BCR Postpones Issuing Licenses and Passports
The Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) has postponed its plan to begin issuing drivers licenses and passports today, until the beginning of July.

The bank originally had planned to issue drivers licenses, first time and renewals, and passports at 10 of its branches and then expanding the program to 30 within the coming months.

The plan is part of the "Gobierno Digital", a program to integrate the state bank with government agencies in an attempt to provide better government services and shorter lines at the government agencies.

The BCR said that it is still continuing tests of its link with the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) and the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (immigration service) and it hopes to have the system online by the first week in July.

Those who need to renew or are seeking a drivers license for the first time or passport need only to call the bank and make an appointment. The bank promises that the wait time will not be more than 15 minutes to issue a new or renewal drivers license or passport.

Currently, the wait time at the drivers license office in San José, located on Calle 5 and Avenida 18 (on the south side) can take hours. The same situation is at the immigration service offices in La Uruca.