If you’ve started researching a Golden Visa, you’ve probably noticed the headline number gets all the attention (the investment amount). But when you actually budget for a real application — especially if you’re including family — the “all-in” cost is a mix of legal work, government fees, document formalities, and a handful of easy-to-miss extras.

This guide walks you through the typical cost categories, what makes them go up or down, and how to build a sensible budget in £ so you don’t get surprised halfway through.

1) Legal fees: what you’re paying for (and why it matters)

Legal fees aren’t just “form filling”. A well-run Golden Visa file is a compliance project: you’re proving eligibility, building a defensible source-of-funds story, keeping documents consistent across jurisdictions, and managing deadlines and renewals.

A lawyer-led approach is usually most valuable when the stakes are high (large transfers, complex wealth, multiple dependants, or tighter due diligence). If you’re weighing who should lead the process, the quick read is here: Golden Visa lawyer vs consultant: which is better for your application.

What legal fees typically cover

Depending on the programme, your legal support may include:

• Eligibility screening and route selection (so you don’t pay for the “wrong” programme)
• Source-of-funds evidence planning (the paper trail that actually satisfies regulators)
• Document checklists, validity windows, and consistency checks (names, dates, formats)
• Coordination with local counsel, notaries, banks, fund administrators, or agents
• Submission, responses to government queries, biometrics/appointments, and follow-ups
• Renewal planning (because most investor residence permits aren’t “one and done”)

Coates Global explains how cases are structured and managed in practice in How We Operate.

Typical price ranges (in £)

Legal fees vary widely by route, family size, and complexity. As a rough guide, many applicants see legal support fall somewhere between £6,000 and £25,000+ for an initial application, with renewals often priced separately. The biggest drivers are:

• Number of applicants (main applicant + spouse + dependants)
• How complex your funds trail is (business income, dividends, asset sales, gifts, crypto, multiple countries)
• How many third parties are involved (fund subscriptions, property transactions, notaries, agents, etc.)

If you want a view of the wider service landscape, start with Services and the programme library under Residency & Citizenship.

2) Government fees: the unavoidable “per person” costs

Government fees are where budgets often get caught out, because they’re usually charged per applicant and can repeat at renewal points.

These fees can include:

• Application / processing fees
• Permit issuance fees (sometimes the big one)
• Biometrics / card-production costs
• Renewal fees (often due multiple times before citizenship eligibility)

A practical example is Portugal, where the government fee stack includes initial and renewal-cycle costs. Coates Global highlights how renewals can become a meaningful line item in its guide: Portugal Golden Visa cost: total cost estimate by route and family size. 

Budgeting tip: build your government-fee total in £ (with an FX buffer)

Most Golden Visa government fees are paid in local currency (often €). If you’re budgeting from the UK, convert to £ using a cautious exchange-rate assumption and add a buffer (often 3%–5%) for FX movement and bank spreads.

You don’t need to guess the exact rate today — you just need a budgeting approach that won’t break if the rate moves before you pay. (This matters more than people think when you’re paying fees for 3–5 family members.)

3) The “hidden costs” most people forget to include

These are rarely huge individually, but together they can easily add £1,500–£6,000+ to a family application — and sometimes more if you have lots of documents or multiple trips.

Document legalisation (apostilles) and notarisation

If you’re using UK-issued documents abroad, you may need legalisation. The UK FCDO charges (from 1 January 2024) include £45 for standard legalisation in the UK and other fee tiers depending on service type.
Notarisation and certified copies are separate and vary by provider, document type, and urgency.

Certified translations

If your documents aren’t in the required language, certified translations are a common cost. Typical UK pricing references often sit around £0.10–£0.16 per word or £25–£60 per page depending on complexity and certification requirements.
Multiply that by birth certificates, marriage certificates, bank letters, company records, tax documents, and you can see how it adds up.

Courier, scanning, and admin friction

International couriers, printing, scanning, and certified copy packs aren’t glamorous, but they’re real. If you’re working across countries, allow a practical buffer for postage and document handling.

Banking and transfer costs (plus “proof” costs)

Cross-border transfers can bring:

• Transfer fees and receiving fees
• FX spreads (the hidden cost inside your exchange rate)
• Bank letter fees (some programmes require bank declarations or confirmations)

Travel costs for appointments

Even if a programme doesn’t require heavy physical presence, you may still travel for biometrics, bank onboarding, or consular steps. Budget realistically for:

• Flights
• Accommodation
• Local transport
• Time costs (especially if you need to travel more than once)

Ongoing costs linked to the investment route

This is where “headline investment amount” can mislead:

• Fund routes can come with subscription fees, management fees, admin fees, custody fees, and exit mechanics (route-specific). If you’re comparing structured investment routes, start here: Portugal investment funds.
• Donation routes often look clean on paper, but still have admin and documentation requirements. See: Portugal residence by investment donation option.
• Property routes may involve legal conveyancing, taxes, valuation, and transaction costs that sit outside the “immigration fee”. For a reference point: Greece Golden Visa.

Due diligence and compliance tightening

Europe is moving toward more rigorous screening, which can increase the amount of documentation (and professional support) required. Coates Global covers the broader direction of travel here: EU tightens due diligence across Golden Visa programmes.

A simple way to build your “all-in” Golden Visa budget

Here’s a practical budgeting framework you can use (in £):

1. Legal fees (initial + renewals if applicable)
2. Government fees (per person, including renewals)
3. Document pack (apostilles, notarisation, translations, couriers)
4. Travel & appointments (1–2 trips depending on programme)
5. Investment-route costs (fund charges / property transaction costs / admin layers)
6. Contingency (usually 5%–10% of non-investment costs)

If you’re still deciding which programme fits your goals and family set-up, it helps to compare the options side-by-side before you spend money on execution. Start with Residency by Investment Programmes and (if relevant) explore specific routes like the Hungary Guest Investment Programme, the Italy Investor Visa, or Malta residency by investment.

The bottom line

A Golden Visa budget that only includes the investment amount is incomplete. The smart move is to plan your full cost stack upfront — in £ — with an FX buffer and a clear renewal view. That way, you’re not making rushed decisions later because of an unexpected fee spike or document scramble.

If you want a clean, personalised breakdown (legal scope, government fees by family member, and realistic “hidden costs” based on your documents and route), speak to Coates Global and get a proper plan before you commit funds: Contact Coates Global.

Ready to take the next step towards EU residency or citizenship? Speak to Coates Global today for clear, compliant guidance tailored to your goals. Whether you need a portugal golden visa solicitor, a hungary golden visa solicitor, an italy investor visa consultant, or a malta citizenship by investment solicitor, we’ll help you understand eligibility, costs, timeframes, and documentation—so you can move forward with confidence. Book a consultation and get a clear plan from day 1.