Skip to content
Arenal Volcano rising above lush rainforest in warm light, Costa Rica
Costa Rica · DNV

🇨🇷 Costa Rica Digital nomad visa

Costa Rica DNV requirements: income, duration, taxes, health insurance — from official sources.

Photo: Abhi Verma / Unsplash

Minimum income
€2,760/mo
Proof required
Initial duration
1 year
Renewable
Health insurance
Required (explicit)
Min. €46,000
Tax treatment
Foreign income exempt
Ley 10008 incentivos fiscales
Path to residence
No
Family can join
Government fee
≈ €92
Plus processing time
Verified data Last verified June 15, 2026 Reviewed by Henry van de Vorming
3 official sources cited →

All requirements in detail

Official name
Estancia para Trabajador o Prestador Remoto de Servicios (Ley N.º 10008)
Visa type
Digital nomad visa
Status
Active
Income requirement (original currency)
3,000 USD / month
Income basis
Mixed (salary, freelance or savings)
Legal basis
USD 3,000/month (USD 4,000/month with dependents)
Proof of funds
Required
Family surcharges
Minimum income rises to USD 4,000/month (~EUR 3,680) when including dependents; the higher figure covers the whole family.
Working for local clients
Not allowed
Path to citizenship
No
Where to apply
Online, Embassy / consulate
Processing time
2–3 weeks

Insurance requirement, verbatim intent: Reglamento art. 9: medical policy covering illness/medical expenses in Costa Rica for at least USD 50,000 (~EUR 46,000), valid for the full stay. SUGESE-registered or valid international insurer; each family member needs their own policy.

Tax notes: By law (Ley 10008; Reglamento 43619) beneficiaries are not treated as Costa Rican tax residents while the status is valid: foreign-source income is fully exempt from income tax. The exemption applies to the principal beneficiary only.

Insurance requirement

Insurance that meets the Costa Rica DNV requirements

Required (explicit) — minimum coverage €46,000, for: full visa period. These plans match the published requirement:

SafetyWing (underwritten by SafetyWing Insurance I.I., Puerto Rico; Complete health portion by VUMI Group I.I.) · Nomad subscription

Travel-medical subscription (USD 250k limit, above the USD 50k floor) covering Costa Rica for the full stay.

  • Subscription model: Essential auto-extends every 28 days (5-364 days per policy) and can be bought while already abroad; coverage in 170+ countries
  • No deductible on either plan; Essential also includes travel benefits (lost checked luggage, trip interruption, evacuation from local unrest)
  • Complete is full health insurance (USD 1.5M/year) including routine and preventive care, mental health, cancer treatment and limited maternity; renewable for life if enrolled before age 64

Genki UG (policyholder/agent); underwritten by Squarelife Insurance AG, Liechtenstein · Long-stay travel insurance

Long-stay travel-health insurance with a EUR 1M limit, far above ~EUR 46k, renewable for the full duration.

  • Up to EUR 1,000,000 medical coverage valid in every country for up to 12 months, with monthly billing and cancellation possible after the first month
  • Sign-up is possible while already abroad and up to age 69; insurance certificate for visa applications and border checks is issued immediately after the first payment
  • 24/7 emergency assistance (MCI Assist) with direct payment for inpatient hospital stays and no deductible on inpatient treatment

Cigna Healthcare (Cigna Global Insurance Company Limited) · International health insurance

International full health plan exceeding the USD 50k minimum, covering treatment in Costa Rica.

  • Three core tiers with annual maximums of $1M/€800k (Silver), $2M/€1.6M (Gold) and paid-in-full with no overall cap (Platinum)
  • No upper enrollment age (18+); insurer states it does not terminate policies based on age
  • Modular design: outpatient, evacuation & crisis assistance, health & wellbeing, vision & dental can be added; deductibles ($0-$10,000) and cost shares (0-30%) reduce the premium

Beyond the visa

Costa Rica — the rest of the move

The visa is step one. Here is the rest of what it takes to live here — each researched and sourced.

Sources