Best for budget
Costa Rica
Lower monthly income thresholds make this option easier to qualify for financially.
Side-by-side visa comparison
Costa Rica vs Japan — Digital Nomad Visa Comparison
Costa Rica requires $3,000/month with 12 months stay, while Japan requires $68,000/year with 6 months stay. Costa Rica wins on budget.
Budget
Costa Rica
Long-term
Costa Rica
Fastest
Costa Rica
Feature
Costa Rica
Japan
Minimum Income
$3,000/month
$68,000/year
Duration
12 months
6 months
Processing Time
2 weeks
3 weeks
Application Fee
$100
$20
Tax Status
Full income tax exemption on foreign-sourced earnings per Art. 16 of Ley 10008. Beneficiaries are explicitly NOT considered habitual tax residents. This exemption applies only to the primary beneficiary, not to family members automatically. Costa Rica uses a territorial tax system.
Tax exposure depends on stay length, treaty status, and sourcing rules; shorter stays under 183 days may avoid Japanese tax in treaty-supported cases.
Dependents
Yes
Yes
Path to Residency
No
No
Path to Citizenship
No
No
Best for long-term
Costa Rica
Longer approved stay periods reduce renewal pressure and support slower relocation plans.
Fastest processing
Costa Rica
Shorter processing windows can make this the better pick for near-term travel timelines.
Next step
Check Costa Rica eligibility for your nationality
Next step
Check Japan eligibility for your nationality