Student visa cost comparison: USA vs UK vs Canada vs Australia. The visa fee is never just the visa fee:
- USA: $185 (MRV) plus $350 (SEVIS) equals $535. No health surcharge, but budget travel insurance yourself.
- UK: 490 pound visa plus 776 pounds per year health surcharge. Three years means 2,818 pounds before living costs.
- Canada: CAD 150 plus CAD 85 biometrics equals CAD 235. Cheapest of the four.
- Australia: AUD 2,500 plus OSHC health cover plus 29,710 AUD a year in living-cost evidence.
Add it up before you pick a country, not after. The cheapest visa pairs with the toughest approval odds right now; the priciest pairs with the clearest process. There is no free lunch, only different bills. Sources: IATA Travel Centre, U.S. State Department Add it up before you pick a country, not after. The cheapest visa pairs with the toughest approval odds right now; the priciest pairs with the clearest process. There is no free lunch, only different bills.