Guide
Student Visas
What is a student visa?
A student visa lets you live in a country while enrolled at a recognized school or university. You generally qualify by securing admission first and proving you can cover tuition and living costs, sometimes with a language requirement. Many double as a foothold abroad — a number of countries let graduates stay on to work afterward, which can become a path to permanent residency.
About this guide
This guide compares student visas side by side — tuition, the funds you must show, whether you need an acceptance letter first, and language requirements — plus the post-study routes that let graduates stay on to work.
Pathways compared
38
Countries covered
18
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Find your pathway matches →Student visas
Filter by
Iceland Exchange Residence
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Study Residency | — | — | — | — |
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Iceland Student Residence
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Study Residency | — | — | — | — |
Germany Ausbildung
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Study Residency | Free–low (public) | €11,904 (blocked acct) | Yes | German (or English program) |
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Germany Language Course
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Study Residency | Course fees vary | Living costs required | Yes | Intensive German course |
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Germany School / Exchange
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Study Residency | School-specific | €11,904/yr or host/commitment | Yes | School-specific |
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Germany Student Visa
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Study Residency | Free-low (public) | €11,904/yr | Yes | Program language; often B2 |
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Germany Study Internship
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Study Residency | Internship-specific | Host commitment | Yes | Internship-specific |
Australia Student Guardian
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Study Residency | — | — | — | — |
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Australia Student Visa
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Study Residency | — | — | — | — |
Netherlands Student Residence
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Study Residency | €8k–15k/yr (non-EU) | ~€13,800/yr | Yes | English (many programs) |
Belgium Student Visa
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Study Residency | ~€4k+/yr (non-EU) | ~€750/mo | Yes | Dutch/French (or English) |
UK Child Student Visa
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Study Residency | Independent school fees | Course fees + living costs | Yes | School/sponsor assessed |
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UK Student Visa
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Study Residency | £12k–38k/yr | £1,023–1,334/mo (9 mos) | Yes | English (IELTS) |
New Zealand Student Visa
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Study Residency | — | — | — | — |
Canada Study Permit
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Study Residency | — | — | — | — |
Luxembourg Student Residence
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Study Residency | — | — | — | — |
U.S. J-1 Exchange Visitor
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Study Residency | — | — | — | — |
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U.S. Student Visa
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Study Residency | — | — | — | — |
Spain Student Visa
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Study Residency | ~€1k–10k/yr | ~€600/mo | Yes | Spanish (or English) |
France Student Visa
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Study Residency | ~€170–380/yr (public) | ~€615/mo | Yes | French (or English program) |
Italy Study Visa
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Study Residency | — | Yes | Yes | — |
Czech Student Residence
Lowest
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Study Residency | Free (Czech) / paid (English) | ~€5,600/yr | Yes | Czech (or English) |
Poland Student Residence
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Study Residency | — | Required | Yes | — |
Portugal D4 Student Visa
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Study Residency | ~€1k–7k/yr | ~€870/mo (min wage) | Yes | Portuguese (or English) |
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Portugal Internship or Volunteer
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Study Residency | — | — | — | — |
Mexico Student Residence
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Study Residency | — | — | — | — |
No pathways match that filter.
After you graduate
Filter by
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Iceland Post-Study Job Search
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Study To Pr Residency | — | — | — | — |
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Germany Post-Study Job Search
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Study To Pr Residency | German graduates, researchers, trainees, or recognition completers | Up to 18 months | Via later work or self-employment | Yes |
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Australia Temporary Graduate
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Study To Pr Residency | — | — | — | — |
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Netherlands Orientation Year
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Study To Pr Residency | Recent graduates (zoekjaar) | 1 year | 5 years | Yes |
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Belgium Search Year
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Study To Pr Residency | — | — | — | — |
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UK Graduate Visa
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Study To Pr Residency | Graduates of UK universities | 2 years (3 for PhD) | Via Skilled Worker | Yes |
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New Zealand Post Study Work
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Study To Pr Residency | — | — | — | — |
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Canada Study-to-PR Route
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Study To Pr Residency | Graduates of Canadian DLIs | Up to 3 years | Via Express Entry | Yes |
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Luxembourg Post-Study Job Search
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Study To Pr Residency | — | — | — | — |
Austria Graduate Work Route
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Study To Work Residency | Graduates of Austrian universities | Job-seeking permit | 5 years | Yes |
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France Post-Study Job Search
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Study To Pr Residency | — | — | — | — |
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Portugal Post-Study Work
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Study To Pr Residency | — | — | — | — |
No pathways match that filter.