Costa Rica · Nomad / Remote work
Costa Rica Remote worker stay
Income needed: from $3,000 a month
Trabajador o Prestador Remoto de Servicios de carácter internacional (Ley 10008; non-resident, stay subcategory)
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Remote worker stay is a nomad / remote work route for Costa Rica. Applicants need income from $3,000 a month. You can stay 1 yr, renewable. You can work remotely for foreign employers or clients, not for local ones. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Money needed
- from $3,000 a month
- Government fees
- $100
- Processing
- Up to 15 days
- First stay
- 1 yr
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee $100; income to show from $3,000/mo; decision: up to 15 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government fees$100
- $100Government payment for the main applicant; US$90 for each family member.
Shown, not spent$3,000+/mo · $4,000+/mo
- $3,000 a monthAverage over the last year, shown by bank statements; income must be receivable from outside Costa Rica.
- $4,000 a monthCombined income of applicant and spouse or family members when benefits are requested for the family group.
RenewalRenewable, 2 years max
The benefit lasts 1 year and can be extended once for 1 more year, provided you spent at least 180 days in Costa Rica during the first year.
ProcessingUp to 15 days
Migration has 15 calendar days to decide the visa application.
Presence rulesAt least 180 days in year 1
To extend, you must have been in Costa Rica at least 180 days during the first year.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route is capped at 2 years in total
- No local jobs: remote work for employers or clients abroad only
What you'll need
What you must show and pay3
- Income of at least $3,000 a month · Average over the last year, shown by bank statements; income must be receivable from outside Costa Rica.
- Income of at least $4,000 a month · Combined income of applicant and spouse or family members when benefits are requested for the family group.
- A fee of $100 · Government payment for the main applicant; US$90 for each family member.
Documents2
- Medical insurance covers the whole stay, with coverage in Costa Rica of at least US$50,000.
- In a family group, each member needs their own medical policy with the same cover.
Steps2
- The application is filed through the digital platform.
- The migration directorate resolves within 15 calendar days.
When you become tax resident
How Costa Rica decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Foreign-source income
Remote-work income exempt
Approved remote workers are fully exempt from the income tax on utilities, are not treated as habitual tax residents, and their foreign-source income is not Costa Rican-source income; benefits last as long as the migration benefit and are lost on cancellation.
- Regime tied to this route
Remote-worker exemption from income tax on utilities · Tax relief
All tax rules for Costa Rica Tax records checked
Full official text
Non-resident stay for foreigners paid from abroad who work remotely for people or companies outside Costa Rica. 1 2
What you must show and pay
- Income of at least $3,000 a month · Average over the last year, shown by bank statements; income must be receivable from outside Costa Rica. 1 2
- Income of at least $4,000 a month · Combined income of applicant and spouse or family members when benefits are requested for the family group. 1 2
- A fee of $100 · Government payment for the main applicant; US$90 for each family member. 2
Requirements
- Medical insurance covers the whole stay, with coverage in Costa Rica of at least US$50,000. 2
- In a family group, each member needs their own medical policy with the same cover. 2
- The application is filed through the digital platform. 1
- The migration directorate resolves within 15 calendar days. 1
Stay
- Stay granted for 1 year, extendable once for 1 additional year (maximum 2 years in total).
- Initial permitted stay: 12 months.
- Visa validity: 12 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Work
No paid work or services in Costa Rica; only remote work for foreign clients or employers.
Family
Spouse or partner, children under 25 (or disabled at any age) and older adults living with the applicant can be included.
Official sources
- Ley 10008 — Ley para atraer trabajadores y prestadores remotos de servicios de carácter internacional (La Gaceta 168, 1 Sept 2021) · Imprenta Nacional · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2021-09-01
- Decreto 43619 H-MGP-TUR — Reglamento to Ley 10008 (Alcance 141 to La Gaceta 130, 8 July 2022) · Imprenta Nacional · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2022-07-08
Remote worker stay and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remote worker stay | Needs income from $3,000 a month | 1 yr, renewable | Remote only |
| Digital nomad visa V Colombia | Needs income of COP 5.3M+ a month ≈ $1,640 | 2 yr | Remote only |
| Digital nomad visa Brazil | Needs income of $1,500+ a month | 1 yr, renewable | Remote only |
| Digital nomad residence Argentina | – | 6 mo, renewable | – |
| Remote employee residence Uruguay | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Remote worker stay?
Income of at least $3,000 a month. Average over the last year, shown by bank statements; income must be receivable from outside Costa Rica. Income of at least $4,000 a month. Combined income of applicant and spouse or family members when benefits are requested for the family group. A fee of $100. Government payment for the main applicant; US$90 for each family member.
How long can I stay on the Remote worker stay?
Stay granted for 1 year, extendable once for 1 additional year (maximum 2 years in total).
How long does the Remote worker stay take to process?
Migration has 15 calendar days to decide the visa application.
Can I work on the Remote worker stay?
Remote only. No paid work or services in Costa Rica; only remote work for foreign clients or employers.
Can I bring my family on the Remote worker stay?
Spouse or partner, children under 25 (or disabled at any age) and older adults living with the applicant can be included.
Is there a tax break for Remote worker stay holders in Costa Rica?
Remote-worker exemption from income tax on utilities (Ley 10008 art. 16): Approved remote workers are fully exempt from the income tax on utilities, are not treated as habitual tax residents, and their foreign-source income is not Costa Rican-source income; benefits last as long as the migration benefit and are lost on cancellation. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Remote-worker exemption from income tax on utilities (Ley 10008 art. 16)
Tax relief
Details
- On: Remuneration earned from abroad by approved remote workers
- Who: Holder of the non-resident remote-worker stay subcategory
Approved remote workers are fully exempt from the income tax on utilities, are not treated as habitual tax residents, and their foreign-source income is not Costa Rican-source income; benefits last as long as the migration benefit and are lost on cancellation.
Taxed on
Remuneration earned from abroad by approved remote workers.
Who it applies to
- Holder of the non-resident remote-worker stay subcategory; tax benefits apply only to the worker, not to family members.
Exclusions
- Work or services paid in Costa Rica are not allowed and cancel the benefits; imported goods exempted must be taxed if transferred.
Tax residence
Beneficiaries are not considered habitual residents for tax purposes (art. 16).
Visas
Tied to the 1-year (extendable once) remote-worker stay.
Other taxes
Duty exemption on personal equipment imports (art. 17).
Checked against official sources on Change log
More in Costa Rica
Digital nomad / remote work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 2 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Ley 10008 — Ley para atraer trabajadores y prestadores remotos de servicios de carácter internacional (La Gaceta 168, 1 Sept 2021) · Imprenta Nacional · checked 2026-10-10
- Decreto 43619 H-MGP-TUR — Reglamento to Ley 10008 (Alcance 141 to La Gaceta 130, 8 July 2022) · Imprenta Nacional · checked 2026-10-12
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.