The short version
Costa Rica's digital nomad visa (created by Law 10008, the "Estancia para Trabajadores Remotos") requires private health insurance with a minimum of $50,000 USD in coverage for each applicant, valid for the entire duration of the stay. Travel insurance is not accepted — it must be a long-term health or medical policy from an international or Costa Rican insurer. All dependents included in the application must be covered too. Immigration rules can change, so confirm the current minimum with the DGME (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería) or your attorney before applying.
What the visa is — and isn't
The digital nomad visa is a temporary stay permit (estancia) for remote workers whose income comes entirely from outside Costa Rica. It is not a tourist extension, not a work permit, and not a path to permanent residency. It lasts one year and is renewable once, for a maximum of two years in the country under this category.
The headline eligibility requirements, as summarized by multiple 2026 immigration guides, are: stable foreign income of at least $3,000 USD per month ($4,000 with dependents, documented with roughly 12 months of bank statements), a clean criminal record, and the qualifying health insurance policy described above. Applications are submitted online through the TramiteYa platform.
The insurance rule, in detail
- Minimum coverage: $50,000 USD per person, consistently cited in current guides to the visa. Confirm the figure before you apply — it comes from regulation, not from any insurer.
- Full-stay validity: the policy must cover the entire visa period, and it must stay valid. The requirement attaches to the visa status, so a lapse mid-year jeopardizes renewal as well as the initial application.
- Long-term policy only: travel insurance — the kind sold for a two-week trip — does not qualify. The authorities want a health or medical insurance policy designed for an extended stay.
- International or local: the policy can come from an international insurer or from a Costa Rican insurer regulated by SUGESE. What matters is that the policy documents state the required coverage for the full period, in a form the immigration authority recognizes.
- Dependents included: every dependent on the application (spouse, children) needs qualifying coverage for the full stay at the same standard.
What counts vs. what fails
| Qualifying policy | Not qualifying | |
|---|---|---|
| Policy type | Long-term health or medical insurance, 12-month (or longer) term | Short-term travel insurance, trip protection, or medical-only travel riders |
| Coverage amount | At least $50,000 USD per person, stated in the policy documents | Lower medical limits, or coverage described vaguely without an amount |
| Duration | Valid for the entire visa stay and renewable for a second year | A policy that expires mid-stay with no renewal path |
| Issuer | International insurer, or a Costa Rican insurer supervised by SUGESE | An informal plan, a card or membership product that is not insurance |
| People covered | Every applicant and dependent on the application | The main applicant only, when dependents are included in the visa |
Local vs international: which fits a nomad?
A local Costa Rican plan (from a SUGESE-regulated insurer) is typically priced for treatment inside Costa Rica and gives access to the country's private hospitals — facilities such as CIMA, Clínica Bíblica, and Hospital Metropolitano, depending on the policy's network. It is usually the simplest, cheapest route if Costa Rica is your base for the year.
An international plan covers eligible care across a wider territory and may include treatment in your home country or the USA — relevant if you travel during the visa year or want care back home covered. The trade-off is price: including the USA raises premiums significantly. Nomads who spend months outside Costa Rica during the visa period should check the policy's rules on days abroad, because some international plans limit how long you can be outside the covered territory.
Either way, before buying, ask for written confirmation that the policy meets the visa's stated minimum and will remain valid for the full 12-month period — and keep that document. It is part of your application file.
Why nomads can't just use CAJA
A common question from remote workers: "Can't I just enroll in the public system?" The digital nomad visa is a temporary stay permit, not a residency category, and the CAJA affiliation obligation that applies to legal residents does not attach to it (residency rules are covered in our CAJA vs private plans guide). In practice, your private policy is your health coverage during the stay — one more reason immigration authorities treat the insurance requirement strictly.
Application checklist: the insurance part
- Confirm the current minimum coverage and policy conditions with the DGME or your immigration attorney.
- Get quotes for policies that meet or exceed the minimum, valid for 12 months and renewable.
- Verify the coverage amount and full-stay validity are stated clearly in the policy documents.
- Make sure every dependent on the application is covered at the same standard.
- Keep proof of coverage current — renewal of the visa depends on maintaining it.
- Compare networks and limits for Costa Rica treatment (hospital access, direct billing, pre-authorization), not just the premium.
Interconsultores works with licensed insurers and health-coverage partners, including INS, Pan-American Life, MAPFRE, ASSA, Qualitas, and Best Doctors. Availability, underwriting, benefits, and eligibility vary by carrier and policy.