live, work, and explore in costa rica
Costa Rica’s digital nomad program invites international residents to work remotely from the land of pura vida. This program extends a 90-day tourist visa to a full year, with the option to renew for an additional year. Digital nomads are exempt from income tax and enjoy other benefits including the ability to open a national bank account in Costa Rica and validation of their home country’s driver’s license. Digital nomads may also waive customs taxes on telecommunications and electronic devices necessary to fulfill remote work requirements (conditions apply).
find all the essentials to work in costa rica!
about the digital nomads program
time zones
your costa rica dream is so close
Costa Rica’s natural wonders and welcoming locals can make this your year to remember. See how Costa Rica matches up with your time zone to make your work days as productive as possible.
work remote from costa rica
Find your balance as you work remotely from Costa Rica. You can now extend a 90-day tourist visa to experience a full year (or longer) in Costa Rica. Applications must show proof of a stable net income of at least $3,000 per month ($5,000 for families). Mandatory medical insurance must cover you through the length of your stay, and the digital nomad visa requires a one-time fee.
FAQs
To be on the safe side, applicants can have the translation completed by an official translator registered with the Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or a notary public with knowledge of the language.
Documents can also be translated abroad, but the official sources consulted note that working with a Costa Rican translator is more practical, as this can prevent errors or problems with translations done in applicants’ home countries, which generally slow down the process.
Proof of payment to the Government in the amount of one hundred dollars (US$100.00) or its equivalent in colones at the reference exchange rate of the Central Bank of Costa Rica, in accordance with Article 256 of the General Law of Migration and Foreigners. This deposit must be made to account number 001-0242480-0 of the Bank of Costa Rica, with the IBAN account number CR15015201001024248003.
Dear user: If you are making the payment via international bank transfer, please take the following information into account BEFORE making your payment:
Applicant Information: Make one transfer per applicant. In the case of dependent persons, the payment must be made in the name of each individual applicant.
The following information must be included:
- Name of the bank
- SWIFT code
- ABA code (only for banks in the United States)
You can find this information in the list of Banco de Costa Rica Correspondent Banks at the following link:
https://bancobcr.com/wps/portal/bcr/bancobcr/empresas/bcr_comercio_exterior/productos_y_servicios/bancos_corresponsales_directos/
Full name of the beneficiary: ESTADO MINISTERIO DE HACIENDA
Full IBAN account name (International Bank Account Number): CR15015201001024248003
Address: San José, Calle 03 Avenida 02, Ministry of Finance, former Anglo Bank building
Also, provide the information of the Bank of Costa Rica, which receives the funds:
- Name of the Bank: Banco de Costa Rica
- Address: Central and Second Avenues, between 4th and 6th Streets, San José, Costa Rica
- SWIFT Code: BCRICRSJ
- UID (Universal ID): 019339
Important Information:
The $100 fee related to this application must be received in full (net) by the Ministry of Finance accounts. Therefore, it is important to consider bank fees—both from the sending bank abroad and from the receiving bank (Banco de Costa Rica), which charges a fee of $15.
The medical services insurance must cover the full duration of the digital nomad’s stay in Costa Rica for the full period authorized, and must have a coverage of at least USD $50,000.
The policy may be from an international provider or a Costa Rican insurance firm regulated by the Office of the Superintendent General for Insurance of Costa Rica. Any dependents accompanying the digital nomad to Costa Rica must also be covered by an insurance policy.
Digital nomads may open savings accounts in financial institutions belonging to the national banking system provided that they comply with the provisions of the Law on Narcotics, Psychotropic Substances, Unauthorized Drugs, Connected Activities, Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing (8.204).
They must also comply with all regulatory frameworks relating to the fight against money laundering. The Office of the Superintendent General of Financial Institutions (SUGEF) will issue any regulations or guidelines that prove necessary.
No, no legal assistance is required.
make the most of your stay
From bustling ex-pat communities around San José to the laid-back beaches that line the coast, Costa Rica is wide-open and welcoming to travelers from around the globe. Find all the information you need to plan your remote work in Costa Rica.