How Much Does a Visa Cost? Fees by Country and Visa Type

A visa application commonly costs from tens to hundreds of dollars for a temporary visitor route, while permanent-residence government fees can exceed $1,000. There is no universal price: destination, visa category, nationality, and separate issuance, biometrics, levy, or health-surcharge charges determine the total. Use the comparison below for planning, then verify the exact amount with the linked immigration authority or the Visa Cost Calculator before paying.

The total cost of an immigration application extends beyond the government filing fee listed on an official website. Understanding the full picture helps you budget accurately and avoid surprises that could delay your process.

Government filing fees are the baseline cost. These are paid directly to the immigration authority when you submit your application, and they vary enormously by country and visa type. A US tourist visa (B-1/B-2) has a $185 State Department application processing fee; some approved applicants also owe a nationality-specific reciprocity fee. A UK Standard Visitor visa costs £135 (short visits up to six months, from 8 April 2026), while a short-stay Schengen visa costs €90 for adults across the whole Schengen area. Canada charges CAD $100 for a visitor visa, and Express Entry permanent residence costs CAD $1,590 for a single adult ($990 processing plus the $600 right of permanent residence fee, after the April 2026 increase). Australia charges AUD $250 for a visitor visa (subclass 600), while its Skilled Independent permanent visa (subclass 189) costs AUD $6,135 for the primary applicant after the 1 July 2026 fee increase. New Zealand charges NZD $341 for a Rest-of-World visitor visa plus a NZD $100 International Visitor Levy. These government fees are typically non-refundable regardless of the outcome — see the country-by-country comparison table below for student, work, and permanent-residence examples, and note that India, Brazil, and several other countries price visas by nationality rather than a single flat rate.

Biometrics fees vary by system. Canada charges CAD $85 per person when biometrics are required. USCIS generally eliminated its separate $85 biometrics fee in April 2024 and folded that cost into applicable form fees (a smaller category-specific fee still exists for limited procedures such as TPS/EOIR). The UK does not fund biometric enrolment through the Immigration Health Surcharge; standard enrolment may be included in the application process, while optional commercial appointment services can cost extra.

Medical examinations are required for most long-term and permanent residence visas. The cost depends on the country and the designated physician, but expect to pay between $100 and $500 per person. Some countries require specific vaccinations, which add to the cost.

Document-related expenses include certified translations of foreign-language documents (typically $20 to $100 per page), notarization fees, apostille certification for documents originating in countries that are part of the Hague Convention, and fees for obtaining police clearance certificates from every country where you have lived.

Legal fees for an immigration attorney range from a few hundred dollars for a simple application review to $5,000 to $15,000 or more for complex employer-sponsored or family-based petitions. While not mandatory, legal representation is common for high-stakes applications.

There is no single "visa fee" — the government charge depends on the country, the visa category (visitor, student, work, or permanent residence), and sometimes the applicant's nationality. The table below shows one representative government fee per category for six commonly searched destinations, current as of last verified July 2026. Treat every figure as an example, not a universal price: most countries offer several visa subclasses at different fee points, and figures marked with a symbol carry an added caveat explained beneath the table.

* Approved U.S. nonimmigrant visa applicants may owe a nationality-specific reciprocity fee, and H-1B petitions carry further employer-paid charges (ACWIA fee, fraud-prevention fee, optional premium processing) not shown in this single figure — see Department of State fees, the visa reciprocity schedule, and USCIS filing fees.

† The short-stay Schengen visa fee (€90) is set by EU regulation and is the same across all Schengen states. National (long-stay) visa fees — for study, work, or settlement — are set independently by each Schengen country and are not harmonized; Germany is shown as one example, not the Schengen standard. See Auswärtiges Amt visa fees.

‡ Fees for other Schengen countries differ from Germany's; always confirm with the specific country's consulate or immigration authority before applying.

Three of the largest visa markets don't fit neatly into a single-figure table because the fee itself depends on who is applying, not just why:

• Japan charges by number of entries, not by visa purpose: JPY ¥3,000 for a single-entry visa and JPY ¥6,000 for a multiple-entry visa, whether the trip is for tourism, study, or work — and many nationalities are visa-exempt entirely. See the MOFA fee schedule.
• India prices its e-Tourist visa by nationality and season — commonly USD $10 to $80 for a 30-day e-visa, with separate tiers for 1-year (~$40) and 5-year (up to $200) validities depending on passport. See the Indian e-visa fee schedule.
• Brazil sets tourist visa fees by reciprocity: most nationalities pay around USD $80, but US citizens pay USD $185 for consular processing (or about $80.90 through the e-Visa program available to US, Canadian, and Australian citizens). See the Brazilian consular portal.

Sources: US Department of State — visa fees, UK Home Office fee regulations, IRCC fees (Canada), Australian Department of Home Affairs pricing, Immigration New Zealand fees, Auswärtiges Amt (Germany). Government fee schedules change without notice — always confirm the current amount on the official site before you pay.

Visa cost pages often list several differently named charges without explaining what each one actually pays for. Here is what each term means and when it applies:

Application fee (also called filing fee or MRV fee) — The core government charge for submitting and processing a visa or petition. This is the number most "how much does a visa cost" searches are really asking about, and it is what appears in the comparison table above. It is charged regardless of outcome and is almost never refundable.

Issuance or reciprocity fee — A separate charge collected only if and when a visa is granted, rather than at the time of application. For U.S. nonimmigrant visas, this fee depends on the applicant’s nationality and visa classification; many applicants owe no reciprocity fee. Check the State Department reciprocity schedule instead of assuming a flat issuance charge.

Levy — A charge earmarked for a specific public purpose rather than case processing itself. New Zealand's International Visitor Levy (NZD $100) funds tourism and conservation infrastructure and is charged on top of the visitor visa application fee, not instead of it.

Biometrics fee — Covers the cost of collecting fingerprints and a photograph at a visa application center. Canada charges CAD $85 per person for biometrics; the US folded its former $85 biometrics charge into other USCIS fees in 2024. Biometrics fees are typically charged once per validity period, not per visit.

Surcharge — An additional charge layered onto the base application fee, usually tied to a specific benefit rather than the visa itself. The UK's Immigration Health Surcharge (£1,035 per year for most adult routes, £776 per year for students and children) is the clearest example: it grants NHS access for the visa's duration and is paid upfront for the full length of the visa, separately from the application fee.

Knowing which of these five categories a number falls into makes it much easier to compare quotes accurately — a "$250" figure that is an issuance-time fee, a per-year surcharge, or a one-time biometrics charge represents three very different budgeting situations.

The government filing fee is often the smallest portion of the total immigration expense. Several additional costs catch applicants off guard because they are not prominently listed on official websites.

Educational credential assessments are required by many countries to verify that your foreign degree is equivalent to a local qualification. Organizations like WES (World Education Services) in the US and Canada, or NARIC in the UK, charge between $100 and $350 per assessment. Processing can take several weeks, and rush services cost more.

Language testing is mandatory for most skilled migration and citizenship pathways. An IELTS exam costs approximately $250 to $310 depending on the test center location. TOEFL costs around $200 to $300. French-language tests like TEF or TCF cost $200 to $400. Retaking the test if you do not achieve the required score doubles the expense.

Courier and postage fees add up when you are shipping original documents internationally, sending applications by tracked mail, or paying for passport return delivery. These costs are small individually but can total $50 to $200 across the process.

Travel for interviews and biometrics can be a significant expense, particularly for applicants who do not live near an embassy, consulate, or visa application center. If you need to travel to another city or country for your interview, factor in flights, accommodation, and time away from work.

Immigration Health Surcharges are imposed by some countries as a condition of visa issuance. The UK's IHS costs £1,035 per year of visa validity for most applicants, payable upfront for the entire duration of the visa. Australia charges for an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for student visa holders.

Employer-specific costs in work visa cases may include labor market testing expenses, sponsorship license fees, and immigration skills charges. While employers often cover these, some costs may fall on the applicant depending on the arrangement.

Knowing which authority collects each charge makes a visa application far easier to budget, because a single case often runs through more than one agency and more than one kind of fee.

In the United States, two bodies handle most costs. The Department of State runs consular processing and collects the visa application fee — the machine-readable visa (MRV) fee — when you apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) handles petitions and status changes filed inside the country and charges the related filing and processing fees. Many cases pass through both: an employer or family member first files a petition with USCIS, and only then does the applicant pay the consular application fee.

For mailed USCIS filings, the payment method is now part of getting the package accepted. Use Form G-1650 to authorize an ACH debit from a U.S. bank account. Form G-1651 is different: it requests a narrow exemption from electronic payment and does not waive the underlying filing fee.

The type of visa also shapes the cost. An immigrant visa, for someone intending to live in the country permanently, usually carries higher combined fees than a nonimmigrant (temporary) visa, because it involves extra steps such as an affidavit of support review and, in the U.S., a separate USCIS immigrant fee to produce the green card. When you compare quotes, check whether a figure is a government application fee, a service or processing fees charge, or a third-party expense, so you are comparing like with like.

Most other countries follow a similar split: a foreign-ministry or consular authority issues visas abroad, while an interior or immigration department manages residence and status changes at home. Identifying both early tells you how many separate fees to expect and when each one falls due.

Some immigration systems offer fee waivers or reductions for applicants who meet specific criteria. While not universally available, these provisions can significantly reduce the financial burden of the process.

The US allows fee waivers for certain forms based on demonstrated financial hardship. Applicants receiving means-tested government benefits, earning below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, or experiencing extraordinary financial circumstances can request a waiver using Form I-912. Fee waivers are available for naturalization (Form N-400), adjustment of status (Form I-485), and several other applications, though notably not for all petition types.

Children and minors often pay reduced government fees. Many countries charge lower application fees for applicants under 18, and some waive fees entirely for dependent children included on a parent's application.

Humanitarian cases frequently qualify for fee exemptions. Asylum seekers, refugees, and victims of trafficking or domestic violence are typically exempt from filing fees in most jurisdictions. Special Immigrant Visa applicants (such as Afghan and Iraqi SIV holders in the US) are also exempt from many fees.

Some countries offer reciprocal fee arrangements where citizens of certain nations pay lower visa fees based on bilateral agreements. The US visa reciprocity schedule, for example, sets different fee levels and validity periods depending on the applicant's nationality.

Immigration is a major financial commitment, and costs are spread across months or years rather than concentrated in a single payment. Planning ahead prevents cash flow problems that could stall your application at a critical moment.

Start by mapping out the full timeline of expenses. Government filing fees are typically due at the time of submission, but other costs arise at different stages. Language tests and credential assessments happen before you apply. Medical exams and biometrics come during processing. The Immigration Health Surcharge (in the UK) or similar charges are due upon visa approval. If you plan to hire an attorney, retainer fees are usually due upfront with additional payments at key milestones.

Currency considerations matter for international applicants. Most government fees must be paid in the destination country's currency. Exchange rate fluctuations can affect the actual cost you pay in your home currency, sometimes significantly. Consider locking in exchange rates early if large payments are coming due.

Build a contingency buffer of 15% to 25% above your estimated total. Unexpected costs arise frequently: a need to retake a language exam, additional document translations, a second medical exam if the first one expires before your case is processed, or travel costs for an interview you were not initially expecting. Applications can also be delayed, requiring visa extensions or status maintenance costs while waiting.

Keep detailed records of every immigration-related payment, including receipts, confirmation numbers, and bank statements. Some costs may be tax-deductible depending on your country and circumstances (particularly employer-reimbursed relocation expenses), and organized records make it easier to track your total investment throughout the process.