Skilled Migration Cost Index 2026: sunk costs vs proof of funds

Key findings

• The lowest mandatory sunk-cost route in the tracked set is United States - TN USMCA Professionals (Canada & Mexico) at US$80 ($80 for ordering).
• The highest tracked mandatory sunk-cost route is Singapore - S Pass at SGD 16,405-SGD 18,205 ($12,669-$14,059 for ordering).
• The median tracked route sits around $1,598-$2,146 in mandatory non-refundable cost after approximate USD normalisation.
• The largest separated proof-of-funds requirement is United States - H-1B Specialty Occupation at US$62,000-US$150,000. That is not money paid away; it is money shown, blocked, or released later depending on the route.

The index, lowest sunk cost first

Local-currency totals are authoritative. Approximate USD values use ECB reference rates from 30 June 2026 only to sort cross-currency rows.

Why proof of funds is separate

Many immigration pages add every required amount into one headline total. That is misleading: a government fee, a medical exam, and a blocked bank balance are different financial events. The sunk-cost column is money normally spent or paid away. The proof-of-funds column is money the applicant usually needs to show, hold, or block, but not lose as an application charge.

Methodology

• Sample: 30 cost-to-complete models in Visa Atlas as of 1 July 2026, covering skilled-worker, skilled-migration, talent, digital-nomad and closely adjacent work routes.
• Sunk-cost calculation: sum every mandatory non-refundable line in each model. Optional premium, dependant, attorney, recognition, appointment and country-specific service lines are excluded unless the model marks them mandatory.
• Proof-of-funds calculation: sum mandatory refundable lines separately. These include blocked accounts, settlement funds, salary evidence or other funds that are shown rather than paid away.
• Cross-currency ordering: local-currency totals are converted to approximate USD using the European Central Bank - euro foreign exchange reference rates for 30 June 2026. The conversion is for ordering only.
• Source depth: the underlying models contain 381 cost line items and 114 unique source URLs.

Limitations

• Not every route in the world is included; this is a ranked index of the tracked cost-to-complete models.
• Country-specific medical, translation, appointment, courier and document costs can move the real out-of-pocket total.
• Exchange rates move daily, so approximate USD ordering can change even when official fees do not.
• This is data journalism, not legal advice. Confirm the linked route model and official source before relying on a figure.