How much does a visa cost?
Visa fees range from about $40 for an online travel authorisation to a few hundred dollars for a consular visa, plus service charges, photos and insurance.
Updated
Example government fees
| Visa or authorisation | Government fee |
|---|---|
| US non-petition nonimmigrant visa, including B1/B2 tourist and business | $185 |
| US petition-based visa (H, L, O, P, Q, R) | $205 |
| US E treaty trader or investor visa | $315 |
| US K fiance visa | $265 |
| Schengen short-stay visa, adult | EUR 90 |
| Schengen short-stay visa, child aged 6 to 11 | EUR 45 |
| ESTA, the US visa waiver authorisation | about $40 |
| ETIAS for Europe, expected to start in late 2026 | around EUR 20 (expected) |
US figures come from travel.state.gov and additional fees may apply depending on the visa category, so confirm the current total there before you pay. ETIAS is not in force yet, so treat its fee as expected rather than fixed.
Costs beyond the government fee
- Visa centre service charges, where a country uses an outsourced partner to take your application and biometrics.
- Courier or secure return delivery of your passport, plus optional premium or priority handling.
- Passport photos taken to the exact specification, and reprints if the first set is rejected.
- Travel or medical insurance, which is a condition of the visa in some countries rather than an optional extra.
- Certified translations, notarised copies and bank letters, if your documents are not in an accepted language.
- Travel to the embassy or visa centre, which can mean a night away if the nearest one is in another city.
Important: visa fees are almost never refunded if your application is refused, withdrawn or filed under the wrong category, so read the requirements carefully before you pay.
Keeping the rest of the trip flexible
The fee is sunk once you file, but your accommodation does not have to be. Booking a hotel with free cancellation on trip1 gives you the proof of accommodation the application needs while you wait for a decision, and you can pay in Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDC or any of 120+ cryptocurrencies through CoinGate once your plans are firm.
Fees change, and they differ by nationality and by where you apply. Always check the official government or embassy website for the current amount, and remember that paying it never guarantees a visa or entry.
Visa costs - FAQ
The application fee for a B1/B2 visitor visa is $185 according to travel.state.gov. Additional fees can apply depending on the visa category, so confirm the current total on travel.state.gov before you pay.
Almost never. The fee pays for processing your application, not for a positive decision, so it is normally kept whether you are approved or refused.
The short-stay visa fee is EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 11. A visa centre may add its own service charge on top.
Each government sets its own fee, and some also apply reciprocity charges based on your nationality. Where an outsourced visa centre handles applications, its service charge is added to the government fee.