Countries generate billions of dollars annually from immigration-related fees, including visas, residency permits, citizenship applications, and other processing costs. Below is a breakdown of estimated revenue from key immigration systems worldwide:

1. Top Countries by Immigration Fee Revenue (Estimated Annual Earnings)

• United States – $7–10 billion+

  • Naturalization fee: $725 (4M+ applicants since 2020)

  • H-1B, Green Cards, and other visas generate $4B+ yearly

  • Premium processing (expedited visas) adds $500M+

• United Kingdom – £3–4 billion (~$4–5B USD)

  • Skilled Worker Visa: £1,420+ per applicant

  • Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR): £2,885

  • Citizenship fee: £1,580 (200K+ applications/year)

• Canada – CAD 2–3 billion (~$1.5–2.3B USD)

  • Express Entry (PR): CAD 1,365+ per adult

  • Citizenship fee: CAD 630 (300K+ applicants/year)

• Australia – AUD 2–3 billion (~$1.3–2B USD)

  • Permanent Residency: AUD 4,000–8,000 (189/190 visas)

  • Citizenship: AUD 540 (200K+ applications/year)

• European Union (Schengen Area) – €5–7 billion (~$5.5–7.7B USD)

  • Golden Visas (Portugal, Spain, Greece): €250K–500K investments + fees

  • Germany’s Blue Card & residency permits: €100–3,000

  • EU citizenship by descent/naturalization: €500–10,000+

• Gulf Countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar) – $3–5 billion

  • UAE Golden Visa: AED 2,000–20,000+

  • Saudi Arabia’s Premium Residency: $20,000–$213,000

• New Zealand – NZD 500M–1B (~$300–600M USD)

  • Residency visas: NZD 3,000–5,000

  • Citizenship: NZD 470

2. High-Revenue Immigration Programs

• Citizenship by Investment (CBI) & Golden Visas – $5B+ annually

  • USA EB-5 – $800K–1.1M investments

  • Caribbean CBI (St. Kitts, Dominica, Antigua) – $100K–250K donations

  • Portugal Golden Visa – €250K–500K (suspended in 2023 but generated €6.8B since 2012)

• Work & Student Visas – $10B+ globally

  • US H-1B, UK Skilled Worker, Canada Study Permits

• Asylum & Refugee Processing Fees – Some countries charge fees (e.g., USA asylum fee: $50), but most costs are government-funded.

3. Hidden & Additional Costs

• Biometrics, Medical Exams, Translation – Adds $200–1,000+ per applicant

• Legal & Consultation Fees – Immigration lawyers charge $2,000–10,000+ per case

• Economic Impact – Some countries (Canada, Australia) profit from immigrants’ long-term tax contributions.

4. Countries with the Highest Fees

1. Saudi Arabia (Premium Residency) – $213,000 (permanent)

2. USA (EB-5 Investor Visa) – $800,000+

3. Singapore (PR/Citizenship) – Strict, but high-income earners pay hefty fees

4. Switzerland (Naturalization) – $1,000–10,000+ (varies by canton)

5. Countries with Low/No Fees

• Mexico – Temporary residency: ~$200

• Argentina – Citizenship after 2 years (almost free)

• Brazil – Naturalization fee: ~$100

Key Takeaways

✅ Global immigration industry revenue: $30–50B+ annually (fees + investments)
✅ Most profitable systems: USA, UK, Canada, Australia, EU Golden Visas
✅ Biggest single fees: Citizenship by Investment (CBI) & Golden Visas
✅ Long-term gain: Countries like Canada & Germany profit from skilled immigrants’ economic contributions beyond fees.