All the details we currently know about the future Digital Nomad Visa in Costa Rica
REQUIREMENTS:
- This new short-term visa is called an “estancia” here in Costa Rica.
- For the purposes of this visa’s qualifications, a digital nomad is someone who works remotely and earns foreign income (income outside of Costa Rica), either as a self-employed worker or as an employee of a company.
- The income requirement for an individual is a steady income of at least $3,000 per month over the past year, and proof that you will continue to receive this income. For a family (spouses plus dependents) the threshold is $4,000 per month, and the two individuals can combine their incomes to meet this requirement. It will be required to submit marriage and/or birth certificates as applicable.
- It will be valid for one year, and renewable for an additional year if the visa holder has spent 180 days or more in Costa Rica the first year.
- The visa holder will be required to purchase medical insurance that covers the length of their stay.
- There will be application fees, but those are still to be determined.
BENEFITS:
- Nomads with this estancia will be allowed to stay in Costa Rica for the full period of their visa (one year with possible extension) without having to leave. They can come and go as they please during that time, as well.
- Digital nomads with this visa will be exempt from Costa Rican income taxes as well as exempt from import taxes on all of their work equipment that is brought into the country for their stay.
- Visa holders will have driving privileges for the length of the visa with their valid foreign drivers license.
- They will have the ability to open local bank accounts here in Costa Rica to make living here easier.
- The process will be online and have a quick approval time, as compared to other estancias.
As 2021 comes to an end we are still waiting for the final details of this bill to be published. After a year of following the proposal through congress and multiple rounds of approvals, the president signed the bill in early August. That was a huge step, making the bill a law. We are hoping that they are working to have the details published and applications open in 2022!