Stage 1: Eligibility Review

We begin with a legal review of your profile, including:

1. Your nationality and current immigration status.

2. Your employment or professional activities.

3. The location of your employer or clients.

4. Your income and financial records.

5. Your family circumstances.

6. Your intended length of stay.

This helps us determine whether the digital nomad category fits your circumstances and plans.

Stage 2: Financial Evidence

We review your income history and organize the evidence needed to support the application.

Depending on the appropriate documentation route, this may involve bank statements, supporting declarations, and an income certification prepared by a qualified professional. We can coordinate with a Costa Rican accountant where appropriate.

The published requirements allow different methods of proving income. An accountant’s certification should therefore be presented as part of the selected filing strategy, rather than as a universal requirement for every application.

Stage 3: Document Collection

We prepare a checklist for the principal applicant and each dependent.

This may include:

1. Passport copies and entry information, where applicable.

2. Financial evidence.

3. Application forms, authorizations, and powers of attorney.

4. Spanish translations.

5. Documents establishing family relationships.

6. Government payment receipts.

We explain what must be obtained, how it should be presented, and which documents require additional formalities.

Stage 4: Legal Review

Before filing, we check that the documents present a consistent account of your circumstances.

Our review covers names, passport details, relevant dates, income figures, translations, family relationships, and supporting evidence.

Careful preparation helps identify inconsistencies before they become requests for additional information.

Stage 5: Filing and Follow-Up

We submit the application through the applicable immigration procedure, monitor its progress, and respond to official notices.

You receive updates about the status of the application, any outstanding requirements, and the next steps.

Stage 6: Approval and Insurance

Once approval is issued, we review the resolution and explain the requirements for completing your immigration documentation.

This includes confirming compliant medical insurance for the authorized period and organizing the required payments and appointments.

Stage 7: Immigration Identification and Renewal Planning

We guide you through obtaining your immigration identification document, commonly referred to as the DIMEX, and review the relevant validity dates.

The published procedure provides three months after notification of approval to complete the immigration documentation process. Planning these steps is part of completing the application properly.

Costa Rican Income Tax Benefits

The principal beneficiary receives the income tax benefits established under the digital nomad regime for qualifying foreign income and is not treated as a Costa Rican tax resident while the authorization remains valid.

The exemption does not automatically extend to accompanying family members. A family member seeking that benefit must qualify independently. Tax obligations in another country also require separate consideration.

No Mandatory CCSS Enrollment for This Immigration Category

CCSS enrollment is not a condition for obtaining this status. The category instead requires private medical insurance covering the authorized stay.

The policy must provide at least USD $50,000 in medical coverage, and each accompanying family member must have compliant coverage. We review the policy’s duration and terms before the documentation stage.

Access to Costa Rican Bank Accounts

Approved beneficiaries may open savings accounts within Costa Rica’s national banking system, subject to the bank’s identification, source-of-funds, and compliance requirements.

SLC can help organize the supporting documentation and coordinate the banking process.

Recognition of Your Foreign Driver’s License

A valid driver’s license issued in your home country may be used during your authorized digital nomad stay. The license itself must remain valid.

An Extended Stay With Your Family

The program permits an initial stay of up to one year, with a possible renewal for another year. Qualifying family members may apply as dependents, subject to their individual documentation and eligibility requirements.

he category authorizes remote work for employers or clients outside Costa Rica. It does not provide general authorization to take local employment or offer paid services to the Costa Rican market.

If you intend to work locally, operate a business serving local clients, or establish a longer-term residence, we review the immigration arrangements required for those activities.

Because digital nomad status is a nonresident estancia, it should not be presented as an automatic route to permanent residency. A longer-term plan requires a separate assessment of the available residency categories.

Mistake 1: Confusing Savings With Qualifying Income

A substantial bank balance does not, by itself, explain whether you meet the remote-work income requirements. The application must establish the nature and history of the qualifying income.

Mistake 2: Submitting Financial Records Without Explaining Them

Transfers between personal accounts, business receipts, and professional earnings may appear together in a statement. We help distinguish them and organize the supporting evidence.

Mistake 3: Treating Dependents as Automatic Additions

Each dependent needs an individual review, appropriate relationship documents, and medical insurance.

Mistake 4: Buying Insurance Without Checking Its Terms

A policy must meet the program’s coverage and duration requirements. We recommend reviewing it before purchase.

Mistake 5: Assuming Renewal Is Automatic

Renewal requires a new application and evidence that the relevant conditions continue to be met. Travel plans should also account for the physical-presence requirement.

Renewing Your Digital Nomad Status

The category may be renewed once for an additional year.

To qualify for renewal, the beneficiary must have spent at least 180 days in Costa Rica during the originally granted year. Renewal also requires updated financial evidence, valid medical insurance, and the applicable documentation and payments.

We recommend reviewing your travel history, income records, and insurance before the initial authorization expires.

Digital Nomad Visa or Rentista Residency?

The right choice depends on how you earn your income and what you want to achieve in Costa Rica.

The Digital Nomad Visa is designed around qualifying remote work for foreign employers or clients. It can suit professionals who want to spend an extended period in Costa Rica while maintaining their international work.

Rentista Residency may deserve consideration when your financial profile is based on stable passive income and you want a traditional temporary residency route.

Some clients also need to consider pensioner, investor, or family-based categories. We assess the available options before recommending a filing strategy.