Do I Need an International Driving Permit in Costa Rica?We have not yet checked Costa Rica’s own rules for foreign licences.
Costa Rica has not joined either UN convention. Check with its embassy whether a translation or local permit is needed.
We have not yet checked Costa Rica’s own rules for foreign licences.
Costa Rica has not joined either UN convention. Check with its embassy whether a translation or local permit is needed.
Rules for all foreign drivers in Costa Rica
We have not yet checked Costa Rica’s own rules for foreign licences.
Costa Rica has not joined either UN convention. Check with its embassy whether a translation or local permit is needed.
Which IDP version Costa Rica accepts
Costa Rica is not a party to either UN convention; check with the embassy whether a translation or local permit is needed.
| Convention | Status |
|---|---|
| 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | Not a party |
| 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Signed on 8 November 1968, not ratified |
Source: United Nations Treaty Collection.
Getting the right IDP for Costa Rica
Costa Rica has not joined either UN convention, so check with its embassy which document it accepts before you apply. In the UK: PayPoint stores. In the US: AAA. In Canada: CAA. Elsewhere: your national automobile club or licensing authority.
What the UK, US and Canadian governments tell their citizens
No IDP needed with a UK licence. The US and Canadian advice does not say.
UK licence holdersUK licence accepted, no IDP needed.Source: UK FCDO, updated 19 May 2026
US licence holdersNot stated in the advice, check the source.Source: US Department of State, updated 1 April 2026
Canadian licence holdersNot stated in the advice, check the source.Source: Government of Canada, updated 14 October 2026
What the governments say
Short quotes from each government's travel advice for its own citizens. The wording is theirs.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Costa Rica for up to 180 days, depending on the length of stay you have been granted as a Tourist.
Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Costa Rica, updated 19 May 2026. Quoted as published.
US Department of State
You must have a valid passport and a U.S. driver's license or an international driving permit.
Source: US Department of State travel advice for Costa Rica, updated 1 April 2026. Quoted as published.
Questions
Can I drive in Costa Rica with a foreign licence?
We have not yet checked Costa Rica’s own rules for foreign licences. Costa Rica has not joined either UN convention. Check with its embassy whether a translation or local permit is needed.
Can I drive in Costa Rica with a 1968 IDP?
Costa Rica has not joined either UN convention. Check with its embassy whether a translation or local permit is needed.
Can I drive in Costa Rica with a 1949 IDP?
Costa Rica has not joined either UN convention. Check with its embassy whether a translation or local permit is needed.
Do UK licence holders need an IDP in Costa Rica?
No. A UK driving licence is accepted in Costa Rica. Source: UK FCDO, updated 19 May 2026.
Do US licence holders need an IDP in Costa Rica?
The US Department of State advice does not say. Source: US Department of State, updated 1 April 2026.
Do Canadian licence holders need an IDP in Costa Rica?
The Government of Canada advice does not say. Source: Government of Canada, updated 14 October 2026.
How long can I drive in Costa Rica with an IDP?
UK FCDO (updated 19 May 2026): “You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Costa Rica for up to 180 days, depending on the length of stay you have been granted as a Tourist.”
About International Driving Permits
What is an International Driving Permit?
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is an official translation of your national driving licence, set out in a standard format agreed under United Nations road traffic conventions.
An IDP is not a licence on its own. It is valid only when carried together with your valid national driving licence. During a traffic stop, you must show both documents.
An IDP helps because it allows police, car rental companies and insurers abroad to read and understand your licence details, even where the language differs from their own.
You can only obtain an IDP from the country that issued your driving licence, and you must do this before you travel. It cannot be obtained or renewed once you are abroad.
Whether you need an IDP depends on your destination, where your licence was issued and sometimes how long you plan to stay. The answer for this country is at the top of this page.
1949 or 1968 IDP: which one do you need?
There are two main IDP formats, based on two UN road traffic conventions: the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1968 Vienna Convention. An older format, based on the 1926 Paris Convention, is still required in a few countries.
The 1949 IDP is valid for 1 year from the date of issue. The 1968 IDP is valid for up to 3 years, or until your national licence expires, whichever comes first.
Your destination decides which format it accepts, based on the convention or conventions it has joined. Some countries are party to both the 1949 and 1968 conventions.
If you are visiting several countries on one trip, you may need more than one IDP, depending on which conventions each country has joined.
| Format | Based on | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 IDP | 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | 1 year from date of issue |
| 1968 IDP | 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Up to 3 years, or until your national licence expires, whichever comes first |
| 1926 IDP | 1926 Paris Convention | Required in a few countries only |
The page for each country shows which convention it has joined.
Related
- International Driving Permit: all countries
- Do I need an IDP in Anguilla?
- Do I need an IDP in Antigua and Barbuda?
- Do I need an IDP in Argentina?
- How to get citizenship of Costa Rica
Sources and methodology
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for Costa Rica. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- US Department of State: travel advice for Costa Rica. US Department of State: public domain (US Government work).
- Government of Canada: travel advice for Costa Rica. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
- United Nations Treaty Collection: status of the 1949 and 1968 road traffic conventions.
The licence statuses above are derived automatically from the government text quoted on this page. Government advice changes often: confirm the current rules with the official source before you travel.
Last checked 9 November 2026.