🇨🇷 Mexico & Central America
Costa Rica
Costa Rica for American digital nomads: up to 180 days visa-free, a nomad visa (Digital Nomad Stay (Estancia)), and a tax-friendly regime once you become tax resident.
Mexico & Central America 🛂 Has nomad visa 🧾 tax-friendly
At a glance
| Tourist entry (US passport) | Up to 180 days visa-free |
| Digital nomad visa | Digital Nomad Stay (Estancia) — income requirement $3,000/mo ($4,000 w/ family), 1 yr |
| Path to permanent residency | DNV: no. Rentista/Pensionado: yes → PR after 3 yrs |
| Tax system | Territorial ⭐ · top rate 25% top (local income only) |
| US tax treaty | No |
| Family-law exposure (payer) | Obligation 6/10 · cross-border collection 6/10 |
| Safety (hard stats) | Homicide 16.6/100k · road deaths 13/100k |
Full detail with ratings and sources: visas & residency · tax breakdown · legal exposure · safety & crime
General reference — not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Rules change
often and depend on your situation; US citizens are taxed by the IRS on worldwide income no
matter where they live. Verify specifics with a qualified professional before acting.
Data last updated · Source: Compiled from the visas, tax and legal datasets
Cities we cover in Costa Rica
Month-by-month weather: San José climate