Traffic Law Reform: Drive Legally in Costa Rica – Foreign-Issued Driver’s Licenses and Their Recognition in Costa Rica
On May 7, 2024, a reform to Article 91 of Law 9078, the Traffic Law on Public Roads and Road Safety, enacted on October 4, 2012, came into effect.
This legal amendment has significant immigration implications for foreign individuals entering Costa Rica, whether as tourists or with the intention of temporarily or permanently residing in the country.
The reform focuses on the article regulating the recognition of foreign driver’s licenses, specifically the process of “Recognition of Licenses Issued Abroad.”
Previously, Costa Rican law allowed individuals to drive with a foreign permit for up to three months after entering the country. It also permitted the recognition of those foreign permits as Costa Rican driver’s licenses once the individual obtained an approved immigration status and their corresponding Immigration Identity Document for Foreigners (DIMEX). For this purpose, there were several requirements, such as having completed a minimum period of three months and one day since their last entry into Costa Rica before scheduling a recognition appointment with COSEVI (Road Safety Council).
However, the reform introduces the following significant modifications:
- Individuals entering Costa Rica as tourists or in a transitory capacity who hold a foreign driver’s license may use that license for the same period authorized by immigration authorities for the immigration status under which they entered.
- For example, if a tourist is granted a stay of up to 180 days, they will be able to use their foreign license for the entire period, instead of being limited to the previous three-month restriction. Additionally, they will no longer need to engage in what was commonly known as a “visa run,” which involved leaving Costa Rica, renewing the passport stamp, and re-entering to continue driving with a foreign permit until qualifying for license recognition.
- On the other hand, individuals with a foreign driver’s license who have an approved immigration status, those who have merely submitted an application for an immigration status, as well as foreign diplomatic and consular officials and officials from international organizations accredited in the country, will be able to recognize their foreign permit as a Costa Rican driver’s license without the need for a minimum period of stay in the country. This means they can begin the recognition process as soon as they submit their application, should they wish to do so.
The requirements for recognizing a foreign driver’s license include:
i) The license to be recognized must be valid.
ii) Compliance with the legal requirements for the class and type of license being recognized, except for the obligation to take the basic road safety education course and the practical driving test.
iii) Proof of a legal immigration status in the country or being in the process of obtaining one in accordance with current immigration laws.
If you have any questions or need guidance on the process of recognizing a foreign driver’s license under the new legislation, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Written by: Lexincorp Costa Rica
