Getting Ready

Consider this page your ultimate guide to preparing for UWC Costa Rica. It will have the most up-to-date information regarding traveling to the country, academic dates, and all the documentation you will need before starting your UWC journey.

Traveling around the world changes daily. Visit the following link to keep up with the latest requirements to enter Costa Rica. We will monitor changes and, if necessary, communicate with you about any relevant changes to the Government rules.
 

Important Dates

When am I expected to arrive on campus, and what are the important dates and holidays on the school calendar? A more detailed school calendar will be shared during Orientation week. The following are important dates for the 2025-2026 academic year calendar.

Official arrivals IB1s + Residence Assistants and Student Council IB2   August 6th and 7th, 2025
IB2s official arrivals   August 16th and 17th, 2025
Recharge Days   October 16th and 17th, 2025
December break Official Departure dates   December 6th and 7th, 2025
Campus closed   December 22nd, 2025 to January 1st, 2026
December break Official Return dates   January 2nd and 3rd, 2026
Semana Santa (Easter Holiday)   March 30th to April 3rd, 2026
Tentative dates for Graduation (pending IB exams confirmation)   May 21st, 2026
Campus closes at noon the day after graduation.
 		  

 

Traveling to Costa Rica

Traveling around the world changes daily. Visit the following link to keep up with the latest requirements for entering Costa Rica. We will monitor changes and, if necessary, communicate with you about any relevant changes to the Government rules.

Holiday Travel

For those traveling during December break, the College will provide transportation to the airport on December 6th and 7th, 2025, and again on January 2nd and 3rd, 2026. Please note that all students must return to campus by January 3rd, 2026. If students do not arrive and depart on the scheduled dates outlined in the calendar, transportation cannot be provided, and academic absences will not be excused.
 

List of 1 items.

  • Additional Information for Holiday Periods

    Any student remaining on campus after December 8th will incur lodging and activity fees (to be determined, but likely in the range of USD 35-40 per day) for the remainder of the holiday.

    • We plan to close campus from December 22nd at 6 a.m. to January 1st to provide enhanced work-life balance opportunities for our staff.  We will investigate other low-cost options for students during these dates and share this information as available.

    Finally, all new students must arrive with a return or round-trip ticket to guarantee a safe and legal departure from Costa Rica for less than 30/90 days from the entry date, depending on your visa type. We recommend buying a flexible ticket to change the departure date once in Costa Rica for the end of the academic year in May. The college does not offer residential services during June and July or the first half of August.

Documents & Information

To be officially enrolled in UWC Costa Rica, you must complete all the checklist items in Blackbaud by June 25th, 2025 (Visa Documents, Medical Forms, vaccinations, payment confirmations, and contracts). Once you submit all the forms, you are cleared to travel to Costa Rica. We highly recommend you book a flexible ticket.

Students who have not completed all enrollment documents will not be accepted on campus. If, at any point in the process, you have unforeseen challenges in meeting this deadline, please reach out to the Admissions Department for support: admissions@uwccostarica.org
Once you are enrolled, first-year students must arrive in Costa Rica on August 6th and 7th, 2025. Housing is not available before August 6th. The College provides transportation for students to and from the San José airport (SJO) only on the official arrival dates. Students must arrange their transportation if they want to come with their families.
 

Document Checklist

There is a large volume of documents you need to present in order for you (or your student) to study abroad at a College like ours. Keep this page at hand and come back if needed, as this will be your main resource and checklist of everything you need before arriving in Costa Rica in August 2025.

Please be aware you have to complete and upload these checklist items in Blackbaud by June 25, 2025: 
 
  • Educational Services Contract
  • Permission For Student Activities 
  • Agreement to Financial Terms
  • UWC Costa Rica Medical Annex
  • Acceptance to study at UWC Costa Rica
  • Mixed Residence Consent Form
  • Students Class Pledge
  • Families Class UWC Pledge
  • Immigration form
  • Parent's Passports or IDs
  • Acceptable Use Agreement for Students
  • Legalized Student Passport 
  • Transcript of current academic year
  • Acceptance for capturing images, voice, and related
  • US Visa or Transit visas
 

Physical Document Checklist

Also, please keep in mind to bring physically:
 
  • Special Power of Attorney (apostilled or issued before a Costa Rican consular notary),
  • Birth Certificate (apostilled or consularized), 
  • Criminal Record (apostilled or consularized, of legal age only), 
  • 2 photographs
  • Students with PAE scholarships need to bring the signed contract. 

Visas

All students will require permission to study in Costa Rica, and the country's Immigration law is complex. Some students’ passports allow them to enter Costa Rica on a limited tourist visa status, but others require an entry visa. Preparing the paperwork and legal requirements in your home country can take about 8 weeks, so start as soon as possible to avoid delays.
Once the student is in Costa Rica, the College will be in charge of applying for the student's visa to study here. Please read the detailed information below and get informed about your visa process. 
 

List of 2 items.

  • Detailed step by step on your Visa documentation

    First Step

    The first step in the immigration process is determining whether you need an entry visa to Costa Rica. Please click here to find out your country of nationality.

    If you have any questions regarding this step, you can contact visa.team@uwccostarica.org 

    Second Step

    The second step is to prepare the documentation required (all of the documents are in the checklist presented above):
    • Birth Certificate or certified copy.
    • Criminal Record.
    • Power of attorney & Delegation of Parental Authority
    • Copy of the Data page of the passport.
    • Copy of the Data Page for the guardian's passport.

    Additional documents if you need an Entry Visa:
    • School transcripts from the last two years.
    • Two passport-size photos.

    Third Step

    The third step is to upload scanned copies of all immigration documents with the necessary legalization process to your checklist on your Blackbaud account for review before sending them by air mail.

    Fourth Step

    The deadline for submitting physical copies of all original documents depends on your visa status. If you need an entry visa to Costa Rica, the deadline is June 1st. However, your deadline is extended to June 25th if you do not need an entry visa. Please send the required documents via certified, express mail to the following address:

    Marlene Fonseca / Alejandro Gonzalez 
     
    Colegio del Mundo Unido Costa Rica, De la esquina sureste de la Iglesia Católica, 400mts al norte, Santa Ana, San José, Costa Rica, América Central 10901 
     
    Phone number: +506 22825609, ext. N. 156

  • Additional Resources

    Very Important Details - Check out this crucial details presentation regarding visas & immigration paperwork.

    Detailed Visa Information - Make sure to check your visa information.

    Do I need an entry visa? - See the link above to determine if you have an entry visa to Costa Rica or if you can enter as a tourist

Payments

Before you come to Costa Rica, be sure that the details of your payment responsibilities are clear to you, your parents, and your National Committee. To be enrolled at UWC Costa Rica, all students must complete this payment schedule according to the Financial Terms agreement.

Once each payment is made, you must send a scanned copy of the international transfer document and, if possible, the MT103 generated by your local bank or a copy of the international transfer confirmation to financial.department@uwccostarica.org. Acknowledging the receipt of the funds can take up to one week.

The cost of attendance at UWC Costa Rica for first-year students is $86,000 ($43,000 per year), including tuition, books, room, food, health insurance, field trips, IB exam fees, and co-curricular activity fees.
 
 

List of 4 items.

  • Payments

    • To reserve the space, a non-refundable deposit of 10% of the tuition fee + 100% of the extra costs (immigration fees and security deposit) must be made within seven days of receiving the Welcome Letter.
    • A second installment of 40% of the total tuition must be made within 30 days of receiving the Welcome Letter.
    • The final payment of 50% must be paid before June 25th, 2025.
    • Upload all proof of payment to your Blackbaud account.

    If you have questions about the payment schedule, please contact our financial department and copy the admissions team at financial.department@uwccostarica.org and admissions@uwccostarica.org.

  • Security Deposit

    A Security Deposit fee of $500 USD will be required as a one-time-only security fee against any damages that may occur. The college can approve some discretionary expenses to be deducted from the deposit individually. The Financial Office will provide a statement at the end of the first year with a summary of all the costs and an invoice for the second year to top off the fee for the second year. After the second year, $70 will be used to ship your IB Diploma and results outside Costa Rica using DHL.

    Remember: Students with unexcused absences for any co-curricular, residential, or academic activity will be charged $30 per activity.

  • Immigration Fees

    Immigration fees will be charged depending on your country of origin. This fee can range between $550 and $750 (it covers government fees and administrative costs). Your invoice will clearly state this. As a reference, these are the fees by region: 

    • USA, Canada, Brazil (non-Spanish speaking countries) $750
    • Latin America (Spanish-speaking countries) $550
    • Asia $750
    • Africa $750
    • Europe $750
    • Middle East $750

  • International Bank Fees

    $45 in international bank fees will be required per transfer. Download the international bank account information here.
 
 
Our mission: To cultivate in young people the passion and ability to serve humanity and our planet—learning from nature and from each other for a lifetime.

San José, Costa Rica. 10901.
+506 2282 5609 | info@uwccostarica.org

 
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