The Passport: Your First Hurdle
Your passport is the most fundamental travel document, but its cost isn't trivial, especially if you're in a hurry. As of July 2026, passport fees in India have been revised. A standard fresh or renewed 36-page passport for an adult now costs ₹2,500.
If you're a frequent flyer and need more pages, a 60-page booklet will set you back ₹3,500. Where the cost really climbs is with the Tatkal service. If you need your passport expedited, the fee for a 36-page booklet jumps to ₹5,000, and a 60-page Tatkal passport costs ₹6,000. These figures represent a significant increase from previous years and should be the first item you budget for if you don't have a valid passport with at least six months' validity.
Visa Fees: The Great Variable
Visa costs are the biggest variable and can range from a few thousand rupees to well over ₹15,000 per person. These fees are non-negotiable and often non-refundable, even if your application is denied. For Indian travellers, popular long-haul destinations have the highest visa costs. For example, a short-term UK visitor visa costs around ₹16,196, a US B1/B2 tourist visa is approximately ₹14,700, and an Australian visitor visa comes in at about ₹13,500. The standard fee for a Schengen visa, which grants access to 29 European countries, is €90 (around ₹8,500 to ₹9,100), but this is just the base embassy fee. Even seemingly affordable destinations have costs; a visa-on-arrival for Thailand is about ₹4,200, and a 30-day tourist visa for Dubai can be around ₹6,000.
The Hidden World of Service Charges
The price quoted by an embassy is rarely the final price you pay. Most countries now outsource their visa application processes to third-party companies like VFS Global. These companies charge a mandatory service fee on top of the visa fee. For Schengen countries, this service fee can range from ₹1,900 to over ₹3,100 depending on the country you apply through. Then come the optional, yet often necessary, add-ons. Do you want SMS updates on your application status? That’s an extra fee, often around ₹450. Need your passport couriered back to you? That will be another ₹500 to ₹1,000. Many centres also offer premium lounge services for several thousand rupees, form-filling assistance, and even charges for taking passport-compliant photographs or making photocopies. These small costs can easily add another ₹2,000 to ₹4,000 to your bill per person.
Supporting Documents and Other Costs
Beyond the main applications, you will also incur costs for gathering supporting documents. This can include obtaining specific-sized photographs from a studio that meet strict visa requirements, notarizing affidavits, or printing extensive bank statements and travel itineraries. If the visa application centre or embassy is not in your city, you must also account for the cost of travel and potentially accommodation to submit your biometrics and application in person. For those planning to drive abroad, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is another essential document. While the fee is a relatively modest ₹1,000, it's another item to add to the pre-travel checklist and budget.
