Costa Rica to Offer New Digital Nomad Visa for Travelers

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Last Updated 2 years ago

The government of Costa Rica has recently passed legislation to implement a new visa. This new law is intended to entice remote workers from around the world to live and work in Costa Rica. The tourism board in Costa Rica is behind the digital nomad visa, believing it will help revive the country’s tourism industry. 

Costa Rica’s New Digital Nomad Visa Coming Soon

New Digital Nomad Visa Approved

Costa Rica President Carlos Alvarado approved this legislation that is targeted to digital nomads. This new law will allow qualifying foreign nationals to obtain a visa for a period of one full consecutive year. The visa would also have the option for travelers to extend the visa for an additional year as well. The Costa Rican government believes this new visa will be an incentive for remote workers to live and work in the Central American nation. 

An Effort to Bring Back Tourism

Alvarado recently told the Tico Times, “We welcome digital nomads to Costa Rica”. The President also added, “The digital nomad utilizes services, consumes food, makes purchases, utilizes transportation and hires people. All of this generates more employment and growth in the country.” 

The Costa Rican Tourism Board believes that these international remote workers will definitely help revive the country’s tourism industry and other related sectors. They estimate that these digital nomads will contribute approximately $24, 000 USD to the local economy. This move will also bring more employment opportunities for Costa Ricans. 

Tourism Minister Gustavo Segura commented that these digital nomads will be ‘key to the rebound of the sector’. He noted that Costa Rica is a desirable destination for remote workers due to its warm weather, numerous outdoor activities, and high WIFI availability throughout the country. 

Conditions for Digital Nomad Visa Holders

Digital nomads that carry this new visa will have a number of benefits these include:

• Visa holders are exempt from local income taxes

• Can open bank accounts in Costa Rica

• Permitted to drive in Costa Rica with a valid driver’s license from their home country

The Costa Rican government is currently working on adding even more benefits for the remote workers to provide additional incentives to live there. 

Current Costa Rica Tourist Visas

Currently, digital nomads are classified as tourists and permitted to stay in Costa Rica for a period of up to 90 consecutive days. It may take some time to implement the project and finalize all details, but officials are hopeful that the digital nomad visa applications will be available in a few weeks. 

Information on Traveling to Costa Rica

In Costa Rica, tourists from all over the world are permitted to enter the country. The country does not require negative COVID-19 tests for entry. Costa Rica also does not require any quarantine measures for arrivals. 

Travelers that wish to visit Costa Rica should routinely check the US Embassy in Costa Rica website to keep informed of all travel restrictions and alerts for Costa Rica. 

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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com