Student Visa

According to Costa Rican immigration policies, it is required that all international students have the Student Temporary Permit (STP) to legally study in the country.

Since it is mandatory that all international students have a legal status in Costa Rica, students must submit the following documents when enrolling to UNIBE for immigration purposes in Costa Rica:

Student Temporary Permit requirements

1. Four recent passport photographs, white background, full names written on the back.

2. Filiations form: with exact address in Costa Rica and country of origin. This document must be complete and student’s Costa Rican and US addresses should be written on the bottom of the form. Click here.

3. Letter of acceptance from the University.
The university’s letter of acceptance stating the location where you will be studying and the type of academic year you work on (two-month terms, three-month terms, four-month terms, six-month terms, or annual). This letter must be certified by a public notary.

4. Enrollment certificate:

  • Receipts

  • Enrollment certification

5. Fingerprint registration in Costa Rica.
A full set of applicant's fingerprints and proof of their registration at the Costa Rican Police Archive under the Ministry of Public Security.

6. Birth Certificate. This document has to be authenticated* by the Consul of Costa Rica nearest to the issuer authority of the birth certificate

7. Police Report from the applicant's home country revealing no criminal convictions. with no more than 3 months validity. This document has to be authenticated* by the Consul of Costa Rica nearest to the issuer authority of the police record.

8. Certified copy of the complete passport.
Certified photocopies of all pages of the applicant’s valid passport (valid for at least six months).

9. Official Transcripts and Certified copy of High School Diploma

  • Original and a certified true copy of the high school diploma with the official grading system in the original language, bearing the original signature of the Registrar and the school seal.
  • This document must be legalized by the Department of Education from the country of origin and taken to the closest Costa Rican Consulate for its authentication. Once in Costa Rica, the student must authenticate it by the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Education in Costa Rica.
NOTE: Original high school diploma must be presented; a copy will be filed.

10. Immigration fees.
The Costa Rican Immigration Department requires students to pay for the fees established by the government:*

  • $1.00 stamps
  • $20.00 deposit
  • $12.00 approval seal

* Fees are subject to change, according to the government agency.

11. Unibe Costa Rica visa filing fees.
International students must pay a non-refundable fee of $175. This will guarantee the student that an immigration department officer of UNIBE will file the student’s temporary permit and that there will be a continuous check-up of the official immigration file. The fee also includes the enrollment certification and receipt documents along with the certified copy of the student’s passport.

The student’s temporary permit requirements will be filed after the student has arrived to Costa Rica and the complete immigration requirements have been turned in to Unibe.

***It is important that students take note of the following:
  • a) The documents need to be complete, certified and sealed by the Costa Rican Consul in country of origin, sealed by the Ministry of External Affairs in Costa Rica and/or the Ministry of Education.
  • b) All documents must be translated to Spanish, by an official translator.
  • c) If the student visa is denied, UNIBE will not be responsible for re-filing. The student must correct the denial directly with the Immigration Department in Costa Rica.