The four costs, side by side
Every destination charges its entry visa fee differently, which makes a true apples-to-apples comparison harder than it should be. Some bundle in a health surcharge, others charge a flat one-time fee, and the totals below reflect the primary applicant only, not tuition, living-cost proof, or agent fees.
| Country | Visa | Core government cost |
|---|---|---|
| United States | F-1 | ~$535 (SEVIS $350 + DS-160 $185) |
| United Kingdom | Student Route | £558 + £776/year IHS |
| Australia | Subclass 500 | AUD 2,000 |
| Singapore | Student Pass | SGD 90 |
Singapore's visa cost is a fraction of Australia's, but that gap says nothing about program quality or acceptance odds. It's purely an administrative fee difference.
United States: F-1 visa
The core US costs are the SEVIS I-901 fee ($350, paid online via FMJfee.com to fund international student tracking) and the DS-160 visa application fee ($185), bringing the government total to roughly $535. This doesn't include the embassy interview appointment or any school-specific deposit.
United Kingdom: Student Route
From 8 April 2026, the UK Student Route application fee is £558, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) of £776 for each year of the visa, paid upfront for the full expected course duration. A one-year master's works out to roughly £1,334 total; a three-year undergraduate degree is closer to £3,000+.
Australia: Subclass 500
Australia's Subclass 500 primary applicant fee rose to AUD 2,000 from 1 July 2025, the highest of the four by a wide margin. See our full Subclass 500 breakdown for work-hour limits and financial-proof requirements alongside this fee.
Singapore: Student Pass
Singapore's Student Pass is the cheapest of the four: SGD 30 to apply, plus SGD 60 if approved, for a total of SGD 90. Processing typically takes 4 to 8 weeks, and the application should be submitted before your course starts.
Key takeaways
- Singapore is the cheapest entry visa (SGD 90); Australia is the most expensive (AUD 2,000).
- The UK's total cost scales with course length because of the per-year health surcharge.
- None of these figures include tuition, living-cost financial proof, or school/agent fees.
- Fee size has no bearing on approval difficulty or program quality.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has the cheapest student visa?
Singapore's Student Pass is the cheapest of the four at SGD 90 total (SGD 30 application plus SGD 60 issuance). The US F-1 costs around $535 (SEVIS fee plus DS-160 application fee), the UK Student Route costs roughly £558 plus £776 per year of Immigration Health Surcharge, and Australia's Subclass 500 costs AUD 2,000 for the primary applicant.
What is the SEVIS fee for a US F-1 visa?
The SEVIS I-901 fee is US$350, paid separately from the US$185 DS-160 visa application fee, bringing the core government cost to roughly US$535 before any embassy or school-specific charges.
How much is the UK Student visa in 2026?
From 8 April 2026, the UK Student Route application fee is £558, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 per year of the visa, paid upfront for the full course duration.
Do visa fees reflect how easy each country is to get into?
No. A lower visa fee doesn't mean an easier or faster process — Singapore's low fee reflects a straightforward administrative process, while the US and UK's higher costs include mandatory health surcharges and tracking fees unrelated to approval difficulty.
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Sources & further reading
- SEVIS I-901 fee (official) — FMJfee.com, US Department of Homeland Security
- UK Student visa fees (official) — GOV.UK
- Subclass 500 visa charge (official) — Department of Home Affairs
- Student's Pass fees (official) — Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)