10 countries with post-study work visas for int’l students

Post-study work visa options are a major allure for international students. It’s an opportunity to work in a new culture, gain new skills, and see the world from a new perspective.

From Canada to Ireland and Germany, we take a look at 10 countries that offer international students a post-study work visa:

Australia

Australia has some of the best universities in the world and is home to stunning beaches, an array of beautiful wildlife and nature, and two of the top 10 QS Best Student Cities 2025 — Melbourne at #5 and Sydney at #6. 

If you’re considering Australia as a study destination, the good news is you can also apply for a Temporary Graduate Visa. This visa has two streams:

• Post-Vocational Education Work stream. For international students who have recently graduated with Australian qualifications that are relevant to specific occupations Australia needs, allowing you to stay up to 18 months in the country.
• Post-Higher Education Work stream. For international students who have recently graduated with a degree from an Australian institution, allowing you to stay in the country for two to three years, depending on your qualifications.

The UK’s Graduate Route is valid for up to two years. Source: Tolga Akmen/AFP

UK

Another prime study destination would be the UK. Here, the Graduate visa allows you to stay in the UK for at least two years after successfully completing a programme in the UK, and you must be in the UK when applying for the visa.

You cannot extend your Graduate visa, but you can switch to a different visa, for example, a Skilled Worker visa, which allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer. 

New Zealand

There’s more to New Zealand than being the filming location of “The Lord of the Rings.” Beyond its impressive landscape and scenery, it is home to five universities ranked among the top 250 in the QS World University Rankings 2025. 

Depending on your qualifications and where you studied, this post-study work visa would allow you to work for any employer for between one and three years. 

Better yet, if you completed a degree level 7 (diploma, bachelor’s degree, graduate certificate, or graduate diploma) or above qualification that you studied full-time for at least 30 weeks in New Zealand, you can work in almost any job for any employer in New Zealand.

If you can’t get enough of Ireland during your studies, a post-study work visa is a great way to extend your stay. Source: AFP

Ireland

There are many reasons to study in Ireland: its quality education aside, the country is also the European hub to over 1,000 leading multinational companies such as Google, HP, Apple, IBM, Facebook, Pfizer, and GSK, notes Education In Ireland.

If you have a degree from a recognised Irish awarding body, you may be able to stay in Ireland to seek employment after you complete your programme through the Third Level Graduate Programme.

This allows legally resident Irish-educated non-EEA graduates who hold a level 8 or level 9 award from a recognised Irish awarding body to remain in Ireland after their studies for a period of 12 months.

US

The US has always been known as the land of opportunity, which makes it unsurprising why many flock to the country to chase the American Dream. If you want to work in the US after completing your degree, your F-1 visa will make it possible.

International students on an F-1 visa are eligible to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT), provided that they’re studying in the US for a minimum one year period. Under this, international students are permitted to stay and work in the US for 12 months without being sponsored by an employer.

The STEM OPT is an extension of the standard OPT, allowing students 24 months instead of 12 to work in the US after graduation. 

The H-1B visa is commonly referred to as the US’s staple work visa. It’s a temporary work visa that allows non-US residents to work in the country for up to six years. They need to have graduated with a minimum bachelor’s degree in the same or related field of the job scope. 

You can’t apply for this visa yourself — your employer has to file it for you. This is why it’s important to network and build connections while you’re still on OPT status. 

Those who have studied in Canada know the myriad of opportunities available in the country, and even those who haven’t stepped foot in the country are well aware of it too. Source: AFP

Canada

A quality education and high living standards are among the allure of studying in Canada. 

You may be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) if you have graduated from a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada. The PGWP allows you to temporarily stay in Canada to work, but to apply for a Canadian work permit, you will first need to meet certain criteria to work in Canada.

The PGWP may be issued based on the length of the study programme for a minimum of eight months up to a maximum of three years.

Germany

Graduates from German universities from non-EU/EEA countries can work in the country after they finish their studies by extending their residence permit for up to 18 months after graduation. 

The 18 months begin as soon as a student finishes their final exams, so it would be best if you start looking for employment while you are still at university or during your final semester, notes Studying in Germany. 

During those 18 months, you can work whatever job you can in order to support yourself until you find full-time employment, and it does not necessarily have to be related to your field of study.

Upon securing a job in Germany, you can apply for the EU Blue Card programme, a work- and residence permit for non-EU/EEA nationals. All EU member states — except the UK, Denmark, and Ireland — issue the EU Blue Card.

You could be eligible if you are a non-EU citizen and you have completed tertiary education and/or you have three years or more professional experience in the profession related to your profile.

As an international student, South Korea is a place where you can never get enough of, which makes having the option of getting a post study work visa all that better. Source: AFP

South Korea

South Korea has a strong economy and its universities are among the best in the world for the pursuit of academic excellence. 

Students from recognised Korean universities can apply for the D-10-1 visa, or the job-seekers visa, to find employment in the country. The D-10-1 Visa is available for students who have earned an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. 

You can switch to an E-1 Visa after finding employment. There are seven categories: Professor (E-1), Foreign Language Instructor (E-2), Researcher (E-3), Technical Instructor/Technician (E-4), Professional (E-5), Artist/Athlete (E-6) or Foreign National of Special Ability (E-7). 

Separately, the South Korean government is introducing a new type of travel visa specifically designed to draw in global talents.

Named the “Hallyu” visa, which literally translates to “Korean wave”, the E-6 (Culture and Entertainment) Visa is for those who plan to work in music, art, literature, sports, entertainment (such as acting or musical performances), advertisements, and fashion modelling with the purpose of making a profit. 

Singapore

Located in Southeast Asia, the small but mighty country of Singapore is renowned for its quality of higher education and research. Examples of world-class institutions include the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University.

For international students, you’ll be granted a Short-Term Visit Pass after your student pass has expired, which will give you 90 days to look for employment. If you are graduating from one of the Institute of Higher Learning in Singapore, you can apply for a one-year Long-term Social Visit Pass, which is non-renewable.

International students could be eligible for a few post-study work visas: 

• The Employment Pass is for foreign professionals, managers and executives  
• The S Pass is for mid-level skilled staff — candidates need to earn at least 3,150 Singapore dollars a month and meet the assessment criteria
• The EntrePass is for eligible foreign entrepreneurs who are keen to start and operate a business in Singapore that is venture-backed or possesses innovative technologies

Hopefully, by the time you apply for the post-study work visa for Finland, you’ll be used to seeing reindeer cross the street. Source: AFP

Finland

A world-class education, high-quality of life, and one of the better student healthcare services available. Who wouldn’t want to live and study in the happiest country in the world?

After your studies, non-EU students can apply for an extended residence permit for up to a year after graduation. This is intended to help graduates in their search for work.

Once you secure a job as a graduate, you can then apply for a new residence permit based on your new work placement.

Study in Finland notes that finding a job in Finland can be challenging as not all fields of study offer opportunities for employment before graduation. They add that job applicants may also be required to have Finnish or Swedish language skills. 

Disclaimer: This article was last updated on September 23, 2024.