Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa: The Application - for Remote Workers
The digital nomad can find a lot to love in Costa Rica : the beaches, the mountains, and the pura vida lifestyle.
Costa Rica’s Digital Nomad Visa program is truly one of the more straightforward relocation paths available anywhere in the world.
You can find our complete guide to this program here, Costa Rica’s Digital Nomad Visa Guide, it covers everything you need to know: who qualifies, what it costs, and the real-world benefits once you arrive.
Below, you will find a list of documents you need, and a description of how the application works.
How to Apply -- Step by Step
Application process for Remote Worker Visa
Step 1 — Pay the Application Fee
Before anything else, pay the $100 USD application fee (or equivalent in Costa Rican colones at the current Central Bank rate) via bank transfer to Banco de Costa Rica. The IBAN account number is CR15015201001024248003. Important: the government must receive the full $100 net, so factor in your bank’s international transfer fee plus BCR’s receiving fee of approximately $15.
Step 2 — Prepare and Translate Your Documents
Gather all required documents (see checklist above). Have any non-Spanish documents officially translated. Ensure your income affidavit is notarized and apostilled in your home country.
Step 3 — Submit Your Application Online
Create an account on tramiteya.go.cr — Costa Rica’s official digital immigration platform. Complete the application form and upload all supporting documents. You can also apply in person at a regional immigration office if you prefer.
Step 4 — Wait for a Decision
If any documents are missing you will be notified within 8 days. A complete application is reviewed within 15 calendar days. If approved, you will receive notification by email.
Step 5 — Travel to Costa Rica and Register
After approval you have up to 90 days to enter Costa Rica. Once in the country, you must register your biometrics — fingerprints and photo — with your local immigration office or the Ministerio Seguridad Pública in San José within 3 months of arrival to receive your official residence permit. Bring pay stubs, bank statements, proof of insurance, and all translated documents to this in-person appointment.
Checklist of Required Documents
Gather these documents before starting your application. Note that all non-Spanish documents must be officially translated into Spanish — Costa Rica recommends using a translator registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Completed and signed application form (submitted via TramiteYa)
- 12 months of bank statements showing consistent income of at least $3,000/month from outside Costa Rica
- Sworn affidavit of income — notarized or certified by a CPA or Public Notary, with apostille or legalization
- Proof of international health insurance (minimum $50,000 USD coverage for the full duration of stay)
- Copy of the photo/biographical page of your valid passport
- Proof of application fee payment ($100 USD) to Banco de Costa Rica
- If bringing dependents: marriage certificate (spouse) and/or birth certificates (children)
- Consular or restricted visa if required based on your nationality
Getting Around Costa Rica -- Why You Need a Vehicle
Costa Rica doesn’t reward passengers!
The best kept secrets — a waterfall an hour off the main road, a surf break with nobody else on it, a mountain town where the coffee tastes different — are found by people who can go looking for them. Your Digital Nomad Visa gives you the legal freedom to stay. A reliable 4×4 or all-wheel drive SUV gives you the freedom to actually live here.
Costa Rica’s roads range from smooth highways to unpaved mountain tracks, and the rainy season (May through November) can turn secondary roads into serious challenges. For this reason, most experienced expats and nomads strongly recommend at least an AWD SUV.
An SUV or a pickup truck with 4×4 low range isn’t a must, but to maximize your exploration capability, and in certain areas of the country, it is advisable.
The good news: your home country driver’s license is valid under the Digital Nomad Visa, so you can legally drive from day one. At WheelsCR, we specialize in helping foreigners find, inspect, and purchase the right used or new vehicle — AWD SUVs and 4×4 pickups — with full purchase assistance so you don’t have to navigate the process alone.