Discovering Costa Rica

Driving Driver’s License Requirements + Original Passport + Three photocopies of the front page of the passport with personal information (picture, personal info, and signature) + Three photocopies of the page of the passport with the last entry to Costa Rica + Original and three photocopies of the residential permit (ID document issued by Costa Rican Immigration Authorities with assignee’s picture) + Updated Driver’s License, original and photocopy (from country of origin) + Health Certificate can be obtained in the same building + The blood test is ¢5,000 in cash. If the Driver’s License from your country of precedence already specifies your blood type, you do not need to take this test The new regulations that complement the traffic law that came into effect in October of 2012 sparked some changes in how the law is interpreted. Please find a description of the process below, taking into consideration the new regulations. + All internationals have three months from the day they enter the country to drive with their valid and updated driver’s license from the country of origin. (No International Driver’s license is accepted) + To request a driver’s license, internationals must present their Residential Permit (ID document issued by Costa Rican Immigration Authorities with assignee’s picture). From day 91 (of permanency in Costa Rica) internationals are NOT permitted to drive a car with their country of origin driver’s license, even if it is still valid and updated. The fine is almost $200 USD + In order to request the Costa Rican Driver’s License (besides having on hand the Residential Permit), internationals must remain uninterruptedly in the country for 90 days + If at the end of the first three months’ internationals do not yet have their Residency Card from immigration, they are NOT authorized to drive a car. The only solution to this will be to go out of the country for 72 hours and enter the country again; this will grant them the right to drive a car with their country of origin driver’s license for another three months until their residence permit is granted and they complete their uninterrupted stay in the country for 90 days + In the case of driver’s licenses that do not have an English version, it is mandatory to present an official English translation of the document. Motor Vehicle Department will also accept a certified English translation from country of origin certifying the information contained in the driver’s license

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