Visa Before the Ticket: U.S. Tops 2026 Tourist Visa Cost Ranking as Canada Makes the List
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Travel costs no longer begin only with flights and hotel bookings. For many travellers, visa fees have become a real part of the trip budget, especially for families and groups submitting multiple applications.
According to a report published by Condé Nast Traveller Middle East, based on a William Russell study of official document costs around the world, the United States ranked first among the countries with the highest average tourist visa fees in 2026, at US$127. The ranking used average country-to-country tourist visa costs across OECD countries and rounded the figures to the nearest dollar, pound or euro.
New Zealand ranked second at US$106, followed by Australia at US$90 and Colombia at US$72. Canada came fifth, with an average tourist visa fee of US$57, ahead of the United Kingdom at US$47, Poland at US$37, the Schengen area at US$36 and Denmark at US$35.
The report matters because visa fees can add a noticeable upfront cost before travellers even pay for flights, accommodation or local transportation. For families, the cost can multiply quickly when several applications are required.
However, the figures should be treated as a guide rather than a fixed price for every traveller. Visa fees may vary by nationality, visa type, length of stay and method of application, whether online, on arrival, through an embassy or via a visa application centre.
For the United States, the U.S. Department of State currently lists the non-refundable processing fee for non-petition-based nonimmigrant visas, including B visitor visas for business, tourism and medical treatment, at US$185. This means travellers should distinguish between the study’s average ranking and the official fee that may apply to their specific case.
For Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada lists the visitor visa fee at CAD$100 per person, with a CAD$500 maximum for a family of five or more applying at the same time and place. Biometrics fees may also apply in some cases.
For travellers, the practical lesson is simple: check official government sources before booking. Visa fees, biometrics, processing times and refund rules can all affect the real cost of a trip before the journey even begins.
