[{"destinationIso":"uk","visaSlug":"skilled-worker","lines":[{"label":"Application fee (up to 3 years, outside UK, Immigration Salary List)","amountLocal":628,"currency":"GBP","mandatory":false,"note":"Applies where the occupation is on the Immigration Salary List. General rate is higher.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs"},{"label":"Application fee (up to 3 years, outside UK, general)","amountLocal":819,"currency":"GBP","mandatory":true,"sourceUrl":"https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs"},{"label":"Application fee (more than 3 years, outside UK, general)","amountLocal":1618,"currency":"GBP","mandatory":false,"note":"Used when CoS duration exceeds 3 years. Choose one of the two tiers, not both.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table/home-office-immigration-and-nationality-fees-8-april-2026"},{"label":"Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)","amountLocal":1035,"currency":"GBP","per":"per year of leave, per person","mandatory":true,"note":"Reduced to £776/year for students and under-18s. Paid upfront as a lump sum.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/how-much-pay"},{"label":"Certificate of Sponsorship fee","amountLocal":525,"currency":"GBP","mandatory":true,"note":"Paid by the sponsor at CoS assignment. Usually embedded in the job offer. More than doubled from £239 to £525 on 9 April 2025 (held at £525 in the 8 April 2026 fees table).","sourceUrl":"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table/home-office-immigration-and-nationality-fees-8-april-2026"},{"label":"Biometric enrolment","amountLocal":19.2,"currency":"GBP","mandatory":true,"note":"In-UK UKVCAS enrolment fee; for applications from outside the UK biometrics are enrolled at an overseas VAC and charged separately by the commercial partner. Not centrally published as a single GOV.UK figure — verify with your VAC."},{"label":"Priority service (optional)","amountLocal":500,"currency":"GBP","mandatory":false,"note":"Targets a 5-working-day decision from abroad (subject to availability).","sourceUrl":"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table/home-office-immigration-and-nationality-fees-8-april-2026"},{"label":"Super-priority service (optional, in-country only)","amountLocal":1000,"currency":"GBP","mandatory":false,"note":"Targets next-working-day decision. Not available at every VAC.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table/home-office-immigration-and-nationality-fees-8-april-2026"}],"workedExample":{"label":"Single applicant, 3-year CoS, general rate, no priority","totalLocal":3943.2,"currency":"GBP","breakdown":["£819 application fee","£3,105 IHS (£1,035 × 3 years)","£19.20 biometrics","Plus £525 CoS fee (typically borne by the sponsor)"]},"dependantFees":{"perDependant":"Each dependant pays the same application fee as the main applicant plus their own IHS at £1,035/year (or £776/year if under 18).","caveats":"Dependant rights are narrowed for the Health and Care Worker care-sector subset and for some student sponsors — verify eligibility on GOV.UK before assuming dependants are permitted."},"summary":"The UK Skilled Worker visa costs around £3,950 in government fees for a single applicant on a 3-year grant at the general rate, dominated by the £1,035/year Immigration Health Surcharge.","volatility":"IHS rose 66% on 6 February 2024 and remains £1,035/year. The 8 April 2026 fees table raised the standard out-of-UK application fee to £819 (≤3 years) and more than doubled the Certificate of Sponsorship fee to £525 (from £239). Always confirm the current figures on GOV.UK before budgeting. The figure to watch is the Immigration Health Surcharge: at £1,035 per person per year it dwarfs the application fee, so a longer grant or extra family members move the total far more than the visa fee itself.","sourceName":"GOV.UK — Skilled Worker visa: how much it costs","sourceUrl":"https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs","lastChecked":"2026-06-01"},{"destinationIso":"uk","visaSlug":"health-and-care-worker","lines":[{"label":"Application fee (up to 3 years, outside UK)","amountLocal":324,"currency":"GBP","mandatory":true,"note":"Reduced rate — around 60% lower than the general Skilled Worker fee.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs"},{"label":"Application fee (more than 3 years, outside UK)","amountLocal":628,"currency":"GBP","mandatory":false,"sourceUrl":"https://www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs"},{"label":"Immigration Health Surcharge","amountLocal":0,"currency":"GBP","per":"per year","mandatory":true,"note":"Health and Care Worker applicants are exempt from IHS — a major reason this route is cheaper than general Skilled Worker."},{"label":"Certificate of Sponsorship fee","amountLocal":525,"currency":"GBP","mandatory":true,"note":"More than doubled from £239 to £525 on 9 April 2025 (held at £525 in the 8 April 2026 fees table). Paid by the sponsor at CoS assignment.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table/home-office-immigration-and-nationality-fees-8-april-2026"},{"label":"Biometric enrolment","amountLocal":19.2,"currency":"GBP","mandatory":true,"note":"In-UK UKVCAS enrolment fee; outside-UK applicants enrol biometrics at an overseas VAC, charged separately by the commercial partner. Not centrally published as a single GOV.UK figure."}],"workedExample":{"label":"Single care-sector applicant, 3-year CoS, no priority","totalLocal":343.2,"currency":"GBP","breakdown":["£324 application fee","£0 IHS (exempt on this route)","£19.20 biometrics","Plus £525 CoS fee (sponsor-paid)"]},"dependantFees":{"perDependant":"Dependant entry was narrowed for new care-worker and senior-care-worker applications on 11 March 2024. New applicants in those SOC codes generally cannot bring partners or children.","caveats":"Dependants already present on a prior grant retain their permission. Non-care-subset Health and Care Worker applicants (e.g. nurses, doctors) can still bring dependants on the usual terms."},"summary":"The UK Health and Care Worker visa costs roughly £340 for a single applicant on a 3-year grant — dramatically cheaper than the general Skilled Worker route because IHS is waived.","volatility":"IHS exemption remains intact at this review date but has been publicly debated. The 11 March 2024 dependant-ban for care workers remains in force. The 8 April 2026 fees table raised the ≤3-year application fee to £324; the Certificate of Sponsorship fee had already risen to £525 earlier, on 9 April 2025. Because the Immigration Health Surcharge is waived, this stays one of the cheapest UK work routes, but confirm the exemption still applies to your job before you budget around it.","sourceName":"GOV.UK — Health and Care Worker visa: how much it costs","sourceUrl":"https://www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs","lastChecked":"2026-06-01"},{"destinationIso":"us","visaSlug":"h-1b","lines":[{"label":"USCIS registration fee (annual lottery entry)","amountLocal":215,"currency":"USD","mandatory":true,"note":"Raised from $10 to $215 in April 2024. Confirmed against the USCIS fee schedule (G-1055), which is PDF-backed — not auto-extractable, so this line stays on manual review."},{"label":"I-129 filing fee (petition, standard)","amountLocal":780,"currency":"USD","mandatory":true,"note":"Employers with 25 or fewer full-time-equivalent employees pay $460. Confirmed against the USCIS G-1055 fee schedule (PDF-backed; manual review)."},{"label":"Asylum Program Fee","amountLocal":600,"currency":"USD","mandatory":true,"note":"Non-profits and small employers pay reduced or zero rates ($300 / $0). Confirmed against the USCIS G-1055 fee schedule (PDF-backed; manual review)."},{"label":"ACWIA training fee","amountLocal":1500,"currency":"USD","mandatory":true,"note":"Employers with 25 or fewer employees pay $750. Some petitions are exempt (e.g. primary/secondary schools). Confirmed against the USCIS G-1055 fee schedule (PDF-backed; manual review)."},{"label":"Fraud Prevention & Detection Fee (initial petitions only)","amountLocal":500,"currency":"USD","mandatory":true,"note":"Paid once for an initial H-1B petition; not repeated on extensions. Confirmed against the USCIS G-1055 fee schedule (PDF-backed; manual review)."},{"label":"Public Law 114-113 fee (large H-1B-dependent employers)","amountLocal":4000,"currency":"USD","mandatory":false,"note":"Applies only to employers with 50+ employees where more than 50% are on H-1B or L-1."},{"label":"Premium Processing (optional)","amountLocal":2965,"currency":"USD","mandatory":false,"note":"Guarantees USCIS adjudicative action within 15 business days. Raised from $2,500 in February 2024."},{"label":"DS-160 / consular visa fee (applying from abroad)","amountLocal":205,"currency":"USD","mandatory":false,"note":"Paid by the beneficiary at the US embassy/consulate after petition approval."}],"workedExample":{"label":"Initial H-1B, standard employer (>25 FTE, not H-1B-dependent), no premium","totalLocal":3595,"currency":"USD","breakdown":["$215 registration","$780 I-129","$600 Asylum Program Fee","$1,500 ACWIA training","$500 Fraud Prevention & Detection"]},"dependantFees":{"perDependant":"H-4 dependants pay a $470 I-539 filing fee (each) plus $85 biometrics. Consular DS-160 fee is $205 each where applicable."},"summary":"A single initial H-1B petition costs around $3,600 in USCIS filing fees for a standard employer, excluding premium processing and the separate consular visa fee.","volatility":"Fees were substantially restructured on 1 April 2024; premium processing then rose to $2,965 on 1 March 2026 (from $2,805). Separately, a 19 September 2025 presidential proclamation imposed a $100,000 fee on certain NEW H-1B petitions for beneficiaries abroad without a valid H-1B visa (filed on/after 21 September 2025); it does not replace the registration or I-129 fees, was upheld by a federal district court in December 2025 (appeal pending), and generally does not apply to in-US change-of-status petitions — confirm current applicability before relying on it. From FY2027, cap-subject H-1B registrations are selected by a wage-weighted process rather than a random lottery. Always cross-check on uscis.gov/g-1055.","sourceName":"USCIS — Fee Schedule (Form G-1055)","sourceUrl":"https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055","lastChecked":"2026-06-01"},{"destinationIso":"us","visaSlug":"o-1","lines":[{"label":"I-129 filing fee","amountLocal":1055,"currency":"USD","mandatory":true,"note":"Small employers (25 or fewer FTE) pay $530. Confirmed against the USCIS G-1055 fee schedule (PDF-backed; manual review)."},{"label":"Asylum Program Fee","amountLocal":600,"currency":"USD","mandatory":true,"note":"Non-profits $0, small employers $300. Confirmed against the USCIS G-1055 fee schedule (PDF-backed; manual review)."},{"label":"Premium Processing (optional)","amountLocal":2965,"currency":"USD","mandatory":false,"note":"15-business-day adjudicative action target."},{"label":"DS-160 / consular visa fee (applying from abroad)","amountLocal":205,"currency":"USD","mandatory":false}],"workedExample":{"label":"Single initial O-1, standard employer, no premium","totalLocal":1655,"currency":"USD","breakdown":["$1,055 I-129","$600 Asylum Program Fee"]},"dependantFees":{"perDependant":"O-3 dependants pay $470 I-539 filing fee (each) plus $85 biometrics. Consular DS-160 is $205 per dependant where applicable."},"summary":"An O-1 petition typically costs $1,655 in government fees for a standard employer — materially cheaper than H-1B because there are no registration, ACWIA, or Fraud Prevention fees.","volatility":"Fees last changed 1 April 2024. O-1 is not subject to the H-1B registration lottery, and premium processing is available year-round.","sourceName":"USCIS — O-1 Visa Fees","sourceUrl":"https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055","lastChecked":"2026-06-01"},{"destinationIso":"us","visaSlug":"tn","lines":[{"label":"DS-160 / consular fee (Mexican applicants at consulate)","amountLocal":185,"currency":"USD","mandatory":true,"note":"TN is non-petition-based, so the $185 MRV fee applies (not the $205 petition-based worker rate). Mexican citizens apply at a US consulate; Canadian citizens apply at a port of entry.","sourceUrl":"https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/fees/fees-visa-services.html"},{"label":"Port-of-entry fee (Canadian applicants, I-94 issuance)","amountLocal":56,"currency":"USD","mandatory":true,"note":"Canadians present documents directly to CBP; no DS-160 required. Historically ~$56 ($50 TN processing + $6 I-94). Under HR-1 the I-94 land-border fee rose to $30 from 30 September 2025, so the combined port-of-entry total has changed — verify the current CBP charges before budgeting."},{"label":"I-129 petition (employer-filed, change-of-status from inside US)","amountLocal":1015,"currency":"USD","mandatory":false,"note":"Only applies if the employer is filing I-129 for change of status. Small employer rate $510."},{"label":"Asylum Program Fee (if I-129 filed)","amountLocal":600,"currency":"USD","mandatory":false}],"workedExample":{"label":"Canadian citizen, port-of-entry filing","totalLocal":56,"currency":"USD","breakdown":["$56 I-94 fee at CBP port of entry","Canadian citizens are exempt from the DS-160 consular fee."]},"dependantFees":{"perDependant":"TD dependants (spouse and children under 21) pay the same port-of-entry / consular fees as the principal applicant."},"summary":"TN is the cheapest US work visa by a wide margin: around $56 at the port of entry for Canadian citizens, or the $185 MRV consular fee for Mexican citizens, with no employer petition required for most applications.","volatility":"The Mexican applicant pays the $185 non-petition MRV fee (not the $205 petition-based rate). Under HR-1 the CBP I-94 land-border fee rose to $30 on 30 September 2025, changing the Canadian port-of-entry total — verify with CBP. USMCA-defined eligibility and the professional list at USMCA Chapter 16 drive qualifying occupations.","sourceName":"State Department — Fees for Visa Services","sourceUrl":"https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/fees/fees-visa-services.html","lastChecked":"2026-06-01"},{"destinationIso":"ca","visaSlug":"express-entry-fsw","lines":[{"label":"Application processing fee (principal applicant)","amountLocal":990,"currency":"CAD","mandatory":true,"note":"Raised from CA$950 in the 30 April 2026 IRCC fee increase.","sourceUrl":"https://ircc.canada.ca/english/information/fees/fees.asp"},{"label":"Right of Permanent Residence Fee","amountLocal":600,"currency":"CAD","mandatory":true,"note":"Raised from CA$575 on 30 April 2026. Payable before PR is finalised; refundable if the application is refused or withdrawn.","sourceUrl":"https://ircc.canada.ca/english/information/fees/fees.asp"},{"label":"Spouse / common-law partner fee","amountLocal":990,"currency":"CAD","per":"per spouse","mandatory":false,"note":"Only applies if included as a dependant."},{"label":"Spouse Right of Permanent Residence Fee","amountLocal":600,"currency":"CAD","per":"per spouse","mandatory":false},{"label":"Dependant child fee","amountLocal":270,"currency":"CAD","per":"per child","mandatory":false},{"label":"Biometrics (principal)","amountLocal":85,"currency":"CAD","mandatory":true,"note":"Family biometric cap: $170 for 2+ people applying together.","sourceUrl":"https://ircc.canada.ca/english/information/fees/fees.asp"},{"label":"Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)","amountLocal":230,"currency":"CAD","mandatory":false,"note":"Varies by designated organisation; WES rates shown. Required for FSW."},{"label":"Language test (IELTS General, indicative)","amountLocal":320,"currency":"CAD","mandatory":false,"note":"Price varies by country. CELPIP-General is typically $280–$310. Required for Express Entry."}],"workedExample":{"label":"Single applicant, no dependants","totalLocal":1675,"currency":"CAD","breakdown":["CA$990 processing fee","CA$600 RPRF","CA$85 biometrics","Plus ECA (≈CA$230) and language test (≈CA$320) — payable to third parties, not IRCC."]},"dependantFees":{"perDependant":"Spouse adds CA$990 + CA$600 RPRF. Each dependent child adds CA$270 (raised from CA$260 on 30 April 2026). Family biometrics are capped at CA$170 per family."},"summary":"Canada Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker) costs about CA$1,675 in government fees for a single applicant, plus roughly CA$550 in pre-application third-party costs (ECA + language test).","volatility":"IRCC raised permanent-residence fees on 30 April 2026: the principal processing fee rose CA$950→CA$990 and the Right of Permanent Residence Fee CA$575→CA$600. Biometrics held at CA$85. Third-party fees (ECA, IELTS/CELPIP) shift on their own providers' schedules.","sourceName":"IRCC — Fee list for permanent residence applications","sourceUrl":"https://ircc.canada.ca/english/information/fees/fees.asp","lastChecked":"2026-06-01"},{"destinationIso":"au","visaSlug":"subclass-189-skilled-independent","lines":[{"label":"Visa application charge (primary applicant)","amountLocal":4910,"currency":"AUD","mandatory":true,"note":"Subclass 189 VAC. Indexed each 1 July — rose to A$4,910 on 1 July 2025 (from A$4,765); will likely rise again 1 July 2026.","sourceUrl":"https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-independent-189"},{"label":"Additional applicant charge (18+)","amountLocal":2385,"currency":"AUD","per":"per adult","mandatory":false},{"label":"Additional applicant charge (under 18)","amountLocal":1195,"currency":"AUD","per":"per child","mandatory":false},{"label":"Second instalment — limited English proficiency","amountLocal":4890,"currency":"AUD","per":"per applicant aged 18+","mandatory":false,"note":"Charged where an adult applicant cannot meet a functional English standard at visa grant."},{"label":"Skills assessment (indicative, by assessing authority)","amountLocal":1050,"currency":"AUD","mandatory":false,"note":"Varies widely by occupation — ACS (IT) ≈ A$550, Engineers Australia ≈ A$800, VETASSESS ≈ A$1,050."},{"label":"English test (IELTS Academic, indicative)","amountLocal":410,"currency":"AUD","mandatory":false},{"label":"Police clearances","amountLocal":56,"currency":"AUD","mandatory":true,"note":"AFP national police check base fee (A$56); fingerprint checks cost more. Additional countries of residence each add their own clearance cost.","sourceUrl":"https://www.afp.gov.au/our-services/national-police-checks"},{"label":"Health examinations (panel physician)","amountLocal":450,"currency":"AUD","mandatory":true,"note":"Indicative only. Home Affairs quotes ≈A$350 for examinations done in Australia; overseas panel-physician (BUPA/IOM) fees vary widely by country, so this is not a single published figure — verify with your panel clinic."}],"workedExample":{"label":"Single applicant, functional English, no health surcharge","totalLocal":5416,"currency":"AUD","breakdown":["A$4,910 VAC","A$56 police clearance","A$450 health examination (indicative)","Plus A$410 IELTS and A$1,050 skills assessment (third-party)."]},"dependantFees":{"perDependant":"Add A$2,385 per adult dependant, A$1,195 per child. Each adult may separately be charged the A$4,890 limited-English second instalment if they cannot demonstrate functional English."},"summary":"The Australia subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa costs roughly A$5,400 in Home Affairs fees for a single primary applicant, before skills-assessment and English-test costs.","volatility":"Visa Application Charges are indexed and rise each 1 July — the primary-applicant VAC moved to A$4,910 on 1 July 2025 and will likely rise again on 1 July 2026. Verify the current figure on the Home Affairs fee table before lodging — a mis-paid VAC invalidates the application. The VAC is only part of the bill: budget separately for your skills assessment, English test, police checks, and the medical, which routinely add well over a thousand dollars on top.","sourceName":"Home Affairs — Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa","sourceUrl":"https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-independent-189","lastChecked":"2026-06-01"},{"destinationIso":"de","visaSlug":"eu-blue-card","lines":[{"label":"National visa (D-visa) at German mission abroad","amountLocal":75,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":true,"note":"Required for entry to Germany; followed by a residence-title application inside Germany.","sourceUrl":"https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/visa-service/-/215870"},{"label":"Residence title (Blue Card) — issuance","amountLocal":100,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":true,"note":"Charged at the local Ausländerbehörde on first issuance. Set by §45 Aufenthaltsverordnung.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthv/__45.html"},{"label":"Residence title — extension","amountLocal":96,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":false},{"label":"Residence title — settlement permit conversion","amountLocal":113,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":false,"note":"Niederlassungserlaubnis fee after meeting the 21/27/33-month Blue Card pathway to PR."},{"label":"Biometric passport photos (local photo studio)","amountLocal":10,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":true},{"label":"Certified translation of diploma (if required)","amountLocal":100,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":false,"note":"Recognition via anabin database may replace this; check degree H+ status first."}],"workedExample":{"label":"Single applicant, visa + residence title, no translations","totalLocal":185,"currency":"EUR","breakdown":["€75 D-visa at mission abroad","€100 residence-title issuance at Ausländerbehörde","€10 biometric photos"]},"dependantFees":{"perDependant":"Family reunion D-visas: €75 each. Residence titles for family members: €100 on issuance, €96 on extension. Children under 18 pay reduced rates (typically half)."},"summary":"The EU Blue Card in Germany costs roughly €185 in government fees for a single applicant — one of the cheapest skilled-worker routes in the OECD.","volatility":"Federal fees in the Aufenthaltsverordnung have been stable since 2023 (§45 AufenthV: €100 residence-title issuance; €75 national visa). Länder administer issuance and can charge modest local surcharges. Always confirm with the responsible Ausländerbehörde.","sourceName":"Make it in Germany — EU Blue Card","sourceUrl":"https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/visa-residence/types/eu-blue-card","lastChecked":"2026-06-01"},{"destinationIso":"de","visaSlug":"chancenkarte","lines":[{"label":"National D-visa (Chancenkarte) at German mission abroad","amountLocal":75,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":true,"note":"Paid in local currency at the consulate cashier on the day of the biometric appointment. Non-refundable on refusal.","sourceUrl":"https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/visa-service/-/215870"},{"label":"Residence-title issuance at Ausländerbehörde (on conversion to Blue Card / Skilled Worker)","amountLocal":100,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":false,"note":"Charged on the day the Chancenkarte is converted into an employment-based residence permit; €56–€100 depending on the Land."},{"label":"Blocked account opening (Sperrkonto) one-off setup fee","amountLocal":89,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":true,"note":"Typical Expatrio / Fintiba / Coracle setup fee. Some providers waive on a multi-year package."},{"label":"Blocked account funding (12 × €1,091)","amountLocal":13092,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":true,"note":"2026 figure tied to the BAföG basic-need rate (€1,091/month). Funds are released back to you after entry, not consumed by the visa fee."},{"label":"Anabin lookup","amountLocal":0,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":true,"note":"Free. Required pre-check before applying.","sourceUrl":"https://anabin.kmk.org/anabin.html"},{"label":"ZAB Statement of Comparability (only if degree absent from Anabin)","amountLocal":200,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":false,"note":"Issued by the Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen; processing 6–12 weeks."},{"label":"Goethe-Institut A1 German exam („Start Deutsch 1“)","amountLocal":130,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":false,"note":"Required only if the German A1 baseline is used; €110–€150 depending on test centre. telc and ÖSD certificates are equally accepted."},{"label":"IELTS Academic / TOEFL iBT (B2 English baseline)","amountLocal":250,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":false,"note":"Required if proving English B2 rather than German A1. Cambridge B2 First also accepted."},{"label":"Certified translation of qualifications (per document)","amountLocal":60,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":false,"note":"Translation by a court-sworn (vereidigt) translator; needed when the issuing country’s certificates are not in German or English."},{"label":"Apostille / consular legalisation of education documents","amountLocal":50,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":false,"note":"Required for documents issued in non-EU countries; cost varies by issuing authority."},{"label":"Biometric passport photos","amountLocal":10,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":true},{"label":"Health insurance for the entry day onward","amountLocal":110,"currency":"EUR","per":"month","mandatory":true,"note":"Statutory (TK, AOK — once eligible) costs ~14.6 % of income; private interim plans (Mawista, Care Concept, Hanse Merkur) start at €90–€130/month and cover the search period."}],"workedExample":{"label":"Single applicant, 12-month Chancenkarte, blocked account, A1 German baseline","totalLocal":14076,"currency":"EUR","breakdown":["€75 D-visa at consulate","€89 Sperrkonto setup","€13,092 blocked-account funding (released back monthly after entry)","€130 Goethe A1 exam","€120 certified translations (2 documents)","€50 apostille","€10 biometric photos","€110 health insurance (first month)","€500 contingency for travel and Anmeldung admin"]},"dependantFees":{"perDependant":"Family-reunion D-visa: €75 each. Spouse residence-permit issuance: €100. Children under 18: €50 visa, €50 permit. Each dependant adds ~€6,408/year of additional blocked-account proof (€534/month × 12) unless covered by family-reunification rules.","caveats":"A spouse joining on Chancenkarte criteria of their own earns the joint applicant +1 point on the grid — worth submitting in parallel rather than as family reunion."},"summary":"The Chancenkarte itself costs only €75 in government fees, but the realistic out-of-pocket for a 12-month application is €14,000–€15,000 once the blocked-account funding is included. Most of that money is yours, released back monthly after arrival.","volatility":"The €1,091/month financial-proof figure is updated annually with the BAföG basic-need rate (typically each August). The €75 visa fee is set in the Auslandskostenverordnung and has been stable since 2017. Länder fees for residence-permit issuance vary €56–€100. Always confirm with the responsible Ausländerbehörde.","sourceName":"Make it in Germany — Opportunity Card","sourceUrl":"https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/visa-residence/opportunity-card/questions-and-answers-opportunity-card","lastChecked":"2026-06-01"},{"destinationIso":"pt","visaSlug":"d7-passive-income","lines":[{"label":"Consular D7 visa application","amountLocal":110,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":true,"note":"Flat national-visa processing fee (raised from €90), paid at the Portuguese consulate at lodgement. Same fee across all Portuguese national visas.","sourceUrl":"https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visas/general-information/fees"},{"label":"AIMA residence permit — first issuance","amountLocal":170,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":true,"note":"Indicative. Payable after arrival at the AIMA appointment converting the D7 entry visa into a 2-year residence permit. Under Portaria 307/2023 first issuance is split (reception/analysis ~€122 + title issuance ~€105 ≈ €227) and indexed annually each 1 March — confirm the current AIMA fee table."},{"label":"AIMA residence permit — renewal","amountLocal":85,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":false,"note":"Payable at each renewal (initially after 2 years, then every 3 years)."},{"label":"NIF tax number (typical fiscal-rep service)","amountLocal":150,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":true,"note":"Free at Finanças directly; fiscal-rep services for non-residents charge €100–€200."},{"label":"Criminal record certificate with apostille (origin country)","amountLocal":60,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":true},{"label":"Portuguese bank account opening (typical minimum deposit)","amountLocal":300,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":true,"note":"Banks require 6–12 months of passive-income statements as evidence — budget for the first rent months in the same account."}],"workedExample":{"label":"Single applicant, first year (visa + AIMA permit + NIF)","totalLocal":490,"currency":"EUR","breakdown":["€110 D7 consular visa","€170 AIMA residence permit (indicative)","€150 NIF via fiscal rep (or €0 direct)","€60 apostilled criminal record certificate"]},"dependantFees":{"perDependant":"Each dependant pays their own €90 D7 visa and €170 AIMA residence permit. Passive-income thresholds scale: +50% of IAS for each additional adult, +25% per child (indicative)."},"summary":"Portugal D7 government fees total around €490 in year one for a single applicant, split between the €110 consular national-visa fee and the AIMA residence-permit issuance.","volatility":"The consular national-visa fee rose to €110. AIMA replaced SEF in October 2023; its fees are set by Portaria 307/2023 and indexed annually each 1 March (latest 1 March 2026). The monthly passive-income minimum is indexed to IAS (Indexante dos Apoios Sociais) and updates annually — confirm the current IAS and AIMA fee figures before relying on older guides.","sourceName":"Portuguese Consulate — National visa fees","sourceUrl":"https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visas/general-information/fees","lastChecked":"2026-06-01"},{"destinationIso":"nl","visaSlug":"daft","lines":[{"label":"MVV entry visa (if required)","amountLocal":192,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":false,"note":"US citizens are MVV-exempt and can travel to the Netherlands to apply directly."},{"label":"Residence permit — DAFT self-employed","amountLocal":423,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":true,"note":"IND fee for the self-employed residence permit (incl. the 1956 US-NL Friendship Treaty / DAFT route). €423 from 1 January 2026 — the treaty route carries this reduced IND fee, not the higher general self-employed rate.","sourceUrl":"https://ind.nl/en/fees-costs-of-an-application"},{"label":"Residence permit — renewal (after 2 years)","amountLocal":423,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":false},{"label":"KvK business registration","amountLocal":85.15,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":true,"note":"One-off Chamber of Commerce (KvK) registration fee; raised from €80.10 in the annual inflation adjustment.","sourceUrl":"https://www.kvk.nl/inschrijven/inschrijfvergoeding/"},{"label":"BSN registration (gemeente, typically free)","amountLocal":0,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":true},{"label":"Minimum business capital (must be maintained, not a fee)","amountLocal":4500,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":true,"note":"Not an IND fee — this is the treaty-required minimum equity in the Dutch business account at all times."}],"workedExample":{"label":"US citizen, arrival + IND + KvK (ignoring the €4,500 maintained equity)","totalLocal":508.15,"currency":"EUR","breakdown":["€423 IND residence permit","€85.15 KvK registration","€0 BSN at the gemeente"]},"summary":"DAFT costs US citizens about €510 in IND and KvK fees, plus €4,500 that must be maintained as Dutch business equity throughout the permit.","volatility":"IND fees reset each 1 January; the self-employed (incl. DAFT) residence-permit fee is €423 for 2026. (Earlier four-figure estimates conflated this with the general self-employed route — the treaty fee is materially lower.) The €4,500 treaty minimum has been stable since 1956 and is unlikely to change.","sourceName":"IND — Residence permit for self-employed persons (incl. DAFT)","sourceUrl":"https://ind.nl/en/residence-permits/work/residence-permit-self-employed-person","lastChecked":"2026-06-01"},{"destinationIso":"es","visaSlug":"digital-nomad-visa","lines":[{"label":"Consular visa (if applying from abroad)","amountLocal":80,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":false,"note":"Applicants inside Spain can apply for the residence authorisation directly to UGE-CE."},{"label":"UGE-CE residence authorisation (3-year initial)","amountLocal":10.94,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":true,"note":"Modelo 790 038 residence-authorisation tasa under Orden PJC/617/2025 (in force 16 June 2025), which repealed the old schedule — the prior combined €73.26 figure (mislabelled Tasa 790-052) no longer exists. Confirm the exact sub-line that applies to your case.","sourceUrl":"https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2025-12056"},{"label":"TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) issuance","amountLocal":16.08,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":true,"note":"Tasa for the TIE documenting a first grant of temporary residence.","sourceUrl":"https://sede.policia.gob.es/portalCiudadano/_es/tramites_extranjeria_tasas.php"},{"label":"Apostilled criminal record certificate (origin)","amountLocal":60,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":true},{"label":"Sworn translation (if documents not in Spanish)","amountLocal":60,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":true,"note":"Traductor jurado rates start around €40–€80 per page."},{"label":"Spanish public health subscription (convenio especial) or private health insurance","amountLocal":780,"currency":"EUR","per":"per year","mandatory":true,"note":"Private cover from around €50/month for nomads under 40; convenio especial is €60–€157/month."}],"workedExample":{"label":"Single applicant, applying from abroad","totalLocal":1007.02,"currency":"EUR","breakdown":["€80 consular visa","€10.94 UGE-CE residence tasa (Modelo 790 038)","€16.08 TIE","€60 criminal record apostille","€60 sworn translation","€780 first-year private health insurance"]},"dependantFees":{"perDependant":"Each family member pays their own €80 consular fee, €10.94 UGE-CE tasa (Tasa 038; the old €73.26 line was repealed by Orden PJC/617/2025), and €16.08 TIE. Income threshold scales: +75% of SMI for first dependant, +25% per additional."},"summary":"The Spain Digital Nomad Visa costs around €1,010 in year one for a single applicant, mostly driven by private health insurance rather than the small government residence tasa (€10.94).","volatility":"UGE-CE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos) administers the Startup Law route. The fee schedule was reset by Orden PJC/617/2025 (in force 16 June 2025), which repealed the prior order — the old €73.26 combined figure no longer exists. Income thresholds track Spain's SMI and IPREM indices. The line that actually moves your budget is private health insurance: the government tasa is tiny, but a full-cover Spanish policy for the year is the largest single cost for most applicants.","sourceName":"BOE — Orden PJC/617/2025 (immigration fees)","sourceUrl":"https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2025-12056","lastChecked":"2026-06-01"},{"destinationIso":"ie","visaSlug":"critical-skills-employment-permit","lines":[{"label":"Critical Skills Employment Permit fee (employer-paid)","amountLocal":1000,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":true,"note":"DETE fee for a permit valid up to 24 months.","sourceUrl":"https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/fees/"},{"label":"Preclearance (D-visa) for visa-required nationals","amountLocal":60,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":false,"note":"Single-entry D-visa for long-stay. UK, US, Canadian, Australian and most EU/EEA citizens do not require a D-visa."},{"label":"Irish Residence Permit (IRP) — first issuance","amountLocal":300,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":true,"note":"Paid to ISD (per person) after arrival at the registration appointment. Under-18s and protection-status holders are exempt.","sourceUrl":"https://www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/how-to-register-your-immigration-permission-for-the-first-time/required-documents/"},{"label":"IRP renewal","amountLocal":300,"currency":"EUR","mandatory":false}],"workedExample":{"label":"Single applicant, non-visa-required nationality","totalLocal":1300,"currency":"EUR","breakdown":["€1,000 CSEP fee (employer-borne)","€300 IRP on arrival"]},"dependantFees":{"perDependant":"CSEP permit holders can sponsor family immediately. Each family IRP is €300. D-visas for visa-required dependants are €60 each."},"summary":"A Critical Skills Employment Permit to Ireland costs around €1,300 in government fees for a single applicant — the CSEP fee is typically employer-borne, so the worker's out-of-pocket cost is closer to €300.","volatility":"DETE fees in SI 680/2017 have been stable since 2018. ISD is migrating to a new online appointment system through 2025–2026, which may shift payment channels but not amounts. In practice the largest charge, the CSEP permit fee itself, is usually paid by the employer, so the real out-of-pocket cost for the worker is often just the family and registration fees.","sourceName":"DETE — Fees for employment permits","sourceUrl":"https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/fees/","lastChecked":"2026-06-01"},{"destinationIso":"ae","visaSlug":"golden-visa","lines":[{"label":"Golden Visa application fee (inside UAE)","amountLocal":2790,"currency":"AED","mandatory":true,"note":"GDRFA Dubai total service cost for the 10-year Golden Visa applied inside the UAE (AED 2,790). ICP/Abu Dhabi does not publish a single headline figure and may differ; the issuance fee rises by AED 100 annually where residency exceeds two years.","sourceUrl":"https://gdrfad.gov.ae/en/services/8ea80dad-f43e-11eb-0320-0050569629e8"},{"label":"Medical fitness test","amountLocal":350,"currency":"AED","mandatory":true,"note":"Indicative — tiered by emirate and service speed (≈AED 320 standard in Dubai; express tiers higher). Not a single published figure."},{"label":"Emirates ID issuance (10 years)","amountLocal":1153,"currency":"AED","mandatory":true,"note":"Indicative 10-year total. ICP charges AED 100 per year of residence plus an AED 100 smart-service fee, before typing/Amer charges — verify the current ICP schedule for your case."},{"label":"Change of status (if applying inside UAE on a different visa)","amountLocal":650,"currency":"AED","mandatory":false},{"label":"Typesetting / Amer centre processing","amountLocal":400,"currency":"AED","mandatory":false,"note":"Third-party Amer-centre service fee; varies by emirate."}],"workedExample":{"label":"Single applicant, inside UAE, with change of status","totalLocal":5343,"currency":"AED","breakdown":["AED 2,790 Golden Visa application","AED 350 medical (indicative)","AED 1,153 Emirates ID (indicative)","AED 650 change of status","AED 400 Amer-centre service"]},"dependantFees":{"perDependant":"Sponsored dependants on a Golden Visa principal pay their own medical (AED 350), Emirates ID (AED 1,153 for 10 years), and around AED 1,500 in dependent-visa fees."},"summary":"The UAE Golden Visa typically costs around AED 5,000–5,500 (≈$1,400) in government fees for a 10-year grant for a single applicant applying inside the UAE.","volatility":"ICP (Abu Dhabi) and GDRFA (Dubai) fee schedules differ; the figures here follow the GDRFA Dubai service page (AED 2,790 total). The 10-year term has been stable since 2022. The medical and Emirates-ID lines are indicative and tier-dependent — verify your emirate's current schedule before budgeting.","sourceName":"GDRFA Dubai — Golden Visa service","sourceUrl":"https://gdrfad.gov.ae/en/services/8ea80dad-f43e-11eb-0320-0050569629e8","lastChecked":"2026-06-01"}]