Digital Nomad Visa for Costa Rica

What Is a Costa Rica Rentista Visa?

The Costa Rican rentista visa caters to self-employed individuals or freelancers who can demonstrate a $2,500 monthly fixed income. This visa permits you to venture into freelance or start a business in Costa Rica, but it does not permit salaried employment. To work as an employee for a company, a Costa Rican work visa is required instead.

You can renew the residence permit obtained via the Costa Rican rentista visa for up to two years given that you still meet the qualifications. If you have resided in Costa Rica with the same permit for a minimum of three years, you are eligible to request for permanent residency in the country.

Is The Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa Now Available?

Although there was a delay with the Costa Rica Digital Nomads Visa (DNV), there is some favorable information to report.

Good news! The Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa has been given the green light by President Carlos Alvarado. This means that anyone who desires a nomadic lifestyle in Costa Rica can now apply for the Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa.

The Costa Rica DNV was announced in October of 2021, and after months of waiting, it was legalized, and the country started processing the visa in July 2022.

If you are eager to visit Costa Rica and do not want to delay, getting a Costa Rica Tourist Visa is recommended. While the visa does not allow for employment within the country, it does not explicitly prohibit remote work.

Do I Qualify for a Costa Rican Digital Nomad Visa?

To be eligible for a Costa Rica rentista visa, the subsequent prerequisites must be fulfilled:

Demonstrate you will be receiving a fixed income of $2,500/month. To meet this requirement, you have to set up a bank account, where you will deposit $60,000 and obtain a letter of commitment that you will be receiving $2,500/month for the next two years.
Contribute to La Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social ( C.C.S.S. – Social Security Fund ). You will be issued seguro voluntario (or voluntary insurance ) which will cost you approximately 10% of your monthly income.

Costa Rica Rentista Visa Requirements

The papers that are required for the rentista visa application need to be provided.

Rentista Visa Application Form. The application form is available at either the Migration and Foreign Affairs Office or the Costa Rican Embassy.
Records of your fingerprints. Head to the Police Department to collect your fingerprints.
Proof of paid fees. You can find the payment requirements listed below under “ Price for Rentista Visa ”.
Copy of your passport. Your passport must be valid for at least six months.
Passport-sized photos of yourself. The number of photos required is six.
Police Clearance Certificate. You can obtain this certificate from the police or court authorities in your country.
Income Certificate. The certificate must state you have a stable monthly income of $2,500 a month as required for the rentista visa.
Registration at the Consular Office. You are required to register with the consular office in your country.
Cover Letter. You will be asked to provide additional personal information by writing a cover letter.
If your family members are joining you, you must also submit proof of your relationship with them by providing either a:
- Birth Certificate. Applicable if you want your child(ren) to join you.
- Marriage Certificate. Applicable if you want your spouse to join you.

To fulfill the requirements, all documents must be in Spanish or translated into Spanish and bear the Apostille Stamp.

How To Apply for a Costa Rica Rentista Visa?

To obtain a Costa Rica rentista visa, follow this guide consisting of a series of steps.

Locate the Costa Rican Directorate of Migration. You must make an appointment with the Direccion General de Migracion y Extranjeria (or the General Directorate of Migration and Foreign Affairs ) in Costa Rica where you will also be asked to submit your application for the rentista visa.
Collect the Documents. Make sure you collect all the documents that are listed above.
Submit the Application at the Directorate of Migration. All applications for the rentista visa must be submitted physically to the Direccion General de Migracion y Extranjeria in Costa Rica.
Wait for an Answer. The rentista visa application can take from twelve to fifteen months to process. The DGME ( Costa Rica Immigration Department ) will take around nine months to thoroughly check your application and will give you an answer once they have made a decision.

Costa Rica Rentista Visa Fees

Included in the Costa Rica rentista visa fees are:

Type	Price
Rentista Visa Application	$250
Service Fee for Temporary Residence Permit	$1,595
Governmental Fees	$374

Upon payment of the necessary fees for your rentista visa application, a document indicating your payment status will be provided to you. This document is mandatory for your visa application and must be included along with the other necessary documents.

Health Insurance For Costa Rica Rentista Visa

Beforehand, you must obtain private medical coverage as health insurance in Costa Rica is not offered for free. Numerous companies provide these services.

Private insurance specifically for Costa Rica.
Private insurance specifically for either European or US citizens.
Global coverage private insurance.

Explore the private insurance options that align with your needs and preferences before confidently traveling to Costa Rica. Discover the top health insurance plans for digital nomads in Costa Rica here.

What Country Should I Pay Taxes For With A Rentista Visa?

Staying in Costa Rica for over six months results in automatic registration to the Costa Rican tax system, and consequently, you must pay taxes in Costa Rica. A temporary residence permit grants you legal residency in Costa Rica and subjects you to a 10-25% tax deduction from your $2,500 monthly earnings in accordance with the rentista visa.

How Long After Rentista Visa Can I Get Costa Rica Permanent Residence Permit?

Living in Costa Rica with a rentista visa for a minimum of three years makes you qualified for permanent residency. By obtaining a permanent residency permit, you can enjoy more advantages, such as the possibility of obtaining Costa Rican citizenship and others.

Can My Family Come With Me With A Rentista Visa?

The Costa Rica rentista visa welcomes families and even encourages the inclusion of spouses and children. Although there may be extra costs associated with the visa application process, no further investments beyond the initial $60,000 are necessary. Additionally, proof of family relationships via marriage and birth certificates will be required during the application process.

Costa Rica Rentista Visa Benefits

There are several advantages of residing in Costa Rica that come with the rentista visa.

Warm weather. Say goodbye to seasonal sadness as Costa Rica offers warm and sunny weather all year long to let you enjoy its

There are several advantages to obtaining a rentista visa in Costa Rica.

Being your own boss, anywhere and anytime. No need to stress over working hours, as being your own boss lets you choose not only your working hours but also where you would like to work from.
Lower tax payment tax system. Usually, anyone providing income for the Costa Rican government pays around 30% in taxes, whereas as a digital nomad, you will only be required to tax 10-15% of your income.
Chance to apply for permanent residency. With a rentista visa, after meeting some additional requirements, you will be eligible for permanent residency. This is an important benefit as the permanent residence permit then enables you to apply for Costa Rican citizenship.

What Are The Financial Requirements For The Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa?

To avoid disappointment with the Costa Rica DNV, it is important to satisfy the financial requirements. For a solitary applicant, a consistent monthly income of 3,000 USD is required, but for families, a stable income of at least 4,000 USD per month must be demonstrated.

When submitting Proof of income, keep in mind that you can reach the 4,000 USD requirement by adding your and your partner’s income. This can be proven by presenting bank statements from the previous year.

As previously stated, in order to be eligible, your income must be consistent, which implies earning the required amount every month. Hence, it is not acceptable to earn USD 8k in one month and USD 6k in the following month.

What Are The Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa Requirements?

The Costa Rica DNV is now accessible for you to review the fundamental stipulations, though it is crucial to recognize that further records may be required depending on the particular visa candidacy. Here are the primary prerequisites you should be aware of:

Valid Passport

For visa application, ensure that your passport is both valid and in good condition. Additionally, provide a photocopy of the passport’s photograph and bio data page. Copies of the entry stamp or visa page are also required if you are currently in Costa Rica.

Proof of stable monthly income:

As stated previously, it is essential for you to fulfill the financial criteria. For an individual, the financial criterion is 3,000 USD per month. If you are submitting an application with your family, keep in mind that you must meet a monthly income of 4,000 USD.

You must have Proof of health insurance:

During your stay in Costa Rica, it is mandatory for your health and medical insurance to provide coverage for yourself and your family members. Your health insurance must remain active and valid for the entire duration of one year.

A Consular or Restricted Visa

In order to obtain the Costa Rica DNV, one must possess a consular or restricted visa, for which a copy must be submitted either online or in person. This requirement ensures that applicants can enter the country to submit the relevant documentation and complete the procedure necessary to obtain a residence permit.

Make your Costa Rica DNV payment:

To obtain your Costa Rica DNV as a remote worker or service provider, you are obligated to submit payment. The payment is a mandatory requirement and must be made thrice – during the application process.

General Law of Migration and Foreigner’s additional requirements:

In accordance with General Law of Migration and Foreigners No. 8764, it may be necessary for you to provide further documentation.

One of the advantages of the Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa is that the main candidate is eligible to support their spouse, children under the age of 25, children with disabilities of any age, and elderly relatives residing with them.

In order to sponsor family members, it is necessary to earn at least $4000 monthly and provide supplementary details alongside the visa application. Moreover, additional documentation, including but not limited to:

If you sponsor your spouse, you must provide a marriage certificate issued in the last six months.
A letter from a competent authority declaring or recognizing the civil union, issued in the last six months.
Child’s birth certificate.
Proof of medical condition for a person with disabilities.
Senior must establish the family tie or relation with the main applicant and an affidavit stating the same.

Is Costa Rica A Safe Country for Digital Nomads?

Costa Rica, situated in Central America, is widely regarded as the most secure nation in the region. Additionally, the government of Costa Rica implements supplementary safety measures for visitors. Nevertheless, it is recommended that visitors follow some additional safety precautions to ensure a hassle-free trip. The most common safety measures include traveling in groups during the daytime, refraining from carrying your passport or a large sum of cash on extended outings.

Visiting Costa Rica will not pose any problem provided that you are mindful of your environment and vigilant with your possessions.