Quick facts about Costa Rica
Costa Rica is located in Central America, nestled between Nicaragua and Panama. The country has been a popular vacation destination with its beautiful landscape and diverse flora and fauna ranging from rainforests, waterfalls, and volcanoes to the howler monkeys and toucans.
All this makes Costa Rica the perfect destination for digital nomads to get their next visa.
Living in Costa Rica as a digital nomad
The Happy Planet Index chose the small Central American nation as the happiest country in the world in 2012, and Costa Rica was number one again in a National Geographic Magazine vote in 2017.
This ranking is the most convincing evidence to see that Costa Rica is a country filled with smiles and positivity, which also may be an excellent place for you to work remotely. However, there are many factors involving these rankings that may interest you.
Costa Rica has one of the most stable and democratic governments among all the Central American countries.
This country also believes that education is the key, so the government offers free education for all, with basic education being mandatory.
Although Spanish is the official language, English is commonly spoken along with Bribri, Creole Mekatelyu, and Mandarin Chinese.
This and many more reasons make Costa Rica an excellent place for digital nomads and remote workers!
Attractions and best places to visit
Costa Rica has been attracting tourists as a popular gateway destination because of its breathtaking natural landscape and biodiversity. Part of the reason is that Costa Rica is committed to preserving its most significant asset. More than 25 percent of the country’s land is a dedication to conservation, which means over a quarter of the land in Costa Rica is protected.
Costa Rica is rich in biodiversity. More than five percent of the entire world’s biodiversity is in this country. The Central American nation is confirmed to be home to more than 500,000 different species, while its Corcovado National Park is the most biologically intense location on the planet.
Manuel Antonio National Park
Another fantastic place to explore Costa Rica’s wildlife is the Manuel Antonio National Park. Here you’ll get the chance to see howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys, sloths, white-nosed coatimundis, and the famous capuchins. You’ll also see butterflies of every color and a myriad of colorful birds flying above you.
Dominical
If you’re looking to enjoy the beautiful beaches Costa Rica offers, we recommend you head towards Dominical. This is every backpacker’s idea of paradise. This town has the perfect bohemian vibe, with plenty of beautiful beaches, open-air restaurants, and cheap accommodations.
Tortuguero National Park
You might also be interested in visiting the Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean Coast. This park is an important breeding ground for the green sea turtle, which means the main attraction here is turtle watching. You can also take one of the many hiking trails and catch sight of unique flora and fauna.
Digital Nomad Hotspots
San José is the most popular place for digital nomads. As the capital city of Costa Rica, San José has all the amenities you’ll need. You’ll find comfortable accommodations, plenty of restaurants and cafes, beautiful shops, and many historical places. San José is conveniently placed, and you can easily reach popular destinations a short drive away.
If you want to live close to the beach, the most popular place among digital nomads is Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. Even though it is a small town, it is the perfect destination. Situated near the Caribbean Sea, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca offers lovely beaches, wildlife, and exciting nightlife.
Cost of Living
Costa Rica’s official currency is the Costa Rican colón, but USD is accepted in most local stores, making it easier for digital nomads to integrate into life here quickly.
Sadly, Costa Rica isn’t the cheapest country in Central America, but it is still relatively affordable.
Housing:
Furnished studio apartment for $640/month
Larger furnished apartment for $780/month
Eating:
Meal at an inexpensive place $11
Combo meal at a fast food restaurant $7
Transportation:
One-Rice ticket $0.90 – $18 (depending on the distance)
When it comes to public transport, most people use the bus. Buses are the cheapest form of transportation in Costa Rica. Unfortunately, buses aren’t the most comfortable or effective form of transportation. Most people decide to rent a car instead or use other services like Taxis and Uber.
Costa Rica has three main mobile internet providers: Movistar, Claro, and Kolbi. These providers do not offer e-sim cards, but you can easily purchase one online.
Here’s a list of the prices:
$9 = 1 GB data for 7 days
$24 = 3 GB data for 30 days
$30 = 5 GB data for 30 days
Digital Nomad Essentials
Internet
Internet speed is one of the most critical aspects for any digital nomad. You’ll have peace of mind as it is one of the advantages of Costa Rica. The internet there is high efficiency, with an average internet speed of 43.32 Mbps downloads.
SIM Cards
Costa Rica has three primary mobile internet providers: Movistar, Claro, and Kolbi. You can purchase a SIM card from them at the airport or in the different shops around the city.
Unfortunately, these providers do not offer E-SIM cards, but you can easily purchase one online.
Here’s a list of the prices:
$9 = 1 GB data for 7 days
$24 = 3 GB data for 30 days
$30 = 5 GB data for 30 days
Coworking Spaces
Cafés:
Is Costa Rica safe?
Costa Rica suffers from the same problems many Latin American countries do. You’ve probably heard some scary stories online about drug trafficking and poverty.
However, Costa Rica is pretty safe for visitors. Everyone should be cautious of the more violent neighbors, but the popular towns are safe.
Always watch for petty theft, especially pickpocketing in the most tourist-heavy places. Also, be careful at night since violent crimes like muggings are not uncommon.
Try our free visa wizard to figure out which visas you qualify for!
Find a visa
Visa Overview
In September 2020, the proposed law for a digital nomad visa first appeared. Since then, it has been going through various steps to become law, passing the first congressional debate at the end of June 2021 and quickly passing the second debate in July.
Now, after months of being placed on hold, Costa Rica is finally ready to offer its Digital Nomad Visa.
Costa Rica’s Digital Nomad Visa will be one of the most accessible visas. The application process is super easy and quick.
The Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa will allow remote workers, business owners, and freelancers to stay in the country for longer than a tourist visa. This visa is different from the Costa Rica Work Visa. Even though it allows you to work while visiting, you must work for a foreign company.
This visa is not available yet, but it won’t take long before applications are accepted. We will update this page when more information is available, so stay tuned!
Current travel restrictions
Costa Rica no longer requires travelers to show a negative COVID-19 viral test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board their flight.
However, it is essential to be up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before traveling to Costa Rica.
Citizen Remote has a broad range of resources to assist with the exciting process of relocating to another country!
Who Can Apply for the Digital Nomad Visa for Costa Rica
Since the digital nomad visa for Costa Rica is not available yet, we don’t have complete information about who can apply and who can’t. However, a few requirements are known.
Here are the details that those who wish to apply must have:
You must work for a foreign company, own a business, or work as a freelancer with companies outside Costa Rica.
Have a monthly income of at least $3,000.
If you’re applying for a family, you must have a monthly income of at least $4,000.
Have health insurance that covers you and your family if necessary.
How to Apply for the Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa
Since applications are not open yet, the steps to apply have not been announced.
At the moment, the first step is to gather all the documents you’ll need for your application. Then, we will detail each one below.
More information is coming soon! Stay tuned for any updates.
Documents required to apply for the digital nomad visa in Costa Rica
Valid passport
Travel insurance
Visa application form
Proof of accommodation for the duration of your stay
An employment contract
A declaration letter stating that you will be working remotely in Costa Rica
Bank account statements that prove substantial financial means
Proof of payments
Keep in mind that every foreign document provided must have an official translation into Spanish, made by a Notary Public or official Costa Rican translator.
How much does it cost?
With your application, you must make two payments—one for $100 in favor of the Costa Rican government. The second one is $90 for the issuance of the immigration document.
Timeline for Applying
The application’s timeline is not available now; stay tuned for more updates!
Taxes for Costa Rica digital nomad visa
One of the best things about the digital nomad visa in Costa Rica is that all digital nomads will have tax benefits. They will have an exemption from paying import taxes on personal computer equipment. They’ll even be exempt from tax on utilities related to the income they receive from abroad.
Costa Rica is the perfect destination for digital nomads! So don’t miss out on the opportunity to make this beautiful country your home.
