No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaForeigners in Costa Rica can now legally drive after three-month limit

Foreigners in Costa Rica can now legally drive after three-month limit

Tourists with a valid foreign driver’s license can legally operate a vehicle in Costa Rica beyond the typical three-month limit, the Public Works and Transport Ministry (MOPT) has announced.

In a press release issued Wednesday night, MOPT said the following:

We extend through May 15 the grace period for drivers whose license has expired after March 20, 2020, so that during the period from March 20 to May 15, 2020, they are not fined for this cause. 

The same period of time applies for drivers with a valid foreign driver’s license, with an uninterrupted stay in the country for longer than three months and who should have homologated their license as of March 20. 

In addition, for those who are in Costa Rica as tourists and have entered the country after December 17, 2019, we authorize an extension until July 17, 2020 to renew, in the case that their homologation status is expired. 

[Emphasis is ours.]

Under normal circumstances, foreigners can legally drive in Costa Rica using a driver’s license from another country for up to three months after their arrival. This doesn’t usually cause problems, because Costa Rica issues tourist visas for up to 90 days.

However, Costa Rica has extended tourist visas due to the coronavirus pandemic, leaving many foreigners in the country unable to drive if they have been here for more than three months.

Foreigners who entered Costa Rica on a tourist visa after December 17, 2019, can legally remain in Costa Rica until July 17, 2020. And now, with a valid foreign license, they can legally drive throughout that period, too.

Update: A previous version of this story mistranslated March and May, because that’s what happens when breaking news happens late at night. 

Trending Now

Why I Choose Real Life in Costa Rica Over the AI Hype

When it comes to AI, call me OG. Old school. I sometimes wish I could go back to a time before it existed. Artificial...

Keylor Navas Leads Pumas to Victory in His Liga MX Debut

Keylor Navas kicked off his Mexican league journey with Pumas UNAM in style, leading the team to a 2–0 win over Querétaro at Estadio...

Costa Rica Embraces IHRA to Combat Antisemitism in Region

Costa Rica has formally adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. This step positions the country as the sixth in...

Nicaragua Places Bayardo Arce Under House Arrest Amid Power Struggle

The Nicaraguan government has placed historic Sandinista commander Bayardo Arce, economic adviser to President Daniel Ortega, under house arrest, according to exiled opposition members...

Costa Rica Surpasses 500 Homicides as Gang Violence Escalates

Costa Rica has officially surpassed 500 homicides so far this year, according to figures released Monday by the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ). As of...

Costa Rica Food Culture: From Bar Bocas to Fast Food Chains

Once upon a time in Costa Rica, you could walk into a bar, order a beer, and receive a free boca – a small...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica