8 things to know about the Costa Rica digital nomad visa

The very long-predicted Costa Rica digital nomad visa has at last been made legislation, right after Costa Rican president Rodrigo Chaves signed off on the laws this week, following the inclusion of modifications to make it more obtainable and a lot easier to apply.

Officially regarded as the ‘Law to Entice Staff and Distant Companies of Global Providers,’ the electronic nomad visa was very first authorised by the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica in July 2021 and to begin with signed into law by Chaves’ predecessor Carlos Alvarado in August.

However, good implementation of the visa was held up by concerns raised amongst governing administration departments that the specifications ended up much too restrictive, prompting modifications to be made to simplicity the application procedure and rest its circumstances. It will arrive into force the moment the text of the regulation is released in the the official governing administration newspaper, La Gaceta.

SEE ALSO: Obtain an employer of document for payroll outsourcing in Costa Rica

The legislation is a person of a array of measures the Costa Rican authorities has taken considering that the onset of the pandemic to inspire foreign investment decision and site visitors back to the place, and is 1 among the numerous illustrations of visas currently being released all over Latin The usa and the Caribbean to bring in remote personnel.

The signing off of the regulation on July 6 introduces a selection of variations to the initial legislation that make it considerably easier to get hold of a Costa Rica electronic nomad visa. Under, 8 vital facets of the visa and software approach are highlighted:

1. A felony report verify is NOT obligatory

One particular of the most notable modifications to the Costa Rica digital nomad visa is the elimination of the need to have for a criminal file examine. That guarantees to be a sizeable time saver for lots of candidates, for the reason that obtaining a criminal report background examine can sometimes be a delayed procedure.

It is important to observe that it does not necessarily mean all applicants will necessarily be granted the visa with no owning their felony background checked. Since Costa Rican authorities are continue to able to insist on such checks if they deem it fair to do so. But it is now at their discretion, alternatively than compulsory.

2. The Costa Rica digital nomad visa necessitates a bare minimum profits

One of the key criterions for receiving a electronic nomad visa is staying in a position to show that you meet the minimum amount profits threshold. For any individual setting up to transfer to the country on your own, that signifies earnings of at the very least US $3,000 per month, even though anyone bringing a lover or relatives must be earning US $4,000. Anyone established to be granted a visa as aspect of an applicatin need to also have wellness insurance.

Demonstrating earnings entails providing initial lender statements that verify the applicant has persistently achieved the applicable threshold via an affidavit, which the US embassy in Costa Rica defines as a “written or printed declaration or assertion of specifics, built voluntarily, and confirmed by the oath or affirmation of the human being generating it, taken just before a consular officer obtaining authority to administer this sort of an oath.”

3. The visa gives big tax breaks

A major draw of the Costa Rica digital nomad visa is the fact it arrives with entire income tax exemption for the holder, as properly as exemption from import taxes for the importation of computers and other products the holder demands to undertake their job, moreover up to two motor vehicles.

It is worth noting that when partners or dependents will be permitted to use any motor vehicle brought in cost-free of import tax, they will not delight in money tax exemption, which only applies to the most important visa holder.

4. Files should be professionally translated

Any paperwork required as portion of the software system that do not initially seem in Spanish will need to have to be translated by an accredited translator inside Costa Rica or the applicant’s nation of origin, or by a registered Costa Rican notary.

This stipulation does not utilize to passports.

5. You no for a longer time need apostilles to get a Costa Rica digital nomad visa

Earlier the digital nomad visa needed documents to be apostilled — a variety of authentication acknowledged close to the globe which can from time to time just take months to get. Now, on the other hand, files can now be authenticated with an affidavit.

That is a substantially less difficult necessity, supposed to slash down the bureacracy and time involved in obtaining the visa.

6. An inital application will be processed fast

To begin the software procedure for a Costa Rica digital nomad visa, candidates can go to the Trámite Ya platform, where by they will be in a position to complete the on the web variety, which features publishing essential personalized information and facts and a selection of particular and lawful files.

At the time the application has been submitted, authorities will then have a most of 15 times to settle for or reject the application — a stipulation imposed to hasten the processing time. 

7. You have confined time to get your immigration accredited 

At the time an application has originally been granted the applicant can enter the country, upon arrival they will have 3 months to method their immigration accreditation document. That will contain a confront-to-encounter appointment at the offices of the country’s migration authority.

Throughout that appointment, images and biometric facts will be taken, and other particular and legal paperwork have to be introduced.

8. Extending a Costa Rica electronic nomad visa demands a minimal stay

The Costa Rica digital nomad visa is meant to catch the attention of distant workers, in section since their obtaining power within the place will be a boost for the economic system. To that conclusion, stipulations for renewal have been provided to inspire holders to keep on being in the place for at the very least fifty percent of the time they keep the visa.

A visa will be to begin with granted for a period of 12 months, which can then be prolonged for a additional 12 months. Nonetheless, holders will only be granted an extension if they are been in the country for a minimum of 180 days all through the initial yr.

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*Lewis McLeod contributed to this write-up