Costa Rica is launching a new visa for remote workers which will allow them to stay in the country for up to 12 months.
Under current rules remote workers – or ‘digital nomads’ – can only enter the country as tourists, meaning they must leave after 90 days. However, Costa Rica’s President Carlos Alvarado signed a new law that will allow them to apply for a 12-month stay, with benefits such as being exempt from local income taxes.
No official date has been set for starting the program, as the law needs to undergo a series of processes before officially launching, which is expected to take a few weeks.
According to local publication The Tico Times, applicants will need to meet certain requirements including showing proof of a monthly salary and having medical insurance in place.
The country’s tourism minister Gustavo Segura said in a statement that digital nomads are “key to the rebound of the [tourism] sector” and that Costa Rica was an ideal destination due to its strong internet connectivity, warm weather and the wide array of adventures on offer.
