“Cheapest” here is literal and qualified: the table below sorts the student visa programmes we track by their published government application fee, as stated on official government pages — cheapest by that single figure among the 73 programmes we track, not a recommendation. Each row links to the official source it was taken from.
The 10 Lowest-Cost Student Visas We Track
| # | Country | Programme | Application fee | Initial duration | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mauritania | Résidence pour motif d’étude | €4.35 | 12 months | anrpts.gov.mr — re-checked 2026-06-22 |
| 2 | Bolivia | Permanencia transitoria por objeto determinado de estudio | €13 | 2 months | lexivox.org — re-checked 2026-06-22 |
| 3 | Libya | Full-time students residing in universities or other educational institutions in Libya | €14 | 60 months | security-legislation.ly — re-checked 2026-06-22 |
| 4 | South Africa | Study Visas | €22 | 12 months | dha.gov.za — re-checked 2026-06-22 |
| 5 | Taiwan | Study in Taiwan | €28 | 24 months | boca.gov.tw — re-checked 2026-06-22 |
| 6 | China | X2 Visa — Short-Term Study (≤180 Days) | €28 | 6 months | en.nia.gov.cn — re-checked 2026-06-22 |
| 7 | Morocco | Visa étudiant | €28 | 12 months | consulat.ma — re-checked 2026-06-22 |
| 8 | Czech Republic | Long-term visas and long-term residence permits for the purpose of studies | €35 | 12 months | mzv.gov.cz — re-checked 2026-06-22 |
| 9 | Papua New Guinea | Occupational Trainee | €37 | 12 months | ica.gov.pg — re-checked 2026-06-22 |
| 10 | Moldova | VIZA DE LUNGĂ ŞEDERE (TIP D) - Studii D/AS | €40 | 12 months | mfa.gov.md — re-checked 2026-06-22 |
How to Read This Ranking
- The ranking sorts one published figure: the government application fee. It excludes insurance, translations, legalisation, travel and living costs.
- Where a country has several qualifying programmes, only its lowest-cost programme is shown.
- Programmes without a published figure for this metric, and programmes restricted to specific nationalities, are not ranked.
- Figures change. Each row shows when the source was last re-checked — always confirm on the official page before applying.
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Get Your Free VerdictFrequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest student visa in 2026?
Among the 73 student visa programmes we track, Mauritania's Résidence pour motif d’étude lists the lowest government application fee: €4.35.
Which countries have student visas with a government application fee of €100 or less?
Based on the figures we track: Mauritania, Bolivia, Libya, South Africa, Taiwan, China, Morocco, Czech Republic, Papua New Guinea, Moldova.
How current are these figures?
Every programme in the table links to a named source — about 77% directly to an official government source; the figures shown were last re-checked 2026-06-22.
Does a low government application fee make approval easier?
No. The ranking sorts a single published figure. Each programme has its own eligibility rules, documentation and totals (insurance, legalisation, living costs) that this one number does not capture.
Figures relate to the specific programmes named above. Always confirm on the official pages linked below before applying.