This guide is written for people applying from the United Kingdom, although many of the eligibility rules are national rules rather than UK-specific ones. Consulates can still ask for different evidence, translations, legalisation or appointments. Check the competent mission before paying for accommodation or making a non-refundable move.
At a glance
| Question | Current position |
|---|---|
| Is this a dedicated digital nomad route? | Yes. |
| Who it is for | Foreign remote employees, freelancers and service providers paid from outside Costa Rica. |
| Work connection | Services supplied remotely to a person or entity outside Costa Rica. |
| Income or funds test | At least USD 3,000 monthly for an individual or USD 4,000 monthly for an applicant with dependants. |
| Typical permission | One year, with a possible one-year renewal if the holder meets the continued-stay requirement. |
| Family | A spouse/partner, dependent children and other defined dependants may be included with the higher income test. |
| Can you work for local clients or employers? | No Costa Rican employment or local remuneration under the nomad stay. |
| Where the application starts | Online/immigration process through Costa Rica’s General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners. |
What this route actually is
The law treats the applicant as a remote service provider for a person or organisation outside Costa Rica. It offers immigration and practical benefits, but it does not authorise work for a Costa Rican employer. The programme application and later immigration-document steps should be explained separately.
That distinction is more than a naming point. A dedicated remote-work permit is usually designed around foreign employment or foreign clients. A self-employment or assignment route may instead test the value of a local business, professional licensing, a contract in the destination country or the economic benefit of the proposed activity. Applying under the wrong label is one of the easiest ways to build the wrong document pack.
Who can qualify
A main applicant needs at least USD 3,000 monthly income from abroad. A family application uses USD 4,000. Evidence generally covers the previous year and must be accompanied by insurance, passports and civil-status records. Translations may be required.
A credible application normally shows not only that the applicant can work online, but that the work is real and continuing. Authorities may look for a signed employment or service contract, employer or client letters, company registration records, recent invoices, bank statements and a concise explanation of what the applicant does day to day.
Core eligibility points
- You provide remote services to a person or entity outside Costa Rica.
- You have received at least USD 3,000 monthly, or USD 4,000 with dependants, for the required period.
- You obtain medical insurance covering every applicant for the full stay.
- You pay the current application charge and provide translated/legalised documents where requested.
- You do not take local employment.
Income and financial evidence
The current official threshold is USD 3,000 per month for an individual and USD 4,000 for a family group. The evidence should show stable foreign income, often over the preceding 12 months. Do not use the older, higher family figure still reproduced on some third-party pages.
Treat every published figure as a floor rather than a planning budget. The authority may examine whether income is regular, whether it comes from a permitted source and whether it will continue after relocation. A one-off transfer immediately before applying is usually weaker evidence than a consistent trail of salary payments, client receipts and matching contracts.
Documents to prepare
The exact checklist depends on the mission and the applicant’s circumstances, but a well-organised file will usually need the following:
- Online application and passport copies.
- Employment or client contracts explaining foreign remote services.
- Bank statements/certification showing the prior-year income pattern.
- Medical insurance with the required Costa Rica coverage and term.
- Marriage, partnership, birth and dependency evidence.
- Certified Spanish translations where required.
- Payment evidence for the current government application and immigration charges.
Names, dates, job titles, salary figures and company details should match across the whole file. Where documents are issued in the UK, check whether the receiving authority requires an apostille, a sworn or certified translation, or both. Do not assume that an English document will be accepted simply because the authority publishes an English-language website.
Application process from the UK
- Calculate whether the individual or family USD threshold applies.
- Prepare the required prior-year income certification and foreign-work evidence.
- Buy insurance that meets the official terms for each applicant.
- Submit through the current immigration platform and pay the published application fee.
- After approval, complete the immigration-document/biometric steps within the stated deadline.
- For renewal, preserve evidence of the minimum physical presence required during the first year.
The visa sticker, entry permission and residence card are often separate stages. Read the approval notice carefully: some routes require registration with the police, municipality, tax authority or immigration office shortly after arrival. Missing a local deadline can create avoidable problems even when the entry visa was correctly issued.
Family members
The higher USD 4,000 threshold supports an application with defined dependants. Each family member needs insurance and relationship evidence. A dependant’s local work right should not be assumed.
Where dependants are allowed, expect separate forms and fees. Marriage and birth certificates may need recent copies, legalisation and translation. A dependant’s right to work should never be assumed; several remote-work schemes allow family residence but prohibit the spouse from local employment.
Validity, renewal and switching route
The initial stay is one year and may be renewed for another year. Current official guidance requires the holder to have spent at least 80 days in Costa Rica during the initial period to renew. Check the renewal evidence and deadlines before travel-heavy applicants rely on it.
A route that can be renewed is not automatically a route to permanent residence. Some permissions are expressly temporary, some do not count toward settlement, and others may lead to longer residence only after a switch into a different category. Anyone planning a multi-year move should check the settlement position before choosing a country.
Tax, social security and insurance
The programme contains immigration and customs/tax features, but it should not be marketed as making every holder wholly tax-exempt. Income source, days, local activity and home-country rules still need review.
Immigration permission does not answer every tax question. Residence, payroll, permanent-establishment risk, social-security coverage and local registration can all depend on facts such as days present, where management decisions are made and who benefits from the work. Obtain advice covering both the destination country and the country where the employer or business is established.
Common problems to avoid
- Using an outdated family income threshold.
- Buying insurance that does not cover the full authorised period or every dependant.
- Failing to preserve a full prior-year income trail.
- Missing the 80-day presence condition for renewal.
- Taking Costa Rican employment.
Official sources
The following official sources were checked for this guide on 8 August 2026. Rules, thresholds and application channels can change without notice.