Visa Cost Calculator

Visa fees are rarely just one number. Most applications involve a combination of charges — the government's application fee, a separate biometric fee, a Visa Application Center (VAC) service fee, and sometimes optional premium processing. Applicants who don't budget for all of these are often surprised when they reach the payment screen.

The government fee is the core non-refundable charge paid to the embassy or immigration authority. This goes directly to the government and is non-negotiable regardless of whether your visa is approved. The biometric fee covers fingerprinting and photograph collection, usually done at a VAC like VFS Global or TLScontact. The service feeis the VAC's own charge for accepting and processing your application — it is separate from and additional to the government fee.

Premium processing — where available — lets you pay extra to jump the queue. In the US, USCIS offers premium processing for certain employment-based petitions (currently around $2,805), guaranteeing a decision within 15 business days. In the UK, priority and super-priority services are available at UKVCAS service centers for additional fees. Most family and tourist visas do not offer premium processing options.

One critical note: visa fees are almost universally non-refundable even if your application is denied. For high-cost visas (US family visa at ~$325, Australian partner visa at ~$8,000+), this is a meaningful financial risk. Make sure your application is as strong as possible before you pay.

Fees below are in local currency with approximate USD equivalents. Exchange rates fluctuate — always verify the current exact fee on the official embassy or government website before submitting payment.