The most common earning options that foreign citizens have while living in Costa Rica include:

• Work distantly (online). You can work for a non-Costa Rican company or as a freelancer, making a profit abroad while living in Costa Rica on a rentista visa. However, you still need to apply for legal residence in Costa Rica if you stay longer than three months (or one month if you have a visa).

• Starting a business. Temporary residence permit holders, such as investors or rentiers, are allowed to start a business in Costa Rica - they are simply not allowed to work in it. This way, you can start a business and earn income, but you will have to hire Costa Ricans to actually work for your company.

• Become a permanent resident. However, you can become a permanent resident of Costa Rica and get work rights only if you are related to a Costa Rican or have lived in a country with a temporary residence permit for at least three years.

• Obtaining a work permit in Costa Rica. As mentioned, this latter option is more complex and much harder to get.

Work permits in Costa Rica

A work permit in Costa Rica falls under the "special category" of Immigration permits along with a student permit.

This means that it will allow the owner to work and stay in the country under the conditions set by the Ministry of Labor and social protection.

Work permits in Costa Rica included in the" special category " of immigration include:

• Work permit in Costa Rica for artists, athletes and entertainers

• Work permit in Costa Rica for professional and technical guests

• Work permit in Costa Rica for transferred staff

• Work permit in Costa Rica for preventive maintenance and corrective post-sales management services

• Work permit in Costa Rica to work in a specific profession

• Work permit in Costa Rica to work in a specific profession as a domestic worker

• Work permit in Costa Rica to work in a specific profession in a company (legal entity)

• Work permit in Costa Rica for self-employed people in agriculture, construction and services

• Work permit in Costa Rica for self-employed people in a well-known company

• Work permit in Costa Rica for temporary workers

• Work permit in Costa Rica for border guards

Required documents for a Costa Rican work visa

The documents that you must apply for a work permit in Costa Rica include:

• A work permit application form that you can get from the Immigration Department

• Application letter including:

• The reason why you apply

• Your full name, nationality, place and date of birth

• Passport number

• Place and date of arrival in Costa Rica

• Exact address in Costa Rica

• Your occupation/profession

• Your contact information

• Two photos with the size of the passport of you

• The confirmation that you have paid the required fee for obtaining a work permit

• Your birth certificate

• The marriage certificate (if any)

• Copies of all pages of your passport, even blank ones. Each of them must be notarized.

• A certificate from the employer indicating the amount of salary, work experience and job description.

• Registration documents and Charter of the employer company

• The confirmation that the company that will hire you is registered.

• The proof that the employee's insurance has been paid for (insurance company statement)

• A certificate of income/sufficient financial resources.

• A certificate of non-criminal record from the police of your country.

• The confirmation of registration at the Costa Rican consulate.

How do I get a Costa Rican work visa?

To get a Costa Rican work visa, you first need to find an employer who is willing to hire you. You and your employer must prove that the position you hold could not have been held by a Costa Rican.

In addition, the process of obtaining a work permit in Costa Rica is lengthy and does not guarantee success.

However, if you were able to find a job that meets the requirements for obtaining a Costa Rican work visa, the application process is as follows:

Obtaining a temporary Costa Rican visa

Before traveling to Costa Rica, apply for a temporary visa at the Costa Rican consulate in your country. The process of applying for a temporary visa is almost the same as for a regular entry visa, except that you must indicate in the application letter that you are applying for a temporary visa.

Even if you are not a citizen who needs a visa, you must register at the Costa Rican consulate.

Applying for a work permit in Costa Rica

When you are in Costa Rica, you must apply for a work permit at Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (Costa Rica Immigration Department).

The Immigration Department takes into account the rules set by the Department of Labor and Social Security when reviewing your application.

Before applying to the Department of Immigration, you must register your fingerprints with the Ministerio Seguridad Pública (Ministry of Public Security) in San Jose.

Remember:

• This is an incomplete list of requirements documents may be very different depending on the specific case.

• You must obtain all the necessary documents before traveling to Costa Rica.

• You must translate all documents in Spanish and notarize the translation.

• All your documents must be legalized either through an apostille stamp (if your country is a party to the Apostille Convention) or at the Costa Rican consulate.

• Time to apply for a work permit in Costa Rica

• Obtaining a work permit in Costa Rica can take an average from 3 to 8 months, but it can also take longer.

Costa Rican Rentista visa for digital nomads

Costa Rica, known as a rainforest Paradise, is filled with beaches, adventures and animals who are waiting for your arrival. While it offers many work and study opportunities, it also offers an additional digital nomads experience through the Rentista visa.