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Visas in San José

Digital nomad visa
Yes
Overall8/10Easier visas than about 90% of cities

Good to know

Good to Know

  • Even though the maximum is officially 180 days for Group 1 nationalities (US, Canada, UK, EU, and similar), many travelers still get stamped for only 90 days — the number written in your passport by the immigration officer is the only figure that legally matters, not the general rule.
  • You must show proof of onward or return travel to enter, even as a visa-exempt tourist — this is checked at San José's Juan Santamaría airport and at land borders alike.
  • This 'visa-free tourist stamp' does not permit working for a Costa Rican employer; nomads working for foreign clients/employers typically still enter as tourists but should look into the Digital Nomad visa for a clearer legal footing if staying long-term.
  • Land-border 'visa runs' to Nicaragua or Panama are a common way locals and expats extend a stay, but there's no guarantee of getting a full new 180 days on re-entry — it's at the officer's discretion.
  • The income thresholds ($3,000 individual / $4,000 family) are fixed in US dollars by law, not colones - so the colón-equivalent amount will drift slightly as the exchange rate moves.
  • Basic travel insurance (e.g., typical World Nomads or budget SafetyWing travel-only plans) is explicitly rejected for the visa - you need a long-term health policy with at least $50,000 in coverage for the full stay.
  • You cannot take local employment or bill Costa Rican clients on this visa - all income must be foreign-sourced, and violating this can jeopardize your status.
  • This visa does not lead directly to permanent residency or citizenship; if that's the long-term goal, plan for a separate residency category later.
  • Even though the visa exempts you from Costa Rican income tax, your home country will very likely still tax your worldwide income - get professional tax advice before relocating, especially around FEIE eligibility and self-employment tax if you're a US filer.

Baseline Group

Group Name
Group 1 (visa-exempt, most nomad-relevant nationalities)
Visa Process
None required in advance — travelers simply present their passport at the port of entry and receive an entry stamp with the authorized stay written in.
Max Stay Days
180
Who Qualifies
Citizens of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, most European Union member states, plus Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and others.
Passport Validity Required
At least one day of validity remaining on arrival for the visa exemption itself, though most airlines and practical advice recommend at least 6 months of remaining validity to avoid boarding issues.
Stay Notes
Following a DGME directive published in Alcance N° 148 a La Gaceta N° 216 (17 November 2025), the maximum automatic tourist stay for Group 1 nationalities was raised from 90 to 180 days. Immigration officers retain discretion over the exact number of days actually stamped — the 180-day figure is a ceiling, not a guarantee, and shorter stamps (e.g. 90 days) are still commonly issued, often aligned to the traveler's return ticket date.

Entry Conditions

  • Proof of onward/return travel (a return flight, a bus ticket to a neighboring country such as Panama or Nicaragua, or cruise ship passage) dated within the authorized stay period.
  • Proof of sufficient funds, generally cited as at least US$100 per month of intended stay (a bank statement or credit card is typically accepted).
  • Passport must be undamaged and machine-readable (ICAO-compliant).

Extending Or Resetting Stay

Border Run
The common practical approach for tourists wanting to stay longer is to exit the country (commonly to Nicaragua or Panama) and re-enter to receive a fresh entry stamp, though this is not an officially guaranteed 'reset' and is subject to officer discretion.
In Country Extension
A formal extension from inside Costa Rica is legally possible but described by both the DGME and the US Embassy as a cumbersome bureaucratic process; most tourists do not pursue it.

Overstay Penalty

Fine Per Day
CRC 45,660
Fine Note
Overstaying the authorized period is commonly cited as being assessed at a rate equivalent to US$100 per day upon exit, and can additionally result in a re-entry ban ranging from three months to three years depending on the length of the overstay.

Application Path

Portal
TramiteYa (tramiteyacr.go.cr) - Costa Rica's official online immigration portal, run by the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME).
Can Apply In Person
Yes, at regional DGME offices, though most applicants complete the process online; some affiliation forms must still be submitted digitally even for in-person applications.

Steps

  • Create an account on TramiteYa and select the remote-worker/digital-nomad application category
  • Pay the government application fee (USD $100, or the colón equivalent) by bank transfer to the designated Banco de Costa Rica account
  • Upload all required documents (see below) as legible PDF/JPG/PNG files
  • Submit the application; DGME reviews it, generally within about 15 business/working days
  • If documents are missing or unclear you are typically notified within about 5-8 days to correct or complete them
  • If approved, you have up to 90 days to enter Costa Rica (if applying from abroad) or to complete in-person biometric/DIMEX processing at a DGME office if already in-country
  • Complete in-person accreditation in San José: fingerprints, photo, and issuance of the DIMEX foreign-resident ID card, which unlocks local banking, driver's license validation, and healthcare access

Duration And Renewal

Renewal Option
Renewable once for an additional year, for a maximum total stay of about 2 years under this category
Initial Validity
1 year
Path To Permanent Residency
This visa category does not itself convert into Temporary or Permanent Residency; nomads wanting a long-term or citizenship pathway need to apply separately under a different residency category (e.g., Rentista, Pensionado, Inversionista, or marriage-based residency).

Renewal Requirements

  • Continue to meet the same monthly income threshold
  • A minimum physical-presence requirement during the first year (sources vary on the exact figure, commonly cited as roughly 80-180 days in-country; verify the current figure with DGME before relying on it for renewal planning)
  • Valid passport for the renewed period
  • Continued proof of qualifying health insurance for the full renewed duration
  • Payment of a renewal fee (commonly cited around $90 USD)

System Overview

Costa Rica classifies foreign nationalities into four groups that determine whether a visa is required before travel and how long a stay may be authorized on entry. This system is administered by the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME), under the Ministry of the Interior and Police.

Official Source Note

The Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME) is the sole authoritative source for current nationality group placement, exact stay durations, and any policy changes; third-party sites frequently lag behind DGME updates.

Other Groups Summary

Group 2
Visa-free entry for up to 30 days (extendable to 90), covering nationalities such as Bolivia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, the Philippines, Malaysia, Russia, Taiwan and Turkey.
Group 3
Consular visa required in advance; once issued the visa must be used within 60 business days. Covers countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, China, Vietnam and Venezuela.
Group 4
Restricted visa requiring pre-approval from Costa Rica's Restricted Visa Commission before a consulate can issue it; authorized stay up to 30 days (extendable to 90). Applies to any nationality not listed in Groups 1–3, including recently re-designated Mauritania and Pakistan.

A remote-worker residence category (not a tourist visa) that lets non-Costa Ricans live in the country while working for employers or clients based outside Costa Rica. Launched in 2022 under the Ley de Migración y Extranjería framework.

Tax Notes

System Type
Costa Rica uses a territorial tax system: only Costa Rican-source income is taxed, regardless of an individual's residency status.
Import Duty Benefit
Visa holders can import certain essential work equipment (laptops, cameras, communication devices) duty-free, subject to conditions.
Tax Residency Trigger
Costa Rica has a general 183-day-in-a-calendar-year rule that can make anyone (including tourist-visa visitors) a tax resident, but even as a tax resident the territorial system means only Costa Rican-source income would be taxed - foreign salaries, freelance income, investments, and pensions remain untaxed locally.
Home Country Tax Caveat
The Costa Rican exemption has no bearing on tax obligations in your home country. US citizens and green-card holders, for example, remain fully subject to US federal tax on worldwide income and must still file annually, though tools like the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE, up to roughly $130,000-$133,000 depending on tax year) may reduce the US bill for those who qualify under the Physical Presence or Bona Fide Residence tests. Self-employment tax (15.3% for US filers) is not eliminated by the FEIE, and the US has no Social Security totalization agreement with Costa Rica.
Digital Nomad Visa Exemption
Digital Nomad Visa holders are explicitly exempt from Costa Rican income tax on their foreign-earned income for the full duration of the visa, including any renewal period, as long as all income continues to come from outside Costa Rica.
VAT Note
Costa Rica's VAT (Impuesto de Valor Agregado, IVA) is a separate consumption tax from income tax, with a standard rate of 13% on most goods and services (reduced rates apply to some categories like basic groceries).

Visa Name

Estancia para Trabajadores Remotos y Prestadores de Servicios (Digital Nomad Visa / 'Estancia' remote-worker permit)

Eligibility

Open to remote employees of a foreign company, freelancers/self-employed people serving clients outside Costa Rica, and business owners whose income originates abroad. Working for a Costa Rican employer or local clients is not permitted under this visa.

Visa Ease Tier

high

Documents Required

Documents Required

  • Valid passport copy (biographical page); proof of entry stamp if already in Costa Rica
  • Proof of income: bank statements plus a certified affidavit or CPA letter showing the required monthly minimum, sourced entirely from outside Costa Rica
  • Proof of long-term health/medical insurance (not basic travel insurance) covering the full requested stay, with a minimum coverage of $50,000 USD; can be from an international insurer or a Costa Rican insurer regulated by the national insurance superintendent
  • Proof of payment of the $100 USD government application fee (or colón equivalent) to Banco de Costa Rica
  • Marriage certificate or proof of civil union (issued within the last 6 months) if applying with a spouse, plus supporting documents for any dependents
  • All foreign-language documents translated into Spanish, ideally by an official translator registered with Costa Rica's Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a qualified notary

Income Requirements

Proof Method
Bank statements (commonly 3-6 months) plus a signed affidavit/certification of income; employment contracts or freelance/client agreements are also typically requested to show the income is foreign-sourced.
Individual Applicant
CRC 1,366,800

The legal threshold is fixed at $3,000 USD/month; the CRC figure is an approximate current equivalent since the requirement itself is denominated in USD, not colones.

With Dependents Family
CRC 1,822,400

Threshold rises to $4,000 USD/month when a spouse or dependents are included on the application; a small number of sources cite $5,000 for families, so this figure should be double-checked against the current official DGME/TramiteYa notice before applying.

Visa Ease Tier Rationale

Costa Rica offers a generous 180-day visa-free stay for most nomad nationalities plus a dedicated digital nomad visa with clear tax exemptions and territorial taxation, though the $3,000/month income requirement and bureaucratic renewal process add moderate friction.

AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

This section has no cited sources.

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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.