GovernmentFee
Government Fee
A mandatory payment to the state for processing the application. Do not confuse it with the investment — the government fee is always non-refundable. From 1,500 to 50,000 USD depending on the program and the number of people on the application.
- What it is
- A mandatory payment to the state for accepting and processing your application
- Where it applies
- Practically any citizenship or residence programme
- Cost
- From about $1,500 to $50,000 and more — depends on the programme and family
- Refund
- No: non-refundable even on refusal
- Can you prepare
- Yes: put it in the budget as a separate line for the whole family
In plain words
A government fee is a mandatory payment to the state for accepting and processing your application. It is paid in practically any citizenship or residence programme, separately from the main investment. Put simply, it is the price of the review process itself, regardless of whether you put your money into a contribution or real estate.
It is important not to confuse the government fee with the investment. In some scenarios the investment can be recovered — by selling the property after a few years, for example. The government fee is always non-refundable: it pays for processing the application and is not returned even if the outcome is a refusal. The same applies to the due diligence check fee — that is separate non-refundable money.
The size of the government fee depends heavily on the programme and the number of people in the application — roughly from $1,500 to $50,000 and more. The more family members you include, the higher the total fees, because some of them are charged per person. That is why the final budget is always calculated for the whole family, not just the principal applicant.
Where government fees arise
What the fees are made up of
- Processing charge
- Non-refundable
- Per application and per person
- Due Diligence
- For each adult
- Also non-refundable
- Passport issue
- Legal support
- Translations and legalisation
- Programme
- Number of applicants
- Family composition
How the government fee is accounted for
- 01Determine the family composition
- 02Calculate the fees for each person
- 03Add the check fee
- 04The full budget on top of the investment
- 05A budget with no surprises
What you need to know
- The government fee is always non-refundable, even on refusal
- It is a cost item separate from the investment
- Some fees are charged for each family member
- The due diligence fee is also separate non-refundable money
- The final budget is calculated for the whole family, not one person
Size and structure
- Range
- From about $1,500 to $50,000 and more
- What it depends on
- The programme and the number of people in the application
- How it is charged
- Some fees are per family member
- Refund
- No: non-refundable even on refusal
- Separately
- The due diligence check fee
Common mistakes
- Counting only the investment and forgetting the fees and charges
- Calculating the budget for one person rather than the whole family
- Expecting the government fee to be refunded on refusal
- Not accounting for the non-refundable due diligence fee
- Falling for a budget with “hidden” lines
What this means for a BRIDGES client
We always show a full budget in which government fees and check fees are shown separately from the investment — with no hidden lines. You see the total for your family composition in advance and understand which part is non-refundable in any case and which might come back.
Frequently asked questions
01 /Will the government fee be refunded if the application is refused?
No. The government fee is always non-refundable — it pays for processing the application and is not returned even on refusal. The same applies to the due diligence check fee.
02 /What determines the size of the government fee?
The programme and the number of people in the application — from about $1,500 to $50,000 and more. Some fees are charged for each family member, so the larger the composition, the higher the total.
03 /How does the government fee differ from the investment?
The investment can sometimes be recovered (by selling the property, for example). The government fee is a payment for the process itself and is non-refundable in any case.
04 /Is the government fee included in the main sum?
No, it is paid separately from the investment. That is why it matters to look at the full budget, not just the price of the contribution or the property.
05 /Is the government fee charged per person?
Some fees, yes — they are charged for each family member. That is why a family costs more than a single applicant, and the budget is calculated for the whole composition.
06 /What else is non-refundable besides the government fee?
The check fee (due diligence) — it pays for the checking work itself, regardless of the outcome, and is not returned on refusal.
See also
Read next
This material has undergone editorial review by BRIDGES.
Want a full budget with no hidden lines?
We will set out all fees and charges separately from the investment for your family composition — you see the total in advance.