Arriving in Costa Rica

Traveling around the world changes daily. Keep up with the latest requirements to enter Costa Rica by visiting the following link. We will monitor any changes and, if necessary, communicate relevant changes in the Government rules.
To be officially enrolled into UWC Costa Rica, you must complete all the checklist items in Blackbaud by June 25th (Visa Documents, Medical Forms, vaccinations, payment confirmations & 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 7th and 8th, 2024. Housing is not available before August 7th. The College provides transportation to and from the San José airport (SJO) on the official arrival dates only to students. Students must arrange their own transportation if they want to come with their families.

Holiday Travels

For those who travel during December break, the College will provide transportation to the airport on December 7th and 8th, 2024, and again on January 3rd and 4th, 2025. Also, please note that all students must return to campus by January 4th, 2025. 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.

Any student remaining on December 9th 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 intend to close campus from December 21st at 6 a.m. to January 2nd 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.
 

Visas & Immigration

All students will require permission to study in Costa Rica, and the country's Immigration law is very specific. Though some students’ passports allow them to enter Costa Rica on a limited tourist visa status, other students require an entry visa. Preparing the paperwork and legal requirements in their 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 pay attention to the detailed information below and get informed about your visa process.
 

List of 5 items.

  • First Step

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

  • Second Step

    The second step is to prepare the documentation required.

    Documentation required for the Student Visa:
    • 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 of parent's passport.
    Additional documents if you need an Entry Visa:
    • School transcripts from the last two years.
    • Two passport-size photos. 
    For more details on the requirements of each document, revise the V.I.D Presentation below. 
     

  • 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, if you DO NOT need an entry visa, your deadline is extended to June 25th. 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 
    visa.team@uwccostarica.org

  • Additional Resources

    Very Important Details - Check out this important 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

If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact the Financial Area:

Guillermo, Gerardo and Daryem at financial.department@uwccostarica.org

Payments: Step by Step

List of 6 items.

  • 1) Cost

    The cost of attendance at UWC Costa Rica for first-year students is $83,400. $41,700 (per year) includes tuition, books, room, food, health insurance, field trips, IB exam fees, and co-curricular activity fees.

    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. Full scholarships may not include immigration fees that appear on your invoice, so be sure to clarify this in advance with your National Committee.

  • 2) Security Deposits

    A Security deposit fee of $500 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. A statement will be provided by the financial office at the end of the first year with a summary of all the expenses and an invoice for the second year to top off the fee for the second year. After the second year, $60 will be used to ship your IB Diploma and results outside Costa Rica using DHL.

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

  • 3) Immigration Fees

    Immigration fees will be charged depending on your country of origin. This fee can range between $600 to $840 (this covers government fees and administrative costs). This will be clearly stated on your invoice.

  • 4) International Bank Fees

    International bank fees will be required for $45 per international bank transfer.

  • 5) Payment Schedule

    All students must complete this payment schedule to be enrolled at UWC Costa Rica. 

    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. It can take up to 1 week to acknowledge the receipt of the funds. 

    • 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, 2024.
    • Upload all proof of payment to your Blackbaud account.

  • 6) Payment Methods

    International Wire Transfer

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

    Download the international bank account information here.


    International Wire Transfer

    Families can request the payment method by credit card by sending an e-mail to financial.department@uwccostarica.org
 
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
 
All Rights Reserved |  UWC Costa Rica © 2025