Last reviewed: August 29, 2026
How to Pay the U.S. Visa Fee in Canada
The DS-160 has no submission fee. Applicants who require a U.S. nonimmigrant visa normally pay a separate MRV application fee through the official Canada appointment service.
Many Canadian citizens do not need a nonimmigrant visa for common travel purposes. Important exceptions exist, including certain A, E, G, K, and V classifications. Permanent residents and other non-Canadian citizens living in Canada do not receive the Canadian-citizen exemption. Confirm whether you need a visa before paying.
Payment methods in Canada
Canada's official appointment service currently provides:
- Credit card: Visa or Mastercard through the online profile.
- Cash: choose Pay by Cash, then download, print, and follow the generated instruction sheet.
The cash slip is valid for one transaction. A cash payment can take up to two business days to appear in the appointment system.
Official reference: the Canada visa fee page lists Visa/Mastercard and generated cash instructions, and states that cash can take up to two business days to register.
Official U.S. Visa Information and Appointment Services page for Canada, captured August 29, 2026. Check the live page before paying.
Step-by-step payment process
- Submit the DS-160 and save the confirmation page.
- Create an account on the official Canada visa service.
- Add each applicant and continue until the payment page.
- Choose Visa/Mastercard or generate the cash instructions.
- Pay once and keep the confirmation or cash receipt.
- Wait for the fee to register, then schedule the consular appointment from the same account.
Canada-specific payment rules
- The fee is non-refundable and cannot be transferred to another applicant.
- It is valid for one application and normally expires 365 days after purchase.
- A fee paid for an application in Canada cannot be moved to another country.
- If you schedule in Canada and later decide to apply elsewhere, expect to use that country's system and pay again.
- F, M, and J applicants may also owe a separate SEVIS fee. A reciprocity fee may apply to some nationalities after approval.
Questions commonly searched in Canada
Do I pay this fee on Canada.ca?
No. Canada.ca and IRCC collect fees for Canadian immigration matters. A U.S. nonimmigrant visa application in Canada uses the AIS U.S. Visa Info service linked above.
Is the NVC or CEAC “Pay Now” page the right place?
Not for a DS-160 nonimmigrant visa fee. NVC and the CEAC immigrant-visa payment page handle immigrant cases. Use the Canada nonimmigrant appointment profile for an MRV payment.
Does every person living in Canada need a U.S. visa?
No. The exemption depends on Canadian citizenship, not simply residence in Canada. A permanent resident holding another country's passport should check the visa rules for that nationality. Canadian citizens should still verify whether their visa class is one of the exceptions.
Can I use a fee paid in Canada for an appointment in another country?
No. The official Canada service states that country-specific payments cannot be transferred. Choose the interview country before paying.