Costa Rica's Law 10008 visa can be applied for at a Costa Rican consulate abroad or directly at the DGME office in San José on a tourist stamp. The in-country route is usually faster and is the default choice for most Western nationalities.
Option A — In-country via DGME (recommended)
Step 1 — Enter Costa Rica on tourist stamp
Most Western passports receive 90-day tourist stamps on arrival. Plan 2–3 weeks buffer after arrival for document preparation and application.
Step 2 — Prepare income documentation
Run your numbers through the nomad visa eligibility checker first — DGME rejects files where bank statements miss the $3,000 single / $4,000 family monthly floor in any of the trailing 12 months. Gather 12 months of:
- Bank statements showing monthly income of $3,000+ ($4,000+ for family)
- Employer letter confirming remote-work status and salary
- Service agreements or business registration (if self-employed)
- Tax returns from home country
Step 3 — Obtain supporting documents
Track each apostille and translation with the document checklist tool — missing the apostille window or Costa Rica-specific insurance coverage is the most common rejection reason.
- Criminal record certificate from home country (apostilled, within 6 months of issue)
- Health insurance policy ($50k+ coverage including repatriation, valid 12 months, covering Costa Rica)
- Rental agreement or long-term accommodation proof in Costa Rica (minimum 3 months)
Step 4 — Translate documents to Spanish
Required for non-Spanish documents (employment letters, criminal records). Use a certified Costa Rican translator (traductor oficial). Cost: $30–80 per document.
Step 5 — Submit online via Trámite Ya (or at DGME San José)
Since 2023, DGME accepts Law 10008 files through the Trámite Ya digital platform (tramiteya.go.cr/dgme) — the route most nomads now use. Complete the "Formulario Solicitud de Estancia Trabajadores REMOTOS Ley 10008 — Trámite Digital", upload the document packet, and pay the US$100 application fee to the Government of Costa Rica (Banco de Costa Rica, account 242480-0, per Article 256 of Law 8764). Each dependent included pays a separate $100. You can still file in person at the DGME headquarters in La Uruca, San José (Monday–Friday, 8 AM – 4 PM); biometrics are captured after the file is accepted.
Step 6 — Wait for the resolution
Law 10008 directs DGME to issue a resolution within 15 business days, and to flag any missing document within 5 days of submission. In practice, expect 30–60 days end-to-end — clean files with complete apostilles and translations land closer to 30–45 days, while a single missing translation resets the clock. Notification arrives by email through the Trámite Ya account.
Step 7 — Receive residency card (DIMEX)
Upon approval, visit DGME again (or the office where you submitted) to receive the DIMEX residency card. Cost ~$50 for the card itself.
Step 8 — Post-arrival admin
- CCSS enrollment — required for visa holders. Voluntary contribution rate ~$100–200/month.
- Bank account — BAC San José, Scotiabank Costa Rica, or local options accept nomad visa holders.
- Cédula de Residencia — the residency card itself, essential for daily activities.
Option B — Consular application
If you prefer to apply from outside Costa Rica:
- Book appointment at Costa Rican consulate in your country of legal residence.
- Submit same document packet + US$100 fee per applicant.
- Decision typically 45–90 days depending on consulate.
- On approval, you receive a visa sticker. Travel to Costa Rica and complete DIMEX registration.
Timeline at a glance
| Phase | In-country | Consular |
|---|---|---|
| Document preparation | 3–6 weeks | 3–6 weeks |
| Translation + apostille | 2–4 weeks | 2–4 weeks |
| Application submission + decision | 30–60 days | 45–90 days |
| DIMEX card issuance | 1–2 weeks | 1–2 weeks after arrival |
| Total | 8–16 weeks | 12–22 weeks |
Common rejection reasons
- Income below threshold in any of the last 3 months.
- Missing apostille on criminal record.
- Untranslated documents — DGME is strict about Spanish translation.
- Short-term accommodation only — less than 2-3 months insufficient.
- Insurance gaps — policy doesn't cover Costa Rica or full 12-month term.
Renewal and the 180-day rule
This is the requirement most guides bury, and it is the single biggest reason year-two renewals get denied. The Law 10008 visa is valid for one year and can be renewed exactly once, for a second year — but only if you were physically present in Costa Rica for at least 180 days during your first year. The 180 days do not have to be consecutive, but you must be able to evidence them (entry/exit stamps, the DGME record). If you treated the visa as a flexible base and spent more than half the year elsewhere, DGME cannot renew you, and there is no third year regardless.
To renew, file again through Trámite Ya before the visa expires with: updated income proof ($3,000 single / $4,000 family monthly, same as the first application), a renewed 12-month insurance policy covering Costa Rica, and another US$100 fee per person. Plan the renewal file 6–8 weeks ahead of expiry — the 15-business-day statutory window is a target, not a guarantee, and you cannot legally remain on an expired stay while a late renewal is pending.
After the two years are up, the nomad visa does not convert to permanent residency. Nomads who want to stay longer typically switch to a rentista or pensionado category; the months you spent here on Law 10008 do not count toward the rentista/pensionado clock.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Costa Rica digital nomad visa cost?
The government application fee is US$100 per applicant, paid to the Government of Costa Rica under Article 256 of Law 8764; each dependent included in your file pays $100 too. Budget separately for apostilles, certified Spanish translations ($30–80 per document), 12 months of qualifying insurance, and the DIMEX residency card issued on approval — the all-in cost is typically $500–900 per person, but the visa fee itself is $100, not the $250 some older guides still quote.
How long does the Costa Rica digital nomad visa take to get?
Law 10008 directs DGME to resolve a complete file within 15 business days, but realistic end-to-end timing is 30–60 days from submission, plus 5–10 weeks beforehand to gather, apostille, and translate documents. From decision to start, budget 8–16 weeks for the in-country route and 12–22 weeks if you apply at a consulate abroad.
What income do I need to apply for residency in Costa Rica as a nomad?
You must show a stable $3,000/month for a single applicant or $4,000/month if you include dependents (spouse/children), earned from outside Costa Rica, evidenced by 12 months of bank statements. The floor must be met in every one of the trailing 12 months — a single dip below it in any month is a common rejection reason.
Can I renew the Costa Rica digital nomad visa?
Yes, once — for a second year — but only if you were physically in Costa Rica for at least 180 days during your first year. After two years the visa ends and does not become permanent residency; you would switch to a different category (rentista, pensionado, investor) to stay longer.
Do digital nomads pay tax in Costa Rica?
No tax on foreign-source income. Costa Rica runs a territorial tax system, so income earned from outside the country for services rendered abroad is not taxed locally, even once you become a tax resident. Law 10008 also exempts nomads from import tax on basic work equipment. See our Costa Rica nomad tax breakdown for the home-country side.
Sources
- Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) — Digital Nomad Requirements — official US$100 fee, $3,000/$4,000 income floor, Trámite Ya platform. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
- Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME) — Law 10008 processing authority; Trámite Ya filing. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
- Ley 10008 (Ley para Atraer Trabajadores y Prestadores Remotos de Servicios) and Article 256 of Ley General de Migración y Extranjería No. 8764 (US$100 fee). Retrieved 2026-06-08.