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A free, independent field guide to moving countries. Every figure links to its official government source.

Not legal advice. Visa Atlas is an encyclopedia, not an adviser. The authoritative source is always the government link on each page. For your specific case, consult a regulated professional.

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© 2026 Visa AtlasReviewed continuously. Last sweep: 06 Jun 2026
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Visa fees, itemised

Every published government fee that sits between an applicant and a visa decision. Each entry shows the filing charge, health surcharges, dependant adders, optional priority services, and a worked example for the headline case. Links go to the issuing authority’s own fee schedule.

Reviewed 2026-04-20. Fees are volatile — governments revise them annually or more often. Always confirm the current figure on the linked primary source before budgeting.

By destination

DestinationRouteHeadline costSource
🇬🇧 United KingdomSkilled Worker visa£3,943.20Single applicant, 3-year CoS, general rate, no priorityGOV.UK — Skilled Worker visa: how much it costs
🇬🇧 United KingdomHealth and Care Worker visa£343.20Single care-sector applicant, 3-year CoS, no priorityGOV.UK — Health and Care Worker visa: how much it costs
🇺🇸 United StatesH-1B Specialty OccupationUS$3,595Initial H-1B, standard employer (>25 FTE, not H-1B-dependent), no premiumUSCIS — Fee Schedule (Form G-1055)
🇺🇸 United StatesO-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or AchievementUS$1,655Single initial O-1, standard employer, no premiumUSCIS — O-1 Visa Fees
🇺🇸 United StatesTN USMCA Professionals (Canada & Mexico)US$56Canadian citizen, port-of-entry filingState Department — Fees for Visa Services
🇨🇦 CanadaExpress Entry — Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)CA$1,675Single applicant, no dependantsIRCC — Fee list for permanent residence applications
🇦🇺 AustraliaSkilled Independent visa (subclass 189)A$5,416Single applicant, functional English, no health surchargeHome Affairs — Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa
🇩🇪 GermanyEU Blue Card (Germany)€185Single applicant, visa + residence title, no translationsMake it in Germany — EU Blue Card
🇩🇪 GermanyChancenkarte (Germany Opportunity Card)€14,076Single applicant, 12-month Chancenkarte, blocked account, A1 German baselineMake it in Germany — Opportunity Card
🇵🇹 PortugalD7 visa (passive income / retirement)€490Single applicant, first year (visa + AIMA permit + NIF)Portuguese Consulate — National visa fees
🇳🇱 NetherlandsDutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur€508.15US citizen, arrival + IND + KvK (ignoring the €4,500 maintained equity)IND — Residence permit for self-employed persons (incl. DAFT)
🇪🇸 SpainDigital Nomad Visa (Spain)€1,007.02Single applicant, applying from abroadBOE — Orden PJC/617/2025 (immigration fees)
🇮🇪 IrelandCritical Skills Employment Permit€1,300Single applicant, non-visa-required nationalityDETE — Fees for employment permits
🇦🇪 United Arab EmiratesUAE Golden VisaAED 5,343Single applicant, inside UAE, with change of statusGDRFA Dubai — Golden Visa service

What counts as a “fee”

We split government-imposed costs into four buckets so totals are reproducible:

  • Filing fees paid to the issuing authority (USCIS, UKVI, IRCC, IND, AIMA, UGE-CE, DETE, Home Affairs, ICP).
  • Health surcharges and insurance floors imposed as a condition of entry (UK IHS, Spain convenio especial minimum, Germany Krankenversicherung, Australia health examinations).
  • Per-dependant adders for spouses and children under 18, where the route permits dependants.
  • Optional premium / priority services that shorten decision windows in exchange for a fee.

Third-party costs (sworn translations, apostilles, language tests, skills assessments) are called out separately on each detail page and excluded from the headline government total.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a visa cost?+−

It ranges enormously — from under €100 in government fees for some EU routes to several thousand for UK or Australian skilled visas once health surcharges and dependants are included. Each route page gives an itemised, worked-example total in local currency.

Are these the total costs of moving abroad?+−

No — these are government fees only. Budget separately for third-party costs such as sworn translations, apostilles, language tests, and skills assessments, and for the largest items of all: relocation and living costs.

How often do visa fees change?+−

Often. Governments revise fees annually or more frequently, and health surcharges in particular have risen sharply in some countries. Always confirm the current figure on the linked primary source before budgeting.

Are visa fees refundable if I am refused?+−

Usually not once processing has begun, though some components are refunded in specific cases — for example the UK Immigration Health Surcharge if a visa is refused, or Canada’s Right of Permanent Residence Fee. Check the route page and primary source.

This is not legal advice

We publish neutral, sourced information about immigration routes. Rules and thresholds change often — always verify details on the official government source linked on this page and consult a regulated immigration advisor before applying.