Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa
Costa Rica's Estancia visa, formalised in 2022, gives remote workers a renewable 1-year residence permit, exemption from local income tax on remote earnings, and the right to open Costa Rican bank accounts.
Best for
- Latin-America-curious workers
- Travellers with bilingual operations or US-Pacific time-zone work
- Expats prioritising warm weather and stable democracy
Eligibility
- Non-Costa Rican employer or freelance income from abroad
- Monthly income of at least $3,000 ($4,000 with dependants)
- Health insurance for Costa Rica
- Clean criminal record
Application steps
- Submit application to Dirección General de Migración
- Pay government fees and provide income, insurance, and ID documents
- Receive a residency card on approval
- Renew once, after the first year, for a second year
Tax considerations
Estancia holders are exempt from Costa Rican income tax on foreign earnings. Worldwide-income reporting in your home country continues; U.S. citizens still file with the IRS.
This is general information and not tax advice. Confirm with a tax advisor licensed in your home country and Costa Rica before triggering residency.
Need EOR in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica's employer-side CCSS load runs about 26.8% of gross (rising in Jan 2026), plus a mandatory aguinaldo paid by Dec 20 and accrued cesantia capped at 8 years. DNV residency suits a self-employed founder, but if the worker is doing core work for a single foreign company, EOR via partner is the cleaner classification.
HQ Simple services Costa Rica EOR through our vetted partner network. Direct EOR sits with the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia.
Talk to us about EOR in Costa RicaA 20-minute call usually settles it: EOR if the worker is a local resident, DNV if they keep their home employer. We'll tell you which is cleaner.