In short
International students register online through a College Board account. The SAT costs $68 plus a $43 international fee, $111 in total, and some centers add a $24 fee. You need a registration photo, an ID that matches your registered name exactly (a passport if you test in another country) and a laptop or tablet with the Bluebook app.
Students outside the United States register for the SAT the same way as everyone else: online, through a free College Board account. What differs is the cost, the ID rules and how quickly test centers fill up. This guide walks through every step, with the fees for the current testing year.
How much the SAT costs outside the U.S.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| SAT registration | $68 |
| International fee | $43 |
| Total for most international students | $111 |
| Test center fee (select locations only) | $24 |
| Late registration | $38 |
| Changing your test center | $34 |
| Cancelling by the change deadline | $34 |
| Cancelling after the change deadline | $44 |
| Additional score report (after the first four) | $15 each |
College Board lists these fees through June 2027. Always confirm the final amount on the payment screen.
Fee waivers are available to low income 11th and 12th graders in the United States and its territories, and to U.S. citizens living abroad. Students who are not U.S. citizens and live outside the U.S. are not eligible.
Step by step registration
1. Create a College Board account
Use your own email address, not a parent's, and enter your full legal name exactly as it appears on your passport or ID. A mismatch between your registration and your ID is one of the most common reasons students are turned away on test day. If you need to correct your name later, contact College Board at least 30 days before your test.
2. Pick a test date
International SAT weekend dates are listed with their registration deadlines on our SAT test dates page. The regular deadline is about two weeks before the test, and late registration closes a few days after that. Register at least 6 to 8 weeks ahead if you can: popular centers fill up long before the deadline.
3. Choose a test center
Search for centers near you during registration. If the closest one is full, check nearby cities or a later date. Some centers charge the $24 test center fee, which is shown before you pay.
4. Upload a photo
Your registration photo must:
- show your whole face, both eyes and your hair, facing the camera directly
- show only you, with no filters or editing
- look like you will look on test day
Head coverings worn for religious reasons are fine; sunglasses and hats are not. Black and white photos are accepted. A successful upload does not mean the photo is approved, and students with a photo that breaks these rules are not admitted. You can change your photo up to 5 days before the test.
5. Pay and choose your free score reports
Each registration includes four free score reports to colleges or scholarship programs. You can choose them now or until nine days after the test. Read our guide to superscoring and Score Choice before you decide.
ID rules for international students
- If you travel to another country to take the SAT, you must bring a valid passport.
- Some countries have their own rules for students testing at home. In India, for example, an Aadhaar PVC card or the original Aadhaar letter is accepted in addition to a passport; Pakistan accepts the national ID card; Nigeria accepts the physical NIN card; Ghana accepts the Ghana Card. Check College Board's ID page for your country.
- The ID must be physical, original and unexpired. Photos of an ID, photocopies and digital IDs on a phone are not accepted.
- The name on the ID must match the name on your admission ticket.
Your testing device
The SAT is taken on the Bluebook app, on your own Windows laptop or tablet, Mac, iPad or a school managed Chromebook. Personal Chromebooks and phones cannot be used. Install Bluebook well in advance, and complete exam setup in the app in the days before the test to get your admission ticket.
If you have no device you can use or borrow, you can request one from College Board. Submit the request at least 30 days before your test date. A request does not guarantee a device, so start early.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Registering with a nickname or a shortened name that does not match the passport.
- Waiting for the deadline and finding every nearby center full.
- Forgetting exam setup in Bluebook, so there is no admission ticket on test day.
- Bringing an expired passport or a photo of it.
Once you are registered, plan your preparation backward from the date. Our 8 week SAT study plan shows how to use the time, and the SAT test day checklist covers what to bring.
Find your own pace
Take a full-length Digital SAT practice test with real module timing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the SAT cost for international students?
$111: the $68 registration fee plus the $43 international fee. Some test centers charge an extra $24 test center fee, and late registration adds $38.
Can international students get an SAT fee waiver?
Only U.S. citizens living abroad. Students who are not U.S. citizens and live outside the United States are not eligible.
Do I need a passport to take the SAT?
You need a passport if you travel to another country to test. Testing in your own country, some countries accept a national ID; check the College Board ID requirements for your country.
Can I take the SAT on a phone or my own Chromebook?
No. Use a Windows laptop or tablet, a Mac, an iPad or a school managed Chromebook with the Bluebook app. You can request a device from College Board at least 30 days before the test.