Have you arrived in Bogota from another country and want to drive but don't know if your license is allowed here? Don’t worry, here at Portal Bogota we’ll explain exactly what you need to do.
The first thing to check is if your driver's license is valid. If so, you can use it throughout Colombia without any problems for a maximum period of six (6) months, in accordance with Art. 25 Law 769 of 2002 and Art. 50 of Decree 1743 of 2015.
If you are a Venezuelan migrant and have a Special Stay Permit (PEP, as per the acronym in Spanish) or a passport in regular migratory condition, you may also use your foreign license for the same period of six (6) months. Once this period is over, you’ll have to apply for a new driver's license as a first-time applicant.
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If you are a citizen of a country with which Colombia has a signed agreement - the Kingdom of Spain, the Republic of Peru, the Republic of Chile and the Republic of Korea - you may request the recognition of your driver's license issued in your country of origin if your stay exceeds six (6) months.
If you are a national of a country that is a signatory of an agreement, to request the recognition of your foreign driver's license once you are in Bogotá, you must follow the following steps:
- Register your details with the RUNT (“National Transit Registry”) at any One-Stop Service Window (VUS, as per the acronym in Spanish) service points.
- Go to the Traffic Subdirectorate of the Ministry of Transportation with your driver's license issued in the country of origin, a copy of your foreigner identification document, and the application form available here.
- The Ministry of Transportation will verify the validity of the documents provided with the competent authority of the country of origin within two (2) calendar months, in order to authorize or reject the application.
- Once the application has been approved by the Ministry of Transportation, go to a VUS service point to start the 'driver's license issuance' process.
You can check out the District Secretariat of Mobility One-Stop Service Window available service points by clicking here.
If you have a driver's license from a country that does not have an agreement signed with Colombia and have exceeded the six-month period, you will also have to apply for a new driver's license as a first-time applicant by presenting your valid foreigner's identification card or passport.
For the latter case, we recommend you follow the instructions on how to apply for your driver's license for the first time as described in the following link (in Spanish):
