Planning an international trip or extended stay means budgeting for far more than the headline visa fee you see advertised. Between government charges, biometrics, mandatory insurance, and proof-of-funds requirements, your real total cost can range from a few hundred dollars to well into five figures depending on your destination and circumstances.
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This guide breaks down exactly what drives that range across the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia, so you can budget accurately before you apply to any of these four countries.
USA: B-1/B-2 Visitor Visa Costs
The United States operates one of the most layered visa fee structures in the world, and 2026 has brought several new charges that catch many applicants off guard.
Core Government Fees
- DS-160 application fee (MRV fee): $185 per applicant, non-refundable regardless of outcome
- Visa Integrity Fee: a newly introduced $250 charge for B-1/B-2 applicants, added on top of the standard application fee
- Reciprocity fee: varies by nationality, charged to applicants from countries that impose similar fees on US citizens
Understanding Who Actually Needs This Visa
Travellers from ESTA-eligible countries under the Visa Waiver Program typically only need an ESTA authorisation, currently priced at $40.27, rather than a full B-1/B-2 visa. However, anyone who has previously been refused a US visa, or who has travelled to certain listed countries since applicable cut-off dates, cannot use ESTA and must apply for the full B-1/B-2 visa instead.
The AUD 500 to 1,500 Equivalent Budget
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For a straightforward B-1/B-2 application, realistic total costs including the application fee, integrity fee, and basic travel to a consular interview typically land between $500 and $1,000. Every traveller, including infants and children, needs their own separate application and payment, so a family of four applying together faces at least $1,740 in application and integrity fees alone before any additional costs.
The $1,500 to 5,000 Budget: Added Complexity
Costs climb considerably for applicants who don’t live near a consular post, since travel to the interview location, accommodation, and document translation all add up quickly. Comprehensive International Travel Insurance Plans are also strongly recommended given how expensive uninsured medical treatment can be in the US, typically adding $100 to 500 depending on trip length and coverage level.
Proof of Funds Expectations
While the US doesn’t publish a fixed minimum bank balance requirement for B-1/B-2 applicants, consular officers expect clear evidence of sufficient funds to cover your entire trip without needing to work. A reasonable planning figure is $150 to 300 per day of intended stay, backed by recent bank statements showing consistent, stable funds rather than a single large deposit shortly before applying.
UK: Standard Visitor Visa Costs
The UK raised its visitor visa fees on 8 April 2026, and understanding the current structure is essential before budgeting your application.
Core Government Fees
- Standard Visitor visa (up to 6 months): £135
- Long-term Standard Visitor visa (2 years): £506
- Long-term Standard Visitor visa (5 years): £903
- Long-term Standard Visitor visa (10 years): £1,128
- Electronic Travel Authorisation, for visa-exempt nationals: £20
Who Needs a Full Visa Versus an ETA
Nationals from a growing list of visa-exempt countries only need the lower-cost Electronic Travel Authorisation rather than a full Standard Visitor visa. Most other non-European nationals from outside developed economies will need the full visitor visa application, which carries a considerably higher fee and a more detailed documentation process.
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The £500 to 1,500 Equivalent Budget
For a standard six-month visit, the base £135 fee is often just the starting point once VFS Global service centre charges, biometric collection, and any required document translation are added. No Immigration Health Surcharge applies to Standard Visitor visas, which is a meaningful cost saving compared with the UK’s longer-term work and study visa categories.
The £1,500 to 5,000 Budget: Longer-Term and Sponsored Visits
Applicants opting for a 2, 5, or 10-year long-term Standard Visitor visa face considerably higher upfront costs, though this can represent strong value for frequent visitors who would otherwise reapply and pay the six-month fee repeatedly. It’s worth knowing that a UK-based sponsor or employer can pay the visa fee directly on the applicant’s behalf, provided this is properly declared with supporting payment evidence.
Proof of Funds Expectations
UK entry clearance officers expect evidence of sufficient funds to cover your entire visit, along with a credible travel history and clear ties to your home country. There’s no fixed published minimum balance, but demonstrating access to at least £100 to 150 per day of intended stay, alongside a stable financial history, strengthens most applications significantly.
Canada: Temporary Resident Visa and eTA Costs
Canada operates two distinct entry pathways depending on your nationality, and knowing which one applies to you significantly changes your total budget.
Core Government Fees
- Temporary Resident Visa (TRV): CAD $100 per applicant
- Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), for visa-exempt nationals: CAD $7
- Biometrics fee, where required: CAD $85 per individual, or CAD $170 for a family applying together
Understanding Which Pathway You Need
Citizens of visa-exempt countries, including most of Western Europe, Australia, and several other nations, typically only need the low-cost eTA for air travel to Canada. Nationals of countries without a visa-exemption arrangement need the full Temporary Resident Visa, which involves a more detailed application and generally longer processing time.
The CAD 500 to 1,500 Equivalent Budget
For most straightforward TRV applications, the CAD $100 base fee combined with biometrics and basic document preparation typically lands total costs in the $300 to 600 range, comfortably within the lower end of this guide’s overall budget scale once converted. Families applying together should budget for each member’s individual TRV and biometrics fee separately, since Canada doesn’t offer a combined family discount for visitor visas.
The CAD 1,500 to 5,000 Budget: Extended Stays and Complex Cases
Costs increase for applicants with more complex circumstances, including previous refusals, unclear travel history, or applications requiring professional Immigration Visa Assistance to strengthen a borderline case. A registered Canadian immigration consultant or lawyer typically charges CAD $500 to 2,000 for visitor visa application support, depending on complexity.
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Proof of Funds Expectations
Canadian visa officers expect applicants to demonstrate sufficient funds for their entire stay plus return transportation, generally suggesting a minimum of CAD $100 to 150 per day as a reasonable planning benchmark. Bank statements showing at least three to six months of stable financial history are typically viewed more favourably than a single recent deposit.
Australia: Visitor Visa Subclass 600 Costs
Australia’s visitor visa fee structure varies by stream, application location, and family size, making it one of the more variable costs across the four countries in this guide.
Core Government Fees
- Tourist stream, applied offshore: approximately AUD $200 to 250
- Tourist stream, applied onshore: approximately AUD $475 to 500
- Frequent Traveller stream, for eligible passport holders: approximately AUD $1,480 to 1,845
- Biometrics, where required: approximately AUD $80 per person
The AUD 500 to 1,500 Budget: A Typical Application
Most genuine applications land in this range once biometrics, a possible medical examination costing AUD $200 to 400, and basic travel insurance are factored in alongside the base application fee. There is no family discount under the Subclass 600 visa, so each family member, including children, requires a completely separate application and fee.
The AUD 1,500 to 6,000 Budget: Sponsored Family and Complex Cases
The Sponsored Family stream sometimes requires an Australian sponsor to lodge a security bond, typically ranging from AUD $5,000 to 15,000 depending on individual assessment, which pushes total costs considerably higher for this specific stream. This bond is refundable provided visa conditions are met, but it needs to be genuinely available as accessible funds at the time of application.
Proof of Funds Expectations
Australian immigration authorities expect visitor visa applicants to demonstrate sufficient funds to support themselves throughout their stay, with a reasonable planning figure of AUD $150 to 250 per day of intended stay for accommodation, food, and incidentals.
Comparing All Four Countries at a Glance
Each of these four destinations structures its visitor visa costs somewhat differently, so it’s worth understanding the overall pattern before choosing where to focus your travel or relocation plans.
- The USA has the highest base application fee combined with the newly introduced Visa Integrity Fee, making it the most expensive of the four for a straightforward tourist application
- The UK offers strong value through its long-term multi-year visitor visa options for frequent travellers, despite a meaningfully higher base fee following the April 2026 increase
- Canada offers the lowest overall cost for most visa-exempt travellers through its low-cost eTA system, with the full TRV remaining moderately priced for non-exempt nationals
- Australia carries the most variable total cost of the four, ranging from a genuinely low-cost tourist application through to a five-figure sponsored family application involving a security bond
Building Your Complete Budget: A Practical Checklist
Regardless of which country you’re targeting, use this checklist to make sure you’ve accounted for every relevant cost category.
- Confirm which visa category and pathway genuinely applies to your specific nationality
- Check whether biometrics collection is required and locate your nearest approved centre
- Budget for a medical examination if your destination or length of stay typically requires one
- Secure comprehensive International Travel Insurance Plans covering medical treatment and evacuation
- Calculate a realistic daily living expense figure to support your proof-of-funds documentation
- Confirm whether any supporting documents require professional translation or certification
- Consider whether your circumstances warrant professional Immigration Visa Assistance before applying
- If transferring significant funds internationally, compare Global Currency Exchange providers rather than relying on standard bank transfer rates
- For extended stays that may transition into longer-term relocation, research Expat Relocation Services and International Moving Companies early, since booking lead times can affect your overall timeline
- Remember that government visa application fees are almost universally non-refundable, even if your application is refused
Final Thoughts
The true cost of visiting the USA, UK, Canada, or Australia spans a genuinely wide range, and the government application fee is almost always just the starting point rather than the complete picture. Biometrics, insurance, proof-of-funds documentation, and, for more complex cases, professional support all add up in ways that catch many applicants by surprise.
Building your budget around your specific nationality, destination, and circumstances, rather than the lowest headline figure you’ve seen advertised, is the clearest way to avoid unexpected costs partway through the process. For anything beyond a simple, short tourist visit to any of these four countries, it’s genuinely worth consulting a registered immigration professional before you apply, given how much is at stake with fees that are non-refundable regardless of outcome.