He was part of the national team squad, that played in the 1990 FIFA World Cup held in Italy but he did not play in any game, reportedly because he was dating the Italian daughter of the owner of the hotel where they stayed and who tempted him to go out at night. He made his debut in a May 1990 Marlboro Cup match against Poland and collected 11 caps, scoring no goals for the "Ticos". He played his final international on March 27, 2002 against Morocco, averaging only 1 international per year. Jara also represented Costa Rica at the 1999 UNCAF Nations Cup as well as in the 1997 Copa América, playing against Colombia on June 16, 1997.