Visa consultation fees in India
Almost every visa application involves three separate payments, and confusion between them is where most fee disputes start. Here is how the costs break down and what to ask before you pay anything.
On this page
Three costs, three different recipients
The consultant's professional fee goes to the consultancy. The embassy or consular fee goes to the mission and is set by the destination government. Biometric enrolment, courier, translation and attestation charges go to visa application centres and third-party vendors.
Only the first is something a consultant can discount. If a quote is a single number with no breakdown, ask for one before paying.
What consultants charge
Consultation fees vary with the consultancy and the complexity of the destination, and the starting fee is shown on every VisaMarket profile before you book.
Full-service packages are priced per visa type. The high end covers permanent residency and skilled-migration files that run for months and involve multiple assessment bodies; a single short-stay tourist file sits near the low end.
Government fees change without notice
Embassy fees are revised by destination governments and are often quoted in the destination currency, so the rupee amount moves with the exchange rate. Always confirm the current fee on the official mission or visa application centre website on the day you pay.
Refunds and what happens on refusal
A professional fee pays for work performed, so it is generally not refundable once the file has been prepared and submitted. Government fees are almost never refundable on refusal.
Before paying, ask specifically what the consultant does — and what they charge — if you need to reapply. Payments made through VisaMarket produce an invoice with a line-item breakdown, and the platform's refund terms are published in the Legal Centre.
Before you rely on this article
Visa requirements, fees and processing procedures can change. Always verify current requirements with the relevant embassy, consulate or official immigration authority.
Need help with your visa application?
Compare verified visa consultants on VisaMarket, check what each consultation includes, and book online or in person. Consultant fees are shown before you book; embassy and third-party charges are always separate.
Frequently asked questions
VisaMarket Editorial Team
Editorial desk, VisaMarket
The VisaMarket editorial desk writes and maintains the platform's visa guides. Articles describe how the VisaMarket marketplace works and how visa applications are handled in practice, and are updated when marketplace data or published official requirements change.
Related articles
How Much Does a Visa Consultant Cost in India?
Why one file costs a few thousand rupees and another costs several lakh — and which charges are never part of the consultant fee.
What Is Included in a Visa Consultation?
What a paid session covers, what it explicitly does not, and how to tell advice from a sales pitch.
What Does a Visa Consultant Do — and When Do You Need One?
A consultant sells judgement and file discipline, not access. Here is the work they do, and the cases where it pays for itself.