How much does the Remote worker and service provider stay (digital nomad permit) cost and how long does it take?

The fee is One-off fee for the stay, set by the DGME regulation (its web page lists a US$100 payment); each family member pays the same; Ley 10008 requires a single payment at cost, fixed by regulation. The Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería's digital nomads page lists a US$100 deposit (or the colón equivalent) plus the family members' payments, but the DGME site blocked automated access on 2026-10-04, so the amount could not be read directly; treat US$100 as indicative. Processing time: up to 2 weeks. Article 7 of Ley 10008 gives the DGME 15 calendar days to decide. Within five working days of filing it may ask once, in writing, for missing documents, which suspends the clock for up to eight working days while you respond.

Do I pay Costa Rican income tax on my remote salary with the digital nomad permit?

No. Article 16 of Ley 10008 gives beneficiaries a full exemption from the tax on profits and states that their foreign income is not Costa Rican-source and that they are not habitual tax residents. The exemption covers only the remote worker, not accompanying family.

Can I bring my laptop and equipment into Costa Rica duty-free on the nomad permit?

Yes. Article 17 exempts basic personal computer, IT and telecoms equipment needed for your work from import taxes while you hold the status, within proportionality criteria set by customs; selling the goods while still a beneficiary triggers the taxes.

Digital nomad visa · Latin America

Costa Rica digital nomad visa 2026: requirements and cost

Costa Rica's digital nomad permit is a one-year non-resident stay, extendable once for a second year, for people who earn at least US$3,000 a month (US$4,000 with family) from clients or employers abroad. You apply online on the Trámite ¡YA! platform of the immigration directorate, which must decide within 15 days, and you are exempt from Costa Rican income tax on that foreign income.

Official name: Estancia como Trabajador o Prestador Remoto de Servicios (Ley 10008 de 2021 y Decreto Ejecutivo 43619-H-MGP-TUR). Facts updated 2026-10-04 · Not yet reviewed by a person · Dataset 2026.10.7.

Who can apply: Any nationality; Any foreign national who provides paid services remotely, as an employee or independently, by digital means to a person or company located outside Costa Rica and is paid from abroad. The only migration requirements beyond those for tourists are the specific ones in articles 10 and 11 of Ley 10008 (Ley 10208).
Minimum income: $3,000/month; US$3,000/month (US$4,000/month if applying with family) as a stable salary, fixed income or monthly average over the last year
Fee: One-off fee for the stay, set by the DGME regulation (its web page lists a US$100 payment); each family member pays the same
Processing time: up to 2 weeks
Initial stay: 1 year, renewable up to 2 years
Where to apply: Online; Online through the DGME's Trámite ¡YA! digital window (tramiteya.go.cr/dgme, run by the state company RACSA), from abroad or while in Costa Rica as a tourist; a paper application in person is possible by booking an 'Estancia para Nómadas Digitales' appointment on the DGME web appointments portal.

Not yet reviewed by a person

Compiled from the official pages listed below, last read on 2026-10-04. A named person has not yet re-checked it; treat it as a starting point and confirm with the source before you apply.

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Who can apply

Any foreign national who provides paid services remotely, as an employee or independently, by digital means to a person or company located outside Costa Rica and is paid from abroad. The only migration requirements beyond those for tourists are the specific ones in articles 10 and 11 of Ley 10008 (Ley 10208).

What you need

Application form on the Trámite ¡YA! platform with informed consent (plus the family-group form if you include dependants)
Valid passport (photo page) for you and each family member
Bank statements for the last twelve months supporting income of at least US$3,000 a month (US$4,000 with family), with a sworn declaration that they were obtained from the bank and that the funds come from abroad
Evidence of the remote work: contract, employer letter or client agreements with a person or company outside Costa Rica
Medical services insurance policy covering you (and family) for the full duration of the stay, with the minimum cover the DGME sets
Proof of payment of the one-off fee for the stay
For family members: birth certificates for children and marriage certificate or proof of de facto partnership, and any other document the DGME asks for to prove the link
The ordinary requirements applied to tourists under Ley 8764 (for example a passport photo and fingerprints taken at the DGME appointment)

Income proof: Article 10 of Ley 10008: proof of stable monthly remuneration, fixed rents or an average monthly income over the last year of at least US$3,000, or US$4,000 if the family group is included (the family amount may combine your income with your spouse's or another member's). Shown with bank statements backed by a sworn declaration; the income must be receivable while you are outside your home country.

Family: Your spouse or de facto partner, children under 25 (or of any age with a disability) and older adults who live with you can be included as beneficiaries on a family-group form; the combined income must then reach US$4,000 a month and each member pays the fee. The tax exemption applies only to the remote worker, not to the family.

Cost and timeline

Minimum income	$3,000/monthUS$3,000/month (US$4,000/month if applying with family) as a stable salary, fixed income or monthly average over the last year
Fee	One-off fee for the stay, set by the DGME regulation (its web page lists a US$100 payment); each family member pays the sameLey 10008 requires a single payment at cost, fixed by regulation. The Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería's digital nomads page lists a US$100 deposit (or the colón equivalent) plus the family members' payments, but the DGME site blocked automated access on 2026-10-04, so the amount could not be read directly; treat US$100 as indicative.
Processing time	up to 2 weeksArticle 7 of Ley 10008 gives the DGME 15 calendar days to decide. Within five working days of filing it may ask once, in writing, for missing documents, which suspends the clock for up to eight working days while you respond.
Stay	1 year, renewable up to 2 years

How to apply

Online. Online through the DGME's Trámite ¡YA! digital window (tramiteya.go.cr/dgme, run by the state company RACSA), from abroad or while in Costa Rica as a tourist; a paper application in person is possible by booking an 'Estancia para Nómadas Digitales' appointment on the DGME web appointments portal.

Check you meet the income test (US$3,000 a month, or US$4,000 with family) and buy a medical insurance policy covering you, and any family members, for the whole stay.
Collect twelve months of bank statements showing the foreign-source income, your passport, and documents showing you work remotely for a client or employer abroad.
Register on Trámite ¡YA!, give your informed consent under article 5 of Ley 10008, complete the application form (and the family-group form if applicable), upload the documents and pay the one-off fee.
Respond within eight working days if the DGME asks for clarifications; the directorate must resolve within 15 calendar days.
Once approved, collect the DIMEX card from the DGME; apply for the one-year extension before expiry, showing at least 180 days of presence in the first year.

After you arrive

Renewal: Granted for up to one year (Ley 10208 clarifies you may ask for less) and extendable for a single additional year, provided you spent at least 180 days in Costa Rica during the first year. Before it expires you may apply to change to another migration category if you qualify.

Residence: The permit is a non-resident 'estancia' subcategory, so time on it does not count toward temporary or permanent residence. Permanent residence normally follows three years of temporary residence (for example as a rentista or pensionado), which you can switch to before the nomad permit ends.

Taxes

Beneficiaries are fully exempt from Costa Rican income tax on their foreign remote-work income and are not treated as habitual residents for tax purposes; the exemption does not extend to family members. Basic computer and telecoms equipment for the work can be imported duty-free. Losing the beneficiary status cancels the exemptions.

In practice

The DGME website (migracion.go.cr) sits behind a bot-protection wall that blocked our retrieval on 2026-10-04; the figures here come from Ley 10008, Ley 10208, the regulation and RACSA's Trámite ¡YA! pages, and the US$100 fee is reported from the DGME page but was not read directly.
Most nationalities enter visa-free for up to 180 days (90 for some), so you can apply from inside Costa Rica after arriving as a tourist.
The permit lets you open a savings account at a national bank and drive on your valid home licence for the whole stay.
Tamarindo and Santa Teresa have strong surf-and-coworking scenes but patchier fibre; San José and the Central Valley have the most reliable connections.

For your passport

Choose your passport in the ranker and the notes that apply to you move to the top.

EU, EEA, CH, GB, US, CA, AU, NZ, JP:Enter visa-free as tourists (up to 180 days for most of these passports), scout, and apply online from inside Costa Rica or from home.
AR, BR, CL, MX, UY, PA:Visa-free entry for tourism; the same income and insurance rules apply.
All other passports:Nationals who need a consular visa to visit Costa Rica must obtain it first; the nomad stay itself is open to any nationality that meets the income test.

Cities in Costa Rica on Nostos

Jacó
Balanced score 64 · $1,700/month
Monteverde
Balanced score 62 · $1,700/month
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Balanced score 61 · $1,318/month
San José
Balanced score 61 · $1,479/month
Uvita
Balanced score 61 · $1,700/month
La Fortuna
Balanced score 61 · $1,700/month
Tamarindo
Balanced score 60 · $2,006/month
Nosara
Balanced score 58 · $1,700/month
Santa Teresa
Balanced score 56 · $1,700/month

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Frequently asked

Who can apply for the Costa Rica digital nomad visa?: Any foreign national who provides paid services remotely, as an employee or independently, by digital means to a person or company located outside Costa Rica and is paid from abroad. The only migration requirements beyond those for tourists are the specific ones in articles 10 and 11 of Ley 10008 (Ley 10208). Costa Rica's digital nomad permit is a one-year non-resident stay, extendable once for a second year, for people who earn at least US$3,000 a month (US$4,000 with family) from clients or employers abroad. You apply online on the Trámite ¡YA! platform of the immigration directorate, which must decide within 15 days, and you are exempt from Costa Rican income tax on that foreign income.
How much income do you need for the Remote worker and service provider stay (digital nomad permit)?: About $3,000 per month (US$3,000/month (US$4,000/month if applying with family) as a stable salary, fixed income or monthly average over the last year). Article 10 of Ley 10008: proof of stable monthly remuneration, fixed rents or an average monthly income over the last year of at least US$3,000, or US$4,000 if the family group is included (the family amount may combine your income with your spouse's or another member's). Shown with bank statements backed by a sworn declaration; the income must be receivable while you are outside your home country.
How much does the Remote worker and service provider stay (digital nomad permit) cost and how long does it take?: The fee is One-off fee for the stay, set by the DGME regulation (its web page lists a US$100 payment); each family member pays the same; Ley 10008 requires a single payment at cost, fixed by regulation. The Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería's digital nomads page lists a US$100 deposit (or the colón equivalent) plus the family members' payments, but the DGME site blocked automated access on 2026-10-04, so the amount could not be read directly; treat US$100 as indicative. Processing time: up to 2 weeks. Article 7 of Ley 10008 gives the DGME 15 calendar days to decide. Within five working days of filing it may ask once, in writing, for missing documents, which suspends the clock for up to eight working days while you respond.
How long can you stay in Costa Rica on the Remote worker and service provider stay (digital nomad permit), and can it be renewed?: 1 year, renewable up to 2 years. Granted for up to one year (Ley 10208 clarifies you may ask for less) and extendable for a single additional year, provided you spent at least 180 days in Costa Rica during the first year. Before it expires you may apply to change to another migration category if you qualify.
Does the Remote worker and service provider stay (digital nomad permit) lead to permanent residence in Costa Rica?: Not by itself. The permit is a non-resident 'estancia' subcategory, so time on it does not count toward temporary or permanent residence. Permanent residence normally follows three years of temporary residence (for example as a rentista or pensionado), which you can switch to before the nomad permit ends.
Can family members come with you on the Remote worker and service provider stay (digital nomad permit)?: Your spouse or de facto partner, children under 25 (or of any age with a disability) and older adults who live with you can be included as beneficiaries on a family-group form; the combined income must then reach US$4,000 a month and each member pays the fee. The tax exemption applies only to the remote worker, not to the family.
Do you pay tax in Costa Rica on the Remote worker and service provider stay (digital nomad permit)?: Beneficiaries are fully exempt from Costa Rican income tax on their foreign remote-work income and are not treated as habitual residents for tax purposes; the exemption does not extend to family members. Basic computer and telecoms equipment for the work can be imported duty-free. Losing the beneficiary status cancels the exemptions.
Where do you apply for the Remote worker and service provider stay (digital nomad permit)?: Online: Online through the DGME's Trámite ¡YA! digital window (tramiteya.go.cr/dgme, run by the state company RACSA), from abroad or while in Costa Rica as a tourist; a paper application in person is possible by booking an 'Estancia para Nómadas Digitales' appointment on the DGME web appointments portal.
Do I pay Costa Rican income tax on my remote salary with the digital nomad permit?: No. Article 16 of Ley 10008 gives beneficiaries a full exemption from the tax on profits and states that their foreign income is not Costa Rican-source and that they are not habitual tax residents. The exemption covers only the remote worker, not accompanying family.
Can I bring my laptop and equipment into Costa Rica duty-free on the nomad permit?: Yes. Article 17 exempts basic personal computer, IT and telecoms equipment needed for your work from import taxes while you hold the status, within proportionality criteria set by customs; selling the goods while still a beneficiary triggers the taxes.

Sources

Ley 10008, Ley para atraer trabajadores y prestadores remotos de servicios de carácter internacional (texto completo), SINALEVI, Sistema Nacional de Legislación Vigente, Procuraduría General de la República · retrieved 2026-10-04 · Definitions, US$3,000 and US$4,000 income rule, insurance, one-off fee, 15-day decision, one year plus one, tax and import exemptions, driving licence, bank accounts
Ley 10208, interpretación auténtica del artículo 15 y adición del artículo 11 bis a la Ley 10008, Procuraduría General de la República, SCIJ · retrieved 2026-10-04 · Stay may be granted for up to (not exactly) one year; only tourist-level requirements beyond the specific ones
Decreto Ejecutivo 43619-H-MGP-TUR, Reglamento a la Ley 10008, Procuraduría General de la República, SCIJ · retrieved 2026-10-04 · Regulation of the estancia subcategory, sworn-declaration approach and tax coordination (preamble and article 1 read; later articles not fully retrieved)
Nómadas Digitales en Costa Rica (Trámite ¡YA!), RACSA, Radiográfica Costarricense S.A. (state ICT company operating the DGME digital window) · retrieved 2026-10-04 · Online application via tramiteya.go.cr/dgme, income figures, benefits, three-step process
Nómadas Digitales, Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería de Costa Rica · retrieved 2026-10-04 · Official programme page (US$100 payment, appointment option); blocked automated access on the retrieval date, so its contents were taken from search excerpts only

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