Each dependent files a separate application with their own apostilled birth certificate, marriage certificate (for spouse), criminal background check, and translation costs. Dependents can attend public schools (Spanish-language, free) or private/international schools (USD 5,000 to 18,000 per year). Spouses on the family visa cannot legally work for a Costa Rican employer but can run their own remote work for foreign clients without restriction.

Path to residency

Costa Rica offers the fastest path to permanent residency in the Americas: just 3 years of temporary residency on the Rentista (or similar Temporary Resident category) qualifies you to apply for Permanent Resident status. The dedicated DN visa (Law 10008) does NOT count toward this 3-year clock - it is treated as a non-resident permit. This is why most nomads serious about long-term Costa Rica choose the Rentista despite its higher complexity.

After 3 years on the Rentista you can apply for Permanent Resident (PR) status, which is granted indefinitely and includes full work rights with any Costa Rican employer. After 7 years of legal residency in total (typically 3 years Rentista + 4 years PR), you can apply for Costa Rican citizenship. Naturalization requires a Spanish language test and a Costa Rican civics/history exam. Costa Rica permits dual citizenship, and the Costa Rican passport gives visa-free access to most of Latin America, the EU Schengen, the UK, and Japan.

Best cities for digital nomads

Costa Rica is geographically small but offers distinct nomad lifestyles: urban Central Valley, Pacific surf coast, Caribbean Reggae coast, and the Nicoya Peninsula yoga/wellness scene. Most serious nomads choose a base in the Central Valley for infrastructure plus weekend trips to the beach.

• San Jose (Escazu, Santa Ana, Curridabat): the capital region is the cheapest, most connected, and most family-friendly option. Escazu and Santa Ana are upscale expat suburbs west of the city with US-style shopping malls, international schools, and good coworking (WeWork, Selina, AWE Coworking). Curridabat is more residential. Best for nomads who want infrastructure, healthcare access, and family-friendly options. Cooler climate (18-26°C year-round) at 1,200m altitude.
• Tamarindo and Nosara (Nicoya Peninsula, Pacific): the surf and yoga nomad belt. Tamarindo is the bigger, more developed beach town with a substantial expat scene and decent coworking. Nosara is the wellness/yoga capital with multiple yoga schools and a quieter vibe. Both are hot (28-34°C) and require a 4x4 vehicle to get around. Prices are dollar-pegged and high.
• Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita (Caribbean coast): the Afro-Caribbean cultural region with a slower pace, lower prices than the Pacific beaches, and a more bohemian nomad scene. Wifi infrastructure is patchier here. Best for nomads who prioritize beach lifestyle and authenticity over coworking density.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Zero tax on foreign income under Costa Rica's territorial tax system, indefinitely.
• Pro: Permanent residency after just 3 years on the Rentista, the fastest PR path in the Americas.
• Pro: Pura vida lifestyle with world-class beaches, rainforests, and biodiversity (5% of world's species on 0.03% of land area).
• Pro: Stable democracy, no military, generally safe by Latin American standards, high HDI.
• Pro: Two parallel routes (DN visa and Rentista) give flexibility based on income vs savings profile.
• Con: Higher cost of living than other Latin American DN destinations (USD 2,000 to 4,500/mo).
• Con: Slow bureaucracy at DGME; applications can take 3 to 9 months and lawyers are nearly essential.
• Con: Mandatory CAJA enrollment adds USD 50 to 200/month to your costs once residency is granted.
• Con: Beach towns require a 4x4 vehicle; public transport is poor outside the Central Valley.
• Con: DN visa under Law 10008 does NOT count toward 3-year PR clock; Rentista is the only PR route via residency.