How Much Does It Cost to Close the Distance? (2026)
TL;DR
Closing the distance usually costs a few thousand dollars in visa fees, and as much again or more for the move and the months before the new paycheck. The visa is the cost everyone researches. The gap without a second income is the one that catches couples out.
This guide breaks the cost into its parts, with 2026 partner visa fees for five of the biggest destinations for couples, so you can add up your own number instead of guessing. Fees were checked in October 2026. They change often, so check the official page for your route before you pay anything.
The five parts of the cost
Almost every move to close the distance is made of the same five parts:
- The visa or residence permit, if you are moving to another country.
- Getting there: a one-way flight, plus extra bags or shipping for your things.
- A place to live: a deposit, the first month's rent, and anything the home needs.
- The gap: the months between arriving and the first paycheck for the one who moved.
- A buffer for what goes wrong, because something always does.
Couples often plan for the first two and forget the last three. The gap is the one that hurts most, because rent starts on day one but a new job, or permission to work, can take months.
Partner visa costs in popular destinations (2026)
Every country is different. These five are among the countries that take in the most people joining a spouse or family member: the US alone received about 969,000 new permanent family migrants in 2024, around 40% of the total across OECD countries, and the UK about 263,000 (OECD, 2025). Between them, they show the range: from about €175 to over $10,000. If your destination isn't here, search for its partner or spouse visa on the government's own website, and look for three things: the fee, any minimum income, and whether your partner can work on arrival.
| Moving to | Main government fees | Can work on arrival? |
|---|---|---|
| US (K-1) | about $2,850–$3,150 | Not until the work permit |
| UK | £4,651.50 | Yes |
| Canada | CAD 1,260 + biometrics, medical | Yes |
| Australia | A$11,710 | Yes |
| Germany | €75 visa + about €100 permit | Usually yes |
Moving to the US (K-1 fiancé visa)
The K-1 visa lets a US citizen's fiancé move to the US to marry within 90 days. After the wedding, the partner applies for a green card from inside the US. The main government fees are:
- Fiancé petition (Form I-129F): $675
- K visa application fee at the embassy: about $265
- Medical exam with an embassy-approved doctor: usually $200 to $500, depending on the country
- Green card application after marriage (Form I-485): $1,440
- Work permit (Form I-765), filed with the green card application: $260
That adds up to about $2,850 to $3,150 in fees and exams for one person (fees on USCIS). A new $250 visa integrity fee, introduced in 2025, may also apply when the visa is issued. A lawyer, if you use one, adds several thousand dollars more.
One thing to plan for: after arriving on a K-1, your partner usually can't work until the work permit is approved, which often takes a few months. Budget for living on one income during that time.
Moving to the UK (family visa as a partner)
Applying from outside the UK as a partner or spouse costs:
- Visa application fee: £2,064
- Immigration health surcharge: £2,587.50 for the first 2 years and 6 months
That is £4,651.50 before any other costs, paid up front (GOV.UK). On top of that, the UK partner living in the UK generally needs to earn at least £29,000 a year, or show savings that make up the difference. If you don't meet the income requirement yet, that is the first thing to plan around, not the fee.
The good news: a partner on this visa can work as soon as they arrive.
Moving to Canada (spousal or partner sponsorship)
Sponsoring a spouse or common-law partner from outside Canada costs CAD 1,260 in government fees, which covers the sponsorship fee, the processing fee and the right of permanent residence fee. Add biometrics (fingerprints and photo) and a medical exam (IRCC fee list).
Canada's fees are low for a country of its size, but processing can take a year or more. A partner who arrives with permanent residence can work right away.
Moving to Australia (partner visa)
Australia is one of the most expensive partner visas in the world. Applying from outside Australia (subclasses 309 and 100) costs A$11,710 for the main applicant, paid when you apply. Fees are usually raised every 1 July (Home Affairs). Your partner can work once the first visa is granted, but processing often takes a year or more, so many couples spend that time still apart.
Moving to Germany (family reunification)
Joining a spouse in Germany is cheap in fees: a €75 national visa, then about €100 for the residence permit once you arrive. The bigger cost is time: the partner moving usually needs to pass a basic German test (level A1) before applying, unless an exception applies. Check the fees and documents with the German embassy where you live. Other EU countries have their own rules, but most charge modest fees, so the move itself is often the bigger cost. Most spouses can work once they have the residence permit.
Moving within the same country
If you live in the same country, there's no visa to pay for. The cost is the move itself: the trip, the truck or shipping, and setting up the new home. For many couples, the gap is still the biggest cost, because one of you is leaving a job.
The costs couples forget
The one-way flight. Easy to price, but don't forget extra bags. Moving a life in suitcases often means two or three paid bags.
Shipping. Boxes sent by sea are cheaper than by air but take weeks. Many couples sell furniture and only ship what they can't replace.
The deposit and first rent. In most cities, expect a deposit of one or two months' rent plus the first month in advance, all paid at once.
Setting up the home. A bed, a table, kitchen basics. Even second-hand, this adds up quickly.
The gap without the second income. Multiply your monthly costs by the months before the one who moved gets paid. For a K-1, this includes waiting for the work permit. This number is often bigger than the visa.
Trips during the process. Visa interviews, a wedding, or one more visit while you wait for approval all cost money.
How to work out your own number
Add the five parts for your route:
- Your visa fees from the list above, or zero if you're in the same country.
- One-way flight, bags and shipping.
- Deposit, first rent and the basics for the home.
- Monthly costs × the months before the second paycheck.
- 10 to 20% on top as a buffer.
Then divide the total by what the two of you can save together each month. That tells you how many months away your move-in date really is. If the answer is further away than you hoped, you can see which part to change: saving more each month, choosing the other city, or cutting the setup costs.
Find your own date
If you want the number for your own situation, put in where you each live, what you earn and spend, and what you've saved, and see the month you can move in together.
FAQ
How much does it cost to close the distance?
For a couple in the same country, mostly the move itself and the months before the person who moved finds work. For an international couple, add the visa. In 2026 that ranges from about €175 in Germany to about $3,000 for a US K-1, £4,651.50 for a UK partner visa including the health surcharge, and A$11,710 for an Australian partner visa.
Which country is cheapest to move to for a partner?
Of the five in this guide, Germany is the cheapest in fees, and Australia is by far the most expensive, followed by the UK. But fees are only part of the cost. Whether the partner can work right away, and the cost of rent in the city you choose, often matter more.
Can my partner work as soon as they arrive?
In the UK, Canada and Australia, yes, once the visa is granted. In Germany, usually yes once the residence permit is issued. On a US K-1 visa, usually not until the work permit is approved, which can take a few months after you apply.
How long does it take to save enough to close the distance?
Divide your total cost by what you two can save together each month. Many couples need between six months and two years. Knowing the exact number turns "one day" into a real date you can plan around.
Do we need an immigration lawyer?
Many couples apply on their own, especially for straightforward cases. A lawyer adds cost but can help if your case is complicated, for example with past visa refusals or a criminal record.