Almost a year after Law No. 22,215, known as the "Law to Attract International Digital Nomads" was issued, its regulations come into effect.

The law was signed in August 2021 by former President Carlos Alvarado.

On Monday, President Rodrigo Chaves signed the final regulations allowing the law finally to be applied to grant a series of benefits to international virtual workers.

The law allows the creation of a new visa category for foreign virtual (or nomad) workers. With this visa, virtual workers can stay in the country for one year, with the option of extending an additional year if they want. 

Currently, tourist visas only allow international tourists to stay in the country for 90 continuous days.

Another virtual workers' visa benefit is the tax exemption on the importation of technology or equipment necessary for doing their work, such as computers and cameras among other devices.

People with this visa will also be exempt from income taxes on the earnings generated by the work carried out in Costa Rica.

The visa also allows them to obtain a medical insurance policy that covers them throughout the period they are in the country. This benefit applies without the need to have a resident ID known as DIMEX.

Another benefit of this visa is allowing self-employed immigrants to open their bank accounts in Costa Rica’s local banks.

In addition, international digital nomads will be able to drive using their driver's licenses from their countries of origin without having to go through the homologation process.