8 things to know about the Costa Rica digital nomad visa

The extended-expected Costa Rica electronic nomad visa has lastly been designed law, just after Costa Rican president Rodrigo Chaves signed off on the laws this week, adhering to the inclusion of modifications to make it a lot more accessible and easier to utilize.

Officially regarded as the ‘Law to Appeal to Personnel and Distant Suppliers of Intercontinental Companies,’ the electronic nomad visa was initial accredited by the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica in July 2021 and originally signed into law by Chaves’ predecessor Carlos Alvarado in August.

On the other hand, right implementation of the visa was held up by worries raised amid government departments that the necessities were being also restrictive, prompting modifications to be made to relieve the application approach and relax its conditions. It will come into drive once the text of the regulation is published in the the formal government newspaper, La Gaceta.

SEE ALSO: Discover an employer of record for payroll outsourcing in Costa Rica

The regulation is just one of a range of measures the Costa Rican federal government has taken given that the onset of the pandemic to really encourage overseas investment decision and guests back again to the region, and is one amongst numerous examples of visas being launched close to Latin America and the Caribbean to appeal to distant personnel.

The signing off of the legislation on July 6 introduces a range of modifications to the original legislation that make it considerably less difficult to get a Costa Rica digital nomad visa. Down below, 8 important facets of the visa and software system are highlighted:

1. A criminal document check out is NOT mandatory

One particular of the most noteworthy modifications to the Costa Rica digital nomad visa is the elimination of the have to have for a prison report test. That guarantees to be a important time saver for several candidates, for the reason that getting a prison file background test can often be a delayed course of action.

It is vital to observe that it does not indicate all candidates will essentially be granted the visa without the need of acquiring their legal background checked. Mainly because Costa Rican authorities are even now ready to insist on these checks if they deem it acceptable to do so. But it is now at their discretion, fairly than compulsory.

2. The Costa Rica digital nomad visa demands a least cash flow

One of the main criterions for obtaining a digital nomad visa is remaining capable to confirm that you satisfy the bare minimum cash flow threshold. For any person preparing to shift to the state by itself, that signifies earnings of at the very least US $3,000 for every month, although any individual bringing a associate or relatives should be earning US $4,000. Everyone established to be granted a visa as element of an applicatin must also have health insurance plan.

Demonstrating earnings includes supplying unique financial institution statements that verify the applicant has persistently fulfilled the relevant threshold through an affidavit, which the US embassy in Costa Rica defines as a “written or printed declaration or statement of details, made voluntarily, and confirmed by the oath or affirmation of the human being building it, taken right before a consular officer obtaining authority to administer this sort of an oath.”

3. The visa delivers big tax breaks

A major draw of the Costa Rica electronic nomad visa is the point it will come with whole revenue tax exemption for the holder, as nicely as exemption from import taxes for the importation of computers and other products the holder desires to undertake their occupation, furthermore up to two motor vehicles.

It is truly worth noting that while companions or dependents will be permitted to use any car introduced in absolutely free of import tax, they will not enjoy income tax exemption, which only applies to the principal visa holder.

4. Files ought to be skillfully translated

Any files required as section of the software process that do not originally look in Spanish will want to be translated by an accredited translator inside Costa Rica or the applicant’s state of origin, or by a registered Costa Rican notary.

This stipulation does not implement to passports.

5. You no longer will need apostilles to get a Costa Rica electronic nomad visa

Beforehand the electronic nomad visa expected paperwork to be apostilled — a form of authentication acknowledged all over the globe which can occasionally take weeks to get hold of. Now, having said that, files can now be authenticated with an affidavit.

That is a a great deal simpler requirement, intended to slash down the bureacracy and time associated in getting the visa.

6. An inital software will be processed promptly

To start off the application method for a Costa Rica electronic nomad visa, applicants can check out the Trámite Ya system, the place they will be capable to total the on the net form, which consists of submitting simple own data and a amount of personalized and lawful files.

Once the application has been submitted, authorities will then have a highest of 15 days to take or reject the application — a stipulation imposed to hasten the processing time. 

7. You have restricted time to get your immigration accredited 

The moment an application has in the beginning been granted the applicant can enter the country, upon arrival they will have a few months to process their immigration accreditation doc. That will entail a deal with-to-deal with appointment at the offices of the country’s migration authority.

During that appointment, pictures and biometric details will be taken, and other own and lawful documents must be offered.

8. Extending a Costa Rica electronic nomad visa involves a least keep

The Costa Rica electronic nomad visa is intended to draw in remote personnel, in portion for the reason that their paying for power within just the region will be a boost for the economic climate. To that end, stipulations for renewal have been integrated to inspire holders to remain in the state for at least half of the time they keep the visa.

A visa will be to begin with granted for a time period of 12 months, which can then be extended for a even more 12 months. Nonetheless, holders will only be granted an extension if they are been in the region for a minimal of 180 times throughout the first 12 months.

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*Lewis McLeod contributed to this report