Terms & Conditions

Enrollment Fee: There is an enrolment fee payable on all Spanish courses — not refundable.

US$ 50 or € 50 registration fee has to be paid at the time of booking. The balance (total payment minus registration fee) is due no less than four weeks before the course begins.

If you register for a Spanish class less than four weeks before the course begins, the total amount must be paid in full immediately. We cannot confirm your registration and accommodation if you have not paid.

Bank charges for both sending and receiving banks are payable by the sender. IMPORTANT: When making your payment please ensure that you transmit sufficient funds to cover the bank charges and cover the amount shown on the invoice at the exchange rate of the day.

No visa support documentation will be issued until we have received the payment of the total course fees up front.

Once we have received your payment, we will send all relevant visa documentation, including a Certificate of Acceptance for Studies if applicable, and hold a place on the course.

If you are applying for an extension visa while you are in Colombia and the courses have already started, there is no refund of course fees.

Visa refusal: Our school office must receive the refusal letter before the course begins.

Charges and Refunds: Course fees will be refunded minus any bank charges and minus the enrolment fee. Please advise us as soon as your visa is granted or refused.

• Run five days a week, Monday to Friday.
• New classes start every Monday (if Monday is a public holiday, lessons start on Tuesday).
• Students cannot join after Tuesday (private lessons may be an option). Class times confirmed on Friday before it commences.
• Payment for the following week’s courses must be received before lessons start.
• One class per week might be outside the school to promote immersion; it is part of weekly content — no refunds if a student doesn’t participate.
• Each course includes: class materials, two activities per week, a course report and a certificate.
• Length of courses: 1 to 50 weeks. Classes Mon–Fri except public holidays.
• Students per class: 3 to 6 (max). Minimum age: 18.
• One lesson: 50 minutes.
• After arrival / early termination: No refund.

You create the group (friends, partner, or others with the same level). Classes can run for 2, 3 or 4 hours/day. As a private group, lessons can be customized to your interests with greater flexibility in content.

• Booked with a minimum of five hours.
• Class changes require 24 hours’ notice, otherwise the class is forfeited.
• No refunds for Skype/Zoom lessons.

• No refunds for long-term reduced price courses for cancellation/withdrawal < 4 weeks before start (except visa refusal).
• After arrival or early termination: No refund.
• All refunds are paid minus bank charges and minus enrolment fee; refunds are made to the fee-payer after deductions for any disbursements or damages.
• No refunds for late arrivals, or for students expelled for disciplinary reasons.

Online Lessons, Private classes and Private groups: Changes must be advised with a minimum of 12 hours notice, otherwise the class will be forfeited.

Group classes: Once classes have commenced, missed days cannot be refunded, rescheduled, or transferred to another period/person. Only emergencies supported with written documentation will be considered for a refund/transfer.

We are happy to comply with changes (dates, accommodation, etc.) as far as possible, up to 2 weeks before the start date. Any change before 2 weeks of the starting date will cost US$ 50 or € 50.

• Cancellation must be made in writing before the course starts. The enrolment fee is not refundable.
• After arrival or early termination: No refund.
• If a student cancels 4 days or less before commencement, the school retains 100% of tuition plus enrolment & accommodation placement fees.
• If you cancel no later than 4 weeks before the course begins, we retain only the registration fee and accommodation placement fee.
• If you cancel < 4 weeks before the course begins, we reimburse 80% of course & lodging; we retain 20% of the course fee plus enrolment & accommodation placement fees.
• If a student cancels 7 days before commencement, the school retains 90% of tuition plus enrolment & accommodation placement fees.
• Banks charge wire fees which the student must cover.
• Visa refusal: send a copy of the refusal letter. Upon receipt, we refund tuition & accommodation fees minus the enrollment fee, accommodation placement fee, and bank charges. Visa extension in Colombia after the course has started: no refund if denied.
• Long-term reduced-price courses ≥ 12 weeks: no refund will be issued.
• For other courses: tuition & accommodation fees will be refunded minus one-week cancellation charge, the enrolment fee, and bank charges.
• A cancellation is effective only upon receipt by SWI of written/wired notification.
• No refund for late arrival, leaving early, or dismissal before end of course.

• No refund if the student wants to leave the family, shared flat or residence during the required initial period.
• Accommodation must be fully paid in advance. If cancellation is made at least two weeks before classes start, accommodation will be fully refunded; we retain only the accommodation placement fee.
• No refund if you book accommodation (shared flat, family house or residence) for a period and decide to go on holidays after it begins.

Viva Languages fees do not include insurance. Please arrange your own health, accident and liability insurance with international cover before traveling.

The school is not responsible for illnesses, accidents, or problems of any kind that may occur during your stay at the school, flat, family house or residence.

When you enroll on a course at Viva Languages—by our form, via an agent or by other means—your act of enrolment means that you are fully in accordance with our terms and conditions and agree to abide by them.

Tuition is not given on public holidays. In Colombia there are about 17 public holidays every year, most of which are on a Monday. The school will be closed on public holidays and Group Classes may be distributed over 4 days instead of 5.