Updated
GL-G-09
Glossary · Application and process
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.
01 / In 30 seconds
The short answer
- 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
02 / In plain words
What Government Fee means
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.
A case from practice
A family of four applies for citizenship by investment. Besides the main contribution they pay government fees, some of which are charged for each family member. This money is non-refundable: even on refusal it will not be returned for processing the application. That is why it goes into the budget from the start, as a separate line alongside the investment.
Where government fees arise
- Citizenship by investment
- Residence and permanent residence by investment
- Processing of the application by the state
- Issue of the passport and documents
- Fees for each family member
- The full programme budget
03 / What it covers
What the fees are made up of
Government fee
- Processing charge
- Non-refundable
- Per application and per person
Check fee
- Due Diligence
- For each adult
- Also non-refundable
Other
- Passport issue
- Legal support
- Translations and legalisation
What it depends on
- Programme
- Number of applicants
- Family composition
04 / How it works
How the government fee is accounted for
Determine the family composition
Calculate the fees for each person
Add the check fee
The full budget on top of the investment
A budget with no surprises
05 / Cost and timelines
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
06 / Key facts
What you need to know
01
The government fee is always non-refundable, even on refusal
02
It is a cost item separate from the investment
03
Some fees are charged for each family member
04
The due diligence fee is also separate non-refundable money
05
The final budget is calculated for the whole family, not one person
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
07 / Expert advice
How to prepare in advance
Obtain a full budget in advance in which government fees and check fees are shown separately from the investment — with no hidden lines. That way you see the total for your family composition and understand which part is non-refundable in any case and which might come back. Fees for each family member are budgeted from the start.
What we do for you. 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.
Klara RihterBanking compliance and source of funds specialist
08 / Questions
Frequently asked questions
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The check fee (due diligence) — it pays for the checking work itself, regardless of the outcome, and is not returned on refusal.
Related terms
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