Costa Rica Student Visa

Costa Rica is a land of some of the well-known universities. The educational institutions in Costa Rica offer more than hundred-degree programs for undergraduate and postgraduate programs. If you want to study in Costa Rica, you need to apply for a Costa Rica Student Visa. 

What is a Costa Rica Student Visa?

Everyone who wants to study in Costa Rica needs to apply for a Costa Rica Student Visa. It is a provisional visa under the special category of student. It will allow you to remain in the state for more than 90-days.

Before applying for a student visa, you must have an acceptance letter from a concerned educational institution in Costa Rica. You can get the Costa Rica Student Visa (Provisional visa) from the nearest Costa Rica consultant in your native country.

After you arrive in Costa Rica with a student visa, you also need to apply for a student permit at the Immigration Department of Costa Rica (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería), if the course of study is more than 90-days. Before applying for a student permit, you must register your fingerprints at the Ministry of Public Security (Ministerio Seguridad Pública) in San Jose.

Requirements for a Costa Rica Student Visa

You must have the following documents to get a Costa Rica Student Visa.

1. Completed Costa Rica Student Visa Application Form

2. Valid passport

3. Passport size photo

4. Proof of enough financial means to support your stay in the country

5. An acceptance letter from the recognized educational institution in Costa Rica

6. Birth certificate

7. Police clearance certificate

8. Evidence of accommodation in Costa Rica

9. A request letter legalized by the Consul for a provisional visa under special category should be stating the following information:

• Date and your signature
• Your name
• Date of birthday
• Passport number
• Your residence in the native state
• Place of birth
• Nationality
• Profession
• Accommodation address in Costa Rica
• Contact information

You must have the following document to apply for a student permit at the Immigration Department of Costa Rica.

1. Completed application form

2. A letter addressed to the Immigration Department for a request of “Special Category” student permit should be stating the following information:

• Your full name and nationality
• Your occupation
• Your age
• Accommodation address in Costa Rica
• Contact information
• A confirmation of enrollment in an educational institution in Costa Rica
• Payment of the fee
• Passport-size photo
• Proof of registration with the Costa Rican consulate
• Birth certificate
• Proof of enough financial means

Processing time for a Costa Rica Student Visa

It will take about 30 days for visa processing.

Can you work while studying in Costa Rica?

If you want to work in Costa Rica as a Temporary Residence Permit holder, you need to be very skilled in a position that cannot be filled by any Costa Rican citizen. The state has quite strict rules concerning employing foreign nationals. 

The nine highly ranked Universities in Costa Rica in 2020

The following are some of the top-rated educational institutions in Costa Rica.

1. Universidad de Costa Rica

2. Universidad Nacional

3. Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica

4. Universidad EARTH

5. INCAE Business School

6. Universidad Latina de Costa Rica

7. Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología

8. Universidad Veritas

9. Universidad Americana