BRIDGES · Application and process

Passport / Residencecard fee

Passport / Residence card fee

after approvalwhen it is paid
per personbasis of calculation
renewalwhat people forget to include
  • 3 min read
  • Updated: July 2026
  • BRIDGES Research Team
In brief — 30 seconds
What it is
A government fee for producing and issuing a passport or residence card
When it is paid
As a rule, after the application is approved, at the final stage
Who it is charged for
Each recipient of a document in the application
What is forgotten
That documents have a period of validity and renewal costs money too
Advice
Calculate not only entry into the programme but also the cost of maintaining status

In plain words

The passport or residence card fee is a government payment for producing and issuing the document itself. It differs from the due diligence fee: that one pays for the due diligence procedure, while this one pays for the specific physical document you receive.

It is paid, as a rule, at the final stage, after the application has been approved, and is charged for each recipient. In the overall programme budget it is a relatively small item compared with the investment and the due diligence fees, but with a large family it too becomes noticeable.

What is most often forgotten is what comes next. Passports and residence cards have a period of validity, and when it expires the documents are replaced — a separate procedure with its own cost. Residence permits also require regular renewals of status, sometimes with requirements for presence in the country. That is why the calculation should include not only entry into the programme but also maintaining status for years ahead.

When it is taken into account

Calculating the full programme budget
Planning the budget for a family
Receiving documents after approval
Renewing a passport or card
Comparing programmes by full cost
Planning costs for years ahead

What document costs include

Initial
  • Producing the passport
  • Residence card
  • For each recipient
Procedure
  • Biometrics if required
  • In-person attendance
  • Delivery of documents
Renewal
  • The document’s period of validity
  • Cost of replacement
  • Renewal of the status
Maintenance
  • Presence requirements
  • Regular payments
  • Support

How it works

  1. 01Application approval
  2. 02Paying the document fees
  3. 03Biometrics if required
  4. 04Production and issue
  5. 05Renewal in the future

What you need to know

  • The document fee differs from the due diligence fee
  • It is usually paid after the application is approved
  • It is charged for each recipient of a document
  • Documents have a period of validity and need replacing
  • A residence permit requires regular renewal of status

Common mistakes

  • Counting only the investment and forgetting the fees
  • Not taking into account the costs for the whole family
  • Planning the budget only for entry into the programme
  • Forgetting the cost of renewal years later
  • Not taking into account presence requirements when renewing a residence permit

What this means for a BRIDGES client

We calculate the budget for years ahead, not just entry into the programme: fees, documents, renewals, presence requirements. It is the only way to compare programmes with each other fairly.

Frequently asked questions

01 /How does this fee differ from the due diligence fee?

The due diligence fee pays for the due diligence procedure, while this one pays for producing and issuing the passport or residence card itself.

02 /When is it paid?

As a rule, at the final stage, after the application has been approved and before the documents are received.

03 /Is it charged for each person?

Yes, for each recipient of a document in the application. With a large family this item becomes noticeable.

04 /Is there a fee on renewal?

Yes. Documents have a period of validity, and replacement and renewal are separate procedures with their own cost.

05 /Is personal attendance required?

It depends on the programme: some require a visit for biometrics or to collect the documents, others allow the process to be done remotely.

06 /What else should be included in the budget?

Renewal of status, support and, where necessary, meeting the requirements for presence in the country.

See also

Read next

Anna Kovalevskaya
AuthorAnna KovalevskayaHead of Legal, BRIDGES
Sergey Evdokimov
Reviewed bySergey EvdokimovManaging Partner, BRIDGES
Updated
July 2026
Version
1.0
Scheduled review
January 2027
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We will calculate the full cost over several years — with all fees and renewals.

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