Total visa costs by country
Visa fees split into two parts: the official government/embassy fee (paid to the destination country) and the third-party service fee (paid to VFS, TLS, or BLS for application handling). The total cost is what you actually pay.
| Country / Visa | Embassy fee | VFS/TLS fee | Total (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇪🇺 Schengen - Short-stay C | €80 | €25-35 | ~$125 |
| 🇪🇺 Schengen - Child 6-12 | €40 | €25-35 | ~$80 |
| 🇬🇧 UK - Standard Visitor | £115 | £55-70 | ~$240 |
| 🇬🇧 UK - Skilled Worker (3yr) | £719 | £55-70 | ~$1,050 + IHS |
| 🇬🇧 UK - IHS surcharge | £1,035/year | — | ~$1,350/year |
| 🇺🇸 US - B1/B2 Tourist | $185 | N/A (direct) | $185 |
| 🇺🇸 US - H-1B (new, post-Sep 2025) | $185 + $100,000 fee | N/A | $100,185+ |
| 🇨🇦 Canada - Visitor | C$100 | C$43 | ~$170 |
| 🇨🇦 Canada - Express Entry PR | C$1,365 | — | ~$1,005 |
| 🇦🇺 Australia - Visitor 600 | A$190 | A$43 | ~$155 |
| 🇦🇺 Australia - 189 PR | A$4,640 | — | ~$3,050 |
| 🇩🇪 Germany - National D | €75 | €25-35 | ~$115 |
| 🇯🇵 Japan - Tourist | Free (many) | — | $0 |
| 🇦🇪 UAE - Tourist | AED 350+ | Varies | ~$100+ |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore - EP | S$105 | — | ~$80 |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand - Skilled Migrant | NZ$3,790 | — | ~$2,290 |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland - Critical Skills | €1,000 | €30 | ~$1,110 |
Hidden costs nobody tells you about
The headline visa fee is rarely the total cost. Budget for these additional expenses, which can add $100–500 on top of the official fees.
- Visa photos - $5–15 at a photo shop (avoid retakes - see our photo requirements guide)
- Document translation - $20–50 per page if your documents are not in English/destination language
- Notarization / apostille - $10–50 per document, required for many family-based applications
- Travel insurance - $30–80 per trip for Schengen (mandatory, €30,000 minimum cover)
- Bank statement request - $5–20 from your bank for stamped recent statements
- Police clearance - $5–50 depending on country (PCC in India, ACRO in UK, FBI background in US)
- Medical examination - $50–200 if required (Canada, Australia, UK long-term)
- Courier return - $15–30 if you don't want to collect in person
- Premium lounge - $50–80 if you opt for the faster VFS experience
- Document scanning / printing - $5–20 for high-quality colour copies
Total hidden costs: typically $100–500 on top of the official visa fee. For complex applications (Canada PR, UK Skilled Worker with dependants), hidden costs can reach $800–1,200.
Fees in local currency
For the five nationalities most-served by this site, here is what the major visa types cost in your local currency (approximate, mid-2026 rates).
| From | Schengen | UK Visit | US B1/B2 | Canada Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria (₦) | ₦195,000 | ₦375,000 | ₦290,000 | ₦265,000 |
| 🇮🇳 India (₹) | ₹10,500 | ₹20,000 | ₹15,500 | ₹14,200 |
| 🇵🇭 Philippines (₱) | ₱7,000 | ₱13,500 | ₱10,500 | ₱9,600 |
| 🇬🇭 Ghana (GH₵) | GH₵1,900 | GH₵3,650 | GH₵2,825 | GH₵2,600 |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa (R) | R2,300 | R4,400 | R3,400 | R3,100 |
Are visa fees refundable?
- Embassy fee - generally NON-refundable even if your visa is refused
- VFS / TLS service fee - NON-refundable
- IHS surcharge (UK) - REFUNDABLE if visa is refused
- Express Entry fee (Canada) - refundable if you withdraw before decision
- Biometric fee - non-refundable
- Travel insurance - refundable if visa is refused (most insurers offer this; check policy terms before purchase)
Practical advice: Budget every visa application assuming the fees are non-refundable. If refused, you start over and pay again. This is especially important when applying for visas with high refusal rates (Schengen Algeria, UK Pakistan, US Bangladesh) where the financial exposure is real.
How to pay
- VFS centres - accept cash, card (Visa/Mastercard), or online payment depending on country
- US embassy - pay via CGI Federal before the appointment (cash deposit at designated banks in some countries)
- UK - pay online via gov.uk during the application submission
- Canada - pay online via IRCC during the application; biometric fee paid separately to VFS
- Schengen - pay at the VFS/TLS counter (cash or card) or online for some centres
- Australia - pay online via ImmiAccount with credit card or bank transfer
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Are visa fees refundable if my application is refused?
The embassy fee is generally NON-refundable, even if your visa is refused. VFS or TLS service fees are also non-refundable. The UK's IHS health surcharge IS refundable if your visa is refused. Canada Express Entry fees are refundable if you withdraw before a decision. Budget assuming you'll lose the fees on refusal.
What is the VFS service fee?
The VFS service fee is a separate charge from the embassy/government visa fee, paid to VFS Global for handling your application. It typically ranges from $20–50 equivalent and covers document handling, biometric capture, and forwarding to the embassy. This fee applies in addition to the official visa fee.
How much is the Schengen visa fee?
€80 for adults, €40 for children aged 6–12, free for children under 6. Add €25–35 VFS service fee. Total: approximately €105–115 ($115–125 USD). Mandatory travel insurance adds another €30–80 depending on coverage and duration.
How much is the UK visa fee in 2026?
Standard Visitor visa: £115 + £55–70 VFS fee = ~$240. Skilled Worker visa: £719 (3 years) or £1,539 (5 years) + IHS surcharge (£1,035/year). Total Skilled Worker 5-year: ~£6,700 ($8,500) including IHS. The IHS is the largest single line item - budget for it.
Why does the US H-1B cost $100,000?
The September 2025 H-1B policy added a $100,000 fee on new consular H-1B petitions (not the standard $185 visa fee). This applies to applicants outside the US filing for a new H-1B. The original $460 base fee + $4,000 H-1B premium are still in effect on top of the $100K. Total for new H-1Bs: roughly $104,000.
Can I pay visa fees by credit card?
Depends on the centre and country. VFS centres typically accept both cash and card (Visa/Mastercard). US embassy fees must be paid via CGI Federal online before the appointment. UK fees are paid online during the application via gov.uk. Canada and Australia accept card payments through their online portals.
Are there any hidden visa costs I should know about?
Yes. Beyond the embassy and VFS fees, budget for: visa photos ($5–15), document translation ($20–50/page), notarization ($10–50/document), travel insurance ($30–80 for Schengen), bank statement requests ($5–20), police clearance ($5–50), medical examination ($50–200 for some countries), and courier return ($15–30). Total hidden costs: $100–500 on top of official fees.
Do I have to pay the visa fee for each family member?
Yes. Each applicant - adult or child - pays the full visa fee and full VFS service fee individually. Some countries discount fees for children under 12 (Schengen 50%, UK no discount for visitor visas). Children under 6 are usually free for Schengen but still incur the VFS service fee in some centres.