The public policy exception is one of the most frequent bases for refusing the recognition of a foreign award. However, public policy has been described as “an unruly horse”, given the lack of consensus on its definition at an international level. Thus, the doctrinal debate about public policy sco-pe for the recognition of a foreign award has resulted in the submission to the international public po-licy. Nonetheless, the adoption of the new Costa Rican Code of Civil Procedure causes an indetermination on which kind of public policy must apply in the country, as the grounds for refusal of a foreign award enforcements. The authors propose a solution to the issue, in accordance with the goals of New York Convention, Panama Convention, and UNCITRAL Model Law.