Every comparison lists the application fee. Almost none lists what the application actually costs, which is a different and much larger number.
Official fees
| Country | Application | Second stage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mauritius | Free | — | No processing fee at all |
| Spain | €73.26 (UGE) | TIE card €16.08 | Consulate route €80–100 |
| Estonia | €100 | — | |
| Italy | €116 | Permesso di soggiorno | Confirm with your consulate |
| Portugal | Consular fee | AIMA appointment | Two-stage |
| Thailand | 10,000 THB (~€260) | Extension fee | Highest headline fee |
Spain's renewal is €78.67. These are the numbers everyone quotes, and they are the small part.
What the fee doesn't cover
Criminal record certificate — €20–£100+. Required almost everywhere. In the US this is an FBI Identity History Summary; timing ranges from days electronically to weeks by post.
Apostille — the sleeper cost. Federal US documents apostille through the State Department in Washington DC, and that queue runs 2 to 8 weeks. State-issued documents go through that state's Secretary of State — a different queue with different fees. Multiple documents mean multiple apostilles, each paid separately.
Sworn translation — €30–€80 per document. Italy and Spain both require translation by a traductor jurado or equivalent recognised translator. A regular certified translation is rejected. Three or four documents adds up quickly.
Health insurance — the largest recurring cost. Mandatory almost everywhere, and the specification matters:
- Italy requires €30,000 minimum coverage
- Spain requires full coverage with no co-payments and no waiting periods — travel insurance is rejected
- Georgia now requires 30,000 GEL (~US$11,000) for all tourists
Expect €50–€150 per month depending on age and coverage. Over a year that dwarfs every fee on the page.
Second-stage costs. Spain's TIE card, Portugal's AIMA appointment, Italy's permesso di soggiorno — each has its own fee, its own appointment, and often its own travel.
Proof-of-funds friction. Some routes need a local bank account, which needs a tax number, which may need a fiscal representative — a real cost in Portugal, where non-residents commonly pay for one to obtain a NIF.
A realistic total
For a single applicant doing it without a lawyer:
Application fee €75 – €260
Criminal record certificate €20 – €100
Apostilles (2–3 documents) €50 – €150
Sworn translations (3–4 docs) €100 – €300
Health insurance (first year) €600 – €1,800
Second-stage card / appointment €20 – €100
─────────────────────────────────────────────
Realistic first-year total €865 – €2,710
Add €1,000–€3,000 for an immigration lawyer, which many applicants use for Spain's UGE route and Portugal's AIMA stage.
The application fee is typically 3–10% of the real number.
Where money gets wasted
Refused applications. Fees are not refunded. Italy denies applications without accommodation proof; Spain refuses on the 20% Spanish-income rule. Both are avoidable by checking before filing.
Wrong insurance. Buying travel insurance instead of compliant health coverage means buying twice. Check the specification before purchasing, not after.
Expired documents. Criminal record certificates and apostilles have validity windows. Getting them too early means paying again.
Wrong route. Spain's consulate route costs slightly more than the in-country UGE route and grants one year instead of three. Same visa, different value.
Paying for a free service. Thailand's arrival card is free on the official portal, and clone sites charging for it rank alongside it. Mauritius charges nothing for the Premium Visa. Check the official site before paying an agent.
Cheapest end to end
Not the same as cheapest fee:
- Mauritius — no fee, low income bar, but you still pay insurance and documents
- Spain via UGE — €73.26 and three years, the best fee-to-duration ratio of any European option
- Italy — €116, but the mandatory lease before approval can mean paying rent on an empty flat
The lease requirement is a genuine hidden cost that no fee table captures.
What it actually cost
[Author section — an itemised, receipted total for one completed application. Nobody publishes this; it is the most valuable thing you can add to this site.]
Frequently asked questions
How much does a digital nomad visa cost? Application fees run from free (Mauritius) to about €260 (Thailand). Realistic all-in first-year cost is €865–€2,710 without a lawyer, mostly driven by mandatory health insurance.
What is the cheapest digital nomad visa? Mauritius charges no application fee. Spain's UGE route at €73.26 for three years is the best value per year in Europe.
Why is insurance the biggest cost? It is mandatory almost everywhere, must meet a specification (Italy €30,000 coverage; Spain no co-pays or waiting periods), and is charged monthly for the whole stay.
What is an apostille and why does it cost so much? It authenticates a document for use abroad. US federal documents apostille through the State Department in Washington DC, taking 2–8 weeks, and each document is charged separately.
Do I need a lawyer? No, but many applicants use one for Spain's UGE route and Portugal's AIMA stage. Budget €1,000–€3,000.
Are fees refunded if I'm refused? No. Checking eligibility carefully before filing is the cheapest step in the process.
Official sources
- UGE-CE application portal — Spain
- US Department of State — apostille service
- Economic Development Board Mauritius
Verified 29 July 2026. Fees change and vary by consulate. Confirm current amounts with the issuing authority.