Costa Rica: remote-worker application and stay preparation
Costa Rica’s remote-worker stay is designed for foreign remote income, initially for one year with a possible additional year. Its financial, dependant, insurance and Spanish-document requirements differ from tourist entry and from pension-based residence.
Guide checked 2026-10-29 · review due 2026-11-05
Documents by person · 4 items
Primary applicant: Foreign remote-income evidence
Confirm the official evidence period and prepare stable net remote-income records: USD 3,000 individual or USD 4,000 with dependants. Do not treat your spending budget as qualifying income.
- Costa Rica Tourism Board ↗Digital nomads: financial requirements, Spanish translation FAQ, USD 100 payment per applicant and fees, full-stay insurance USD 50000, one-year renewal overview
Primary applicant: Application records in Spanish
Follow the current application form and requirements; the official FAQ describes Spanish translations and authorised translator/notary options. Confirm the correct route before paying for translation.
- Costa Rica Tourism Board ↗Digital nomads: financial requirements, Spanish translation FAQ, USD 100 payment per applicant and fees, full-stay insurance USD 50000, one-year renewal overview
Primary applicant: Full-stay medical insurance
Each accompanying person needs cover for the full authorised stay, with the stated minimum USD 50,000 coverage. Obtain the policy evidence required by DGME.
- Costa Rica Tourism Board ↗Digital nomads: financial requirements, Spanish translation FAQ, USD 100 payment per applicant and fees, full-stay insurance USD 50000, one-year renewal overview
Primary applicant: Government payment record
The official page states USD 100 per applicant received net. Check the live authority payment details and bank charges directly; the pack never collects or forwards government fees.
- Costa Rica Tourism Board ↗Digital nomads: financial requirements, Spanish translation FAQ, USD 100 payment per applicant and fees, full-stay insurance USD 50000, one-year renewal overview
Before choosing · 1 steps
Confirm the remote-worker category
Keep foreign remote work, tourist entry and retirement residence separate. Determine which official income and dependant category you intend to document.
- Costa Rica Tourism Board ↗Digital nomads: financial requirements, Spanish translation FAQ, USD 100 payment per applicant and fees, full-stay insurance USD 50000, one-year renewal overview
Application · 2 steps
Register using the authorised process
Use the government-linked digital process or the DGME appointment route for physical filing. Keep the reference, complete Spanish document file and payment evidence.
- Costa Rica Tourism Board ↗Procedure: digital registration or DGME appointment; written resolution; supplementary request within five days and eight-working-day response window
Watch for a request to complete the application
The procedure describes a single notice for missing or clarifying evidence and a short response window. Track communications and the date of receipt; the stated decision period is not a guaranteed approval.
Timing: The published correction window is eight working days; confirm the notice’s exact deadline.
- Costa Rica Tourism Board ↗Procedure: digital registration or DGME appointment; written resolution; supplementary request within five days and eight-working-day response window
After arrival · 1 steps
Complete the residence-document stage
Obtain DGME’s current issuance instructions and confirm the actual authorised stay. Keep insurance valid for that whole period and record each dependant’s permission.
- Costa Rica Tourism Board ↗Digital nomads: financial requirements, Spanish translation FAQ, USD 100 payment per applicant and fees, full-stay insurance USD 50000, one-year renewal overview
Renewals · 1 steps
Verify the additional-year conditions in advance
The official programme describes a possible further year. Ask DGME for the current renewal evidence and deadline; do not assume automatic renewal or citizenship.
- Costa Rica Tourism Board ↗Digital nomads: financial requirements, Spanish translation FAQ, USD 100 payment per applicant and fees, full-stay insurance USD 50000, one-year renewal overview
Confirm before acting
- The tourism-board guidance links to the immigration process; DGME decides individual applications. Confirm any complete document and renewal requirements not established here.
- Any destination tax treatment does not establish exemption from US or another home-country reporting.