---
title: "Every way a Costa Rican citizen can live abroad (2026)"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/passports/costa-rica/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-12
---

🇨🇷 Costa Rica passport

# Every way a Costa Rican citizen can live abroad

Long visa-free stays in 5 countries, 8 visa routes whose lists name Costa Rican passports and 1,050 routes in 125 countries open to any passport. Grouped by goal, popular destinations first. Every route lists its own conditions and official sources.

Lowest remote-work income bar open to Costa Rican passports: Digital nomad visa in Ecuador, USD 1,446 a month. Smallest investment open to Costa Rican passports: IT Visa · Investor in Uzbekistan, USD 10,000.

## Passport rights · 5

### Long stays without a visa · 5

Visa-free stays longer than 90 days. These are stays, not residence: the length is what the official source allows.

| Country | Allowed stay | Work | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 🇬🇪 [Georgia](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/georgia/) | **Up to 12 months** |   | [Government of Georgia (Legislative Herald of Georgia)](https://matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/2867361) 2026-10-10 [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/georgia/visa-free-365d/) |
| 🇲🇽 [Mexico](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mexico/) | **Up to 180 days** | Work not allowed | [Instituto Nacional de Migración (Mexico)](https://www.inm.gob.mx/gobmx/word/index.php/paises-requieren-visa-para-mexico/) 2026-10-12 [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mexico/visa-free-180d/) |
| 🇬🇧 [United Kingdom](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/) | **Up to 6 months** | Work not allowed | [UK Visas and Immigration (GOV.UK)](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-eta-national-list) 2026-10-10 [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/visa-free-180d/) |
| 🇭🇺 [Hungary](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hungary/) | **Up to 6 months** |   | [Hungarian Immigration and Asylum Office (OIF)](https://oif.gov.hu/bilateral-agreement-based-continued-stay-of-persons-entitled-to-visa-free-stay?locale=en) 2026-10-10 [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hungary/visa-free-180d/) |
| 🇨🇴 [Colombia](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/colombia/) | **Up to 180 days** | No local work; remote work for employers or clients abroad is allowed | [Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia](https://cancilleria.gov.co/normograma/compilacion/docs/resolucion_minrelaciones_8558_2025.htm) 2026-10-10 [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/colombia/visa-free-180d/) |

## Working holiday and youth mobility · 1

Working holiday and youth mobility visas exist only between partner countries. These are the ones whose lists include Costa Rican passports; each has its own age window.

🇨🇦 Canada

### [Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/canada/iec-working-holiday/)

**Age limit and funds needed:** Ages 18–35 · CAD 2,500 ≈ $1,750

Open to Costa Rican passports Casual jobs OK

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/canada/iec-working-holiday/)

## Work remotely · 41

🇨🇴 Colombia

### [Digital nomad visa V](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/colombia/v-digital-nomad/)

**Income needed:** COP 5.3M+ a month ≈ $1,640

Open to Costa Rican passports Stay 2 yrs

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/colombia/v-digital-nomad/)

🇹🇭 Thailand

### [DTV nomad visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/dtv/)

**Savings needed:** ฿500k+ ≈ $15k

Any passport Stay 6 mo, renewable

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/dtv/)

🇵🇹 Portugal

### [D8 nomad visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/d8-remote-work-residence/)

**Income needed:** €3,680+ a month ≈ $4,110

Any passport Stay 2 yrs, renewable

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/d8-remote-work-residence/)

🇪🇸 Spain

### [Digital nomad visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/international-telework-visa/)

**Income needed:** €2,442+ a month ≈ $2,730

Any passport Stay 3 yrs, renewable

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/international-telework-visa/)

37 more routes open to any passport, in 37 countries. [See all digital nomad and remote work visas](https://settleanywhere.com/visas/digital-nomad/)

## Talent schemes · 38

🇯🇵 Japan

### [J-Find](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/j-find/)

**First stay:** 2 yrs

Any passport

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/j-find/)

🇮🇩 Indonesia

### [Golden Visa · Talent](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/indonesia/e33b-special-talent/)

**First stay:** 5 yrs

Any passport Needs money in the bank

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/indonesia/e33b-special-talent/)

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

### [Blue Residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/blue-residency/)

**First stay:** 10 yrs

Any passport

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/blue-residency/)

35 more routes open to any passport, in 24 countries. [See all talent and special visa schemes](https://settleanywhere.com/visas/talent/)

## Retire or live on savings · 79

🇯🇵 Japan

### [Long-stay visitor (JPY 30M)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/designated-activities-long-stay/)

**Savings needed:** ¥30M+ ≈ $189k

Open to Costa Rican passports Stay 1 yr

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/designated-activities-long-stay/)

🇹🇭 Thailand

### [LTR · Wealthy Pensioner](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/ltr-wealthy-pensioner/)

**Income needed:** $80k+ a year

Any passport Stay 5 yrs, renewable

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/ltr-wealthy-pensioner/)

🇵🇹 Portugal

### [D7 passive income visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/retirement-own-income-visa/)

**Income needed:** €920+ a month ≈ $1,030

Any passport Stay 2 yrs, renewable

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/retirement-own-income-visa/)

🇪🇸 Spain

### [Non-lucrative visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/nonlucrative-residence/)

**Income needed:** €2,400+ a month ≈ $2,680

Any passport Stay 1 yr, renewable

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/nonlucrative-residence/)

75 more routes open to any passport, in 52 countries. [See all pay-to-stay and retirement visas](https://settleanywhere.com/visas/pay-to-stay/)

## Invest · 233

🇺🇸 United States

### [E-2 Treaty Investor](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/e2-treaty-investor/)

**First stay:** 2 yrs

Open to Costa Rican passports Can work: limited

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/e2-treaty-investor/)

🇹🇭 Thailand

### [LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/ltr-wealthy-global-citizen/)

**Investment needed:** $500k+

Any passport Stay 5 yrs, renewable

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/ltr-wealthy-global-citizen/)

🇵🇹 Portugal

### [Golden Visa · €250k arts](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/ari-arts-250k/)

**Investment needed:** €250k+ ≈ $279k

Any passport Stay 2 yrs, renewable

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/ari-arts-250k/)

🇮🇩 Indonesia

### [Golden Visa · Portfolio $350k](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/indonesia/e28c-golden-capital-market-investor/)

**Investment needed:** from $350k

Any passport Stay 5 yrs, renewable

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/indonesia/e28c-golden-capital-market-investor/)

229 more routes open to any passport, in 81 countries. [See all investor and golden visas](https://settleanywhere.com/visas/investor/)

## Start a business · 141

🇺🇸 United States

### [E-1 Treaty Trader](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/e1-treaty-trader/)

**First stay:** 2 yrs

Open to Costa Rican passports Can work: limited

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/e1-treaty-trader/)

🇹🇭 Thailand

### [SMART Visa S · 2 years](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/smart-s-2yr/)

**Savings needed:** ฿600k+ ≈ $18k

Any passport Stay 2 yrs, renewable

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/smart-s-2yr/)

🇯🇵 Japan

### [Business Manager](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/business-manager/)

**Investment needed:** ¥30M+ ≈ $189k

Any passport Stay 5 yrs, renewable

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/business-manager/)

🇵🇹 Portugal

### [Startup Visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/startup-visa-89-4/)

**Savings needed:** €6,446+ ≈ $7,200

Any passport Stay 2 yrs, renewable

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/startup-visa-89-4/)

137 more routes open to any passport, in 80 countries.

## Work for an employer there · 400

🇨🇴 Colombia

### [Work placement visa V](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/colombia/v-practica-laboral/)

**First stay:** 1 yr

Open to Costa Rican passports

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/colombia/v-practica-laboral/)

🇵🇦 Panama

### [Friendly Nations residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/panama/friendly-nations-permanent/)

**Investment needed:** from PAB 200k ≈ $200k

Open to Costa Rican passports Stay 2 yrs

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/panama/friendly-nations-permanent/)

🇹🇭 Thailand

### [LTR · Highly Skilled](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/ltr-highly-skilled-professional/)

**Income needed:** $80k+ a year

Any passport Stay 5 yrs, renewable

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/ltr-highly-skilled-professional/)

🇯🇵 Japan

### [Skill Development work visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/employment-for-skill-development/)

**First stay:** 3 yrs

Not yet in force Any passport

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/employment-for-skill-development/)

🇵🇹 Portugal

### [Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/eu-blue-card/)

**Income needed:** from €1,726 a month ≈ $1,930

Any passport Stay 2 yrs, renewable

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/eu-blue-card/)

395 more routes open to any passport, in 122 countries.

## Study · 125

🇮🇳 India

### [e-Student visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/india/e-student-visa/)

**First stay:** 1 yr

Open to Costa Rican passports

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/india/e-student-visa/)

🇹🇭 Thailand

### [Study visa (ED)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/nonimmigrant-ed-study/)

**First stay:** 1 yr, 90-day entry

Any passport Can't work

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/nonimmigrant-ed-study/)

🇯🇵 Japan

### [Student visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/student/)

**First stay:** 4 yrs 3 mo

Any passport Can work: limited

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/student/)

🇵🇹 Portugal

### [Student permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/student-higher-ed-91/)

**Income needed:** €920+ a month ≈ $1,030

Any passport Stay 3 yrs, renewable

[Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/student-higher-ed-91/)

121 more routes open to any passport, in 108 countries.

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.