Visa Cost Calculator

Total visa application costs vary enormously by category, from under $200 for a simple tourist visa to over $50,000 for investor visas. Here are typical ranges:

Visitor visas — $20–$315 in government fees. The US B-1/B-2 costs $185, Canada's TRV costs $100 CAD, Australia's eVisitor is free, and the UK Standard Visitor visa costs £127. These are the simplest and least expensive visa categories.

Student visas — $200–$2,500 in government fees, plus tuition deposits and proof of funds. The US F-1 costs $535 (MRV + SEVIS), Canada's study permit costs $235 CAD, Australia's subclass 500 costs $2,000 AUD, and the UK Student visa costs £524.

Work visas — $800–$5,000+ in government fees, often paid by the employer. The US H-1B costs $1,825–$4,790 depending on additional fees, the UK Skilled Worker costs £769–£1,519, and Australia's subclass 482 costs $3,210 AUD plus employer levies.

Family visas — $700–$10,000+ in government fees. The US K-1 costs $760, Canadian spousal sponsorship costs $1,695 CAD, the UK spouse visa costs £1,938, and Australian partner visas cost $9,365 AUD — one of the most expensive family visa categories in the world.

Investor/business visas — $6,000–$50,000+ in government fees, plus the investment capital itself. The US EB-5 filing fee alone is $11,160, and the minimum investment is $800,000–$1,050,000.

Visa fees differ significantly between countries — and even between visa categories within the same country — for several reasons:

Visa category complexity — Visas that require more government resources to adjudicate (employment-based immigrant visas, investor visas) cost more than straightforward non-immigrant visas (tourist, transit). The US EB-5 filing fee is $11,160 while a B-1/B-2 tourist visa costs $185.

Reciprocity agreements — Some visa fees are based on reciprocity — the US charges citizens of certain countries higher or lower fees based on what that country charges US citizens. This is why the MRV fee varies by nationality for some visa types.

Cost recovery models — Different countries use different models for funding immigration services. The UK and Australia operate primarily on a cost-recovery basis (fees cover processing costs), while the US uses a mix of appropriated funds and fee revenue.

Health surcharges — The UK charges an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) of £1,035 per year on top of the visa fee, giving applicants access to NHS services. Australia does not charge a health surcharge but requires private health insurance. These add-ons significantly affect total costs.

Employer vs. applicant responsibility — In some countries and visa categories, the employer pays most of the fees (US H-1B employer fees, Australian Skilling Australians Fund levy). In others, the applicant bears the full cost (most family and visitor visas).