Embassy and Visa Fees: What They Cost and How to Pay From Iran
You have an appointment and now the fee has to be paid in foreign currency — but an Iranian card doesn't work on the portal, and the slot has a deadline. This guide covers what these fees cost, why paying them is hard, and how to do it safely.
Foreign payments from Iran
Pay the embassy fee on time, with a receipt
This article at a glance
- An embassy fee buys consideration of your file, not the visa — and it's usually non-refundable.
- The amount depends on country and visa type; e.g. a US non-immigrant visa is $185 and a Schengen visa is €90.
- Embassy and visa-centre portals (VFS/TLS) don't accept an Iranian card; the problem is the instrument, not the money.
- The safe way is a payment made on your behalf, on time, with a receipt and a transparent rate and fee.
What these fees cost
The amount depends on the country and visa type and changes from time to time, so check your exact figure on the relevant embassy's official page. A few common examples:
US visa (MRV)
$185 for most non-immigrant visas (tourist, student and so on); some categories such as fiancé(e) are $265.
Schengen visa
€90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6–11; the amount is fixed by EU law.
Related fees
A university application fee and — for US study/exchange visas — the SEVIS registration fee, separate from the embassy fee.
Why paying it from Iran is hard
Embassy payment portals and visa-centre processors (VFS Global, TLScontact and the like) aren't connected to Iranian card networks and don't recognise an Iranian card. The problem isn't your balance, it's the payment instrument. Meanwhile the appointment usually has a deadline: if the fee isn't paid by a given date, the slot is released. So most people turn to someone with a foreign card — and that's where the receipt and any way to follow up are lost.
Paying the fee is not a visa guarantee
Know this up front so it doesn't surprise you later: in most countries the embassy fee buys consideration of the file, not the visa — and it's usually non-refundable on a refusal. That's the embassy's own policy and outside any payment intermediary's control. The one thing a payment service can guarantee is that if the payment isn't made, your money comes back.
How to pay it safely
On an amount that is deadline-bound and non-refundable, transparency matters more than speed. Before handing the payment to anyone, ask for these three things:
A receipt in the applicant's name
The payment must leave a record against the exact name and file details.
A refund if it can't be made
If the payment doesn't reach the embassy, the amount should come back in full.
A transparent rate and fee
See the exchange rate and the fee before you pay, not after.
That is exactly what Rima's embassy-fee service does: you pay in Toman at the day's rate, the service fee is published on the page before you pay, and the receipt comes back to you.
Exactly how much is an embassy fee?
It depends on the country and visa type. For example, a US non-immigrant visa is $185 and a short-stay Schengen visa is €90. Check your exact fee on the relevant embassy's official page.
Is the fee refunded if the visa is refused?
Usually not. In most countries the fee buys consideration of the file, not the visa, and is non-refundable on a refusal. That is the embassy's own policy.
Why doesn't an Iranian card work on the embassy portal?
Embassy portals and visa-centre processors (such as VFS and TLS) aren't connected to Iranian card networks and don't recognise an Iranian card.
Does Rima also book the appointment?
No. Rima only pays the fee on your behalf and gives you the receipt; booking the slot and the visa file itself are yours or your lawyer's.
Can I pay for someone else?
Yes; you enter the applicant's details and the receipt is issued in their name, while the order and its tracking stay with you.
Appointment deadline close?
Enter the embassy and the amount to see the rate, the fee and the final total before you pay — with the receipt issued in the applicant's name.
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