Hidden Costs of Migration: OSHC, Biometrics, IELTS & Essential Budget Planning (2025)

Uncover the hidden costs of migration, including OSHC, biometrics, IELTS, and other crucial fees for 2025. Plan your budget with confidence and avoid financial surprises.

Introduction

Migration brings new opportunities, but also hidden expenses that catch many by surprise. Beyond standard government fees, applicants face mandatory charges like biometrics, compulsory health insurance, and English language tests such as IELTS. In 2025, these hidden costs of migration—from OSHC premium costs for students to required medical exams—can add thousands to your total outlay. Understanding migration hidden fees is essential for effective settlement cost planning and a smooth start in your new country.

The True Price Tag: Beyond Basic Migration Fees

While most budgets focus on primary processing fees, actual migration costs are much higher. In Canada, for example, as of 2025, economic immigration applications require a $950 processing fee and a $575 right of permanent residence fee, totaling $1,525 for the main applicant. But these are just the beginning.

Biometrics Fees:
A standard biometrics fee is $85 per person, applying to all newcomers except most minors and certain exemptions. This charge covers fingerprinting and digital photographs, a mandatory part of most migration programs globally.

Mandatory Medical Exams:
Required medical examination fees vary by country and provider but typically range from $150 to $400 per applicant. These are needed for most long-term visas, especially in countries like Canada and Australia.

English Language Tests (IELTS):
The IELTS exam fee 2025 averages between $350 and $400 per attempt in Canada and similar rates worldwide. Since scores are valid for only two years, retakes due to expired scores or unsatisfactory results represent a significant, often unexpected, outlay.

OSHC and Health Coverage:
For Australia, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is mandatory for student visa holders. OSHC premium costs vary from $500 to over $1,200 per year for singles, and much higher for couples or families, depending on the insurer and coverage duration. Other countries require mandatory health insurance for immigrants (such as Canada’s requirement for newcomers to purchase provisional health insurance during waiting periods for public healthcare).

Educational Credential Assessment:
Immigrants to Canada must usually submit foreign education credentials for assessment, with fees averaging $200 to $400 (e.g., WES, ICAS). Such costs are essential for proving eligibility under skilled migration pathways.

Additional and Unforeseen Expenses:

Document translation and notarization: Often $20–$50 per page for certified translations, especially for non-English documentation required by visa offices.
Police clearance certificates: Estimated at $30–$100 per certificate, depending on the country.
Courier and administrative surcharges: For mailing original documents and secure delivery of results, costs can range from $30 to $60 per shipment.
Legal and administrative migration fees: Using migration agents or lawyers can add upwards of $1,000–$5,000, especially for complex cases.

Deep Dive: OSHC, Biometrics, IELTS – Often Overlooked, Always Essential

OSHC and Insurance: Why It Matters

Many countries, including Australia and Canada, require health insurance for migrants as a visa condition. For students in Australia, Overseas Student Health Cover requirements are not optional: you must maintain OSHC for the entire duration of your studies.

OSHC premium costs in 2025:
- Single coverage: $500–$1,200 annually.
- Couple coverage: $2,500+ annually.
- Family coverage: $4,000+ annually.

Failing to show evidence of health coverage can result in delays, refusals, or even cancellations of visa grants, leading to student visa extra charges for new applications or reinstatement.

Canada and some provinces require newcomers to purchase provisional health insurance for migrants during the mandatory waiting period for public healthcare—often three months—costing upwards of $150 per month per person.

Biometrics: The New Security Standard

Since 2019, most Western countries require biometrics collection—digital fingerprints and a facial photo—for permanent and sometimes even temporary visas. The biometrics fee 2025 is standardized (currently $85 across Canada for all family members if collected together, $170 for a couple).

Why is it needed? Biometrics help verify identity, check criminal histories, and enhance border security.
Consequences of non-payment or error: Applications are delayed or even denied until the biometrics collection charge is settled and the appointment completed.

As immigration programs become stricter, the IRCC biometrics processing fee is unlikely to decrease, and missing this requirement can lead to repeat trips to application centers, adding travel expenses to the tally.

IELTS and Other Language Exams: The Cost of Communication

Proving English or French proficiency is crucial for migration: Express Entry, skilled visas, and student pathways all require recent language scores.

IELTS exam fee 2025: $350–$400 per sitting.
Other options: CELPIP, TOEFL, TCF, TEF—with comparable costs.
Retakes and re-evaluation: A failed attempt may mean paying again for the exam; re-evaluation of test results can cost $100 or more.

For families, these English language test costs multiply quickly. For instance, a couple both taking IELTS may spend $800 or more, especially if retests or travel to test centers are needed.

Ancillary and Third-Party Immigration Expenses: What Else Should You Budget for?

Aside from high-profile requirements, third-party immigration expenses often surprise applicants:

Educational Credential Assessment

Before many skilled migration programs or university admissions, you must obtain an educational credential assessment fee evaluation (ECA). WES and other agencies charge about $200–$400 per report, which is mandatory for many migration and professional licensing pathways.

Document Translation and Legalization

Documents not in English or French must be translated by a certified translator. Rates typically run $20–$50 per page. Notarization or apostille services may cost extra, and these requirements become steep for families or those with lengthy academic or professional records.

Required Medical Examinations

Medical exams by government-approved doctors are mandatory for permanent and some temporary visas. Costs, depending on country and provider, can range from $150 to $400 per adult and may be higher for certain tests or follow-ups.

Police Clearance and Family Record Fees

Countries like Canada require police clearance certificates from each country lived in for over six months since age 18. Application charges differ globally, usually $30–$100 each, and in some cases also include courier charges.

Legal and Administrative/Agent Fees

Professional representation is not legally required, but complex cases, language barriers, or limited time often result in applicants hiring consultants or legal advisors, adding thousands to immigration application ancillary costs.

Upfront and Ongoing Migration Surcharges: Planning for the Unseen

Upfront Immigration Costs and Visa Application Hidden Surcharges

Increases in 2025 for permanent residency and citizenship applications, along with hidden surcharges—like courier fees, platform service charges (for online payments), and supporting document courier expenses—can now total several hundred dollars on top of listed government rates.

Fee Increases and Budget Planning for Newcomers

Governments frequently update application fees to reflect administrative costs. In Canada, IRCC raised adult citizenship fees from $100 to $119.75 in 2025. Restoration of visitor, student, and worker statuses, as well as Temporary Resident Permits, also rose in December 2025. These adjustments must be factored into settlement cost planning for newcomers.

Cost of Living, Proof of Funds, and Extra Expenses

Applicants must show “proof of funds”—a minimum amount reflecting living expenses for several months. Beyond transfer costs, exchange rate losses, and bank fees, the genuine cost of living for new immigrants Canada can be much higher than official estimates, as OSHC, insurance, housing deposits, and everyday essentials mount up rapidly.