Guide
Work Visas
What is a work visa?
A work visa is a residence permit that lets you live in a country in order to take a job there. Most require a job offer from a local employer who sponsors you, though some countries run points-based or "talent" routes that let skilled people qualify without an offer in hand. They tend to be the most direct route to permanent residency, since time spent working usually counts toward it.
About this guide
This guide compares work and skilled-migration visas side by side — whether you need a job offer, the minimum salary, which occupations qualify, the education required, and how quickly the role leads to permanent residency — then links to a full breakdown of each.
For North America specifically, see the USMCA work visas guide.
Pathways compared
112
Countries covered
56
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Swiss Skilled Work Permit
|
Skilled Work Residency | Swiss market rate | Yes quota; no local candidate | Managers / specialists | Degree / qualification | C permit (5–10 yrs) |
Norway Skilled Worker
|
Skilled Work Residency | NOK 522,600–599,200/yr | Yes | Skilled occupations | Degree / vocational | 3 years |
Hong Kong QMAS
|
Talent Residency | -- | No | Highly skilled / talented | Degree or strong professional ability | 7 years to HK PR |
Denmark Pay Limit
|
Skilled Work Residency | DKK 552,000/yr (~$80k) | Yes | Any (pay-based) | — | 8 years |
|
Denmark Positive List
|
Skilled Work Residency | Agreed pay | Yes | Shortage occupations | Qualification | 8 years |
Sweden Work Permit
|
Skilled Work Residency | SEK 29,680/mo | Yes | Most occupations | — | 4 years |
Germany Chancenkarte
|
Job Seeker Residency | — | No points-based | Skilled (job-seeker) | Degree or vocational | Via job → 5 years |
|
Germany EU Blue Card
|
Skilled Work Residency | €50,700 (€45,934 shortage) | Yes | Graduate occupations | University degree | Blue Card → PR 21–33 mo |
|
Germany Recognition Partnership
|
Skilled Work Residency | — | Yes | Recognized skilled trades | Vocational qualification | 5 years |
Ireland CSEP
|
Skilled Work Residency | €40,904 (€36,848 grad) | Yes | Critical Skills list | Degree | Stamp 4 after 2 yrs |
|
Ireland GEP
|
Skilled Work Residency | €36,605 | Yes labour-market test | Most occupations | — | 5 years |
Singapore Employment Pass
|
Work Residency | SGD 5,600/mo (SGD 6,200 finance) | Yes | Professionals / managers | Degree | PR (selective) |
|
Singapore ONE Pass
|
Work Residency | SGD 30,000/mo | No top talent | Top earners / talent | — | PR (selective) |
|
Singapore S Pass
|
Work Residency | SGD 3,300/mo | Yes | Mid-skilled roles | Diploma | PR (selective) |
Australia Employer Nomination
|
Employer Sponsored Residency | AUD 76,515 | Yes | Skilled list | — | Direct PR |
|
Australia National Innovation Visa
|
Talent Residency | — | No | Exceptional talent | — | Direct PR |
|
Australia Regional Employer Sponsored 494
|
Employer Sponsored Residency | AUD 76,515 | Yes regional | Regional skilled list | — | → PR after 3 yrs |
|
Australia Skilled Independent
|
Skilled Worker Residency | — | No points | Skilled list | Skills assessment | Direct PR |
|
Australia Skilled Nominated
|
Skilled Worker Residency | — | No state nom | State-nominated occupations | Skills assessment | Direct PR |
|
Australia Skilled Regional
|
Skilled Worker Residency | — | No regional nom | Regional occupations | Skills assessment | → PR after 3 yrs |
|
Australia Skills in Demand
|
Employer Sponsored Residency | AUD 76,515 (Core) | Yes sponsor | Skilled occupation list | — | Via ENS |
Netherlands EU Blue Card
|
Skilled Work Residency | €5,688/mo | Yes | Graduate occupations | University degree | 5 years |
|
Netherlands Highly Skilled Migrant
|
Skilled Work Residency | €5,688/mo (€4,171 under 30) | Yes recognized sponsor | Highly skilled roles | — | 5 years |
Finland Specialist
|
Skilled Work Residency | €3,937/mo | Yes | Specialist roles | Degree | 4 years |
Belgium EU Blue Card
|
Skilled Worker Residency | ~€63,586–66,377 (by region) | Yes | Graduate occupations | University degree | 5 years |
|
Belgium Researcher
|
Talent Residency | — | Yes hosting agreement | Researchers | PhD / research | 5 years |
|
Belgium Single Permit
|
Work Permit Residency | Sector minimum | Yes labour-market test | Most occupations | — | 5 years |
UK Global Business Mobility
|
Work Permit Residency | Route-specific; £52,500+ SSW | Yes intra-company | Senior / specialist roles | — | Not directly |
|
UK Global Talent
|
Talent Residency | — | No endorsed | Tech / science / arts leaders | — | 3–5 years |
|
UK HPI Visa
|
Talent Residency | — | No | Top-global-university grads | Bachelor's+ (eligible uni) | Via switch to work |
|
UK Health and Care Worker
|
Skilled Worker Residency | £25,000+ (health rate) | Yes | Health & care roles | — | 5 years |
|
UK Scale-up Worker
|
Skilled Worker Residency | £41,700 (going rate) | Yes scale-up | Scale-up roles | — | 5 years |
|
UK Skilled Worker
|
Skilled Worker Residency | £41,700 (or going rate) | Yes licensed sponsor | Eligible occupations | — | 5 years |
New Zealand Accredited Employer Work
|
Skilled Worker Residency | Market rate; legal minimum | Yes accredited | Most occupations | — | Via SMC |
|
New Zealand Green List Tier 1
|
Skilled Worker Residency | Market rate | Yes | Tier 1 Green List | Varies | Straight to residence |
|
New Zealand Green List Tier 2
|
Skilled Worker Residency | Market rate | Yes | Tier 2 Green List | Varies | Residence after 2 yrs |
|
New Zealand Skilled Migrant
|
Skilled Worker Residency | — | Usually | Skilled (points) | — | Direct residence |
UAE Golden Visa (Talent)
|
Work Residency | AED 30,000/mo (some categories) | Varies nomination | Specialists / talent | — | 10-yr golden visa |
|
UAE Green Visa
|
Work Residency | AED 15,000/mo | Yes | Skilled roles | Bachelor's | 5-yr renewable |
|
UAE Work Visa
|
Work Residency | Market rate | Yes | Most occupations | — | No standard PR (renewable) |
Canada CUSMA Professional
|
Work Permit Residency | — | Yes | USMCA professions | Bachelor's | Not directly |
|
Canada Express Entry (CEC)
|
Skilled Worker Residency | — | No | Canadian skilled experience | — | Direct PR |
|
Canada Express Entry (Federal Skilled Trades)
|
Skilled Worker Residency | — | Sometimes | Skilled trades | — | Direct PR |
|
Canada Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker)
|
Skilled Worker Residency | — | No | Skilled (TEER 0–3) | Post-secondary (ECA) | Direct PR |
|
Canada Provincial Nominee
|
Provincial Nominee Residency | — | Often | Province-nominated occupations | Varies | Direct PR |
|
Quebec Skilled Worker (PSTQ)
|
Skilled Worker Residency | — | Varies | Quebec selection | Varies | Quebec → PR |
Korea E-7 Skilled Work
|
Skilled Work Residency | ~KRW 31M/yr (~80% GNI) | Yes | Designated E-7 occupations | Degree / experience | F-2 → F-5 (~5 yrs) |
Luxembourg EU Blue Card
|
Skilled Work Residency | €63,408 | Yes | Graduate occupations | University degree | 5 years |
|
Luxembourg Salaried Worker
|
Skilled Work Residency | Market rate | Yes labour-market test | Most occupations | — | 5 years |
U.S. EB-1
|
Talent Residency | — | Varies | Extraordinary ability / execs | — | Direct green card |
|
U.S. EB-2 NIW
|
Talent Residency | — | No waiver | Advanced degree / national interest | Master's+ or exceptional | Direct green card |
|
U.S. H-1B
|
Skilled Worker Residency | Prevailing wage | Yes | Specialty occupations | Bachelor's+ | Via employer green card |
|
U.S. L-1 Transfer
|
Intracompany Transfer Residency | — | Yes same employer | Managers / specialized knowledge | — | L-1A → EB-1C |
|
U.S. O-1
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Talent Residency | — | Yes or agent | Extraordinary ability | — | Via EB-1 |
|
U.S. TN Professional
|
Skilled Worker Residency | — | Yes | USMCA professions list | Bachelor's / credentials | Not directly |
Austria EU Blue Card
|
Skilled Work Residency | €3,678/mo | Yes | Graduate occupations | University degree | 5 years |
|
Austria Highly Qualified Worker
|
Skilled Work Residency | — | No points; job-seeker | Very highly qualified | Degree | RWR+ → PR 5 yrs |
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Austria Other Key Worker
|
Skilled Work Residency | ~€3,000/mo | Yes points | Key workers | Qualification | 5 years |
|
Austria Regular Worker
|
Skilled Work Residency | Collective-agreement pay | Yes labour-market test | Regular workers | — | 5 years |
|
Austria Shortage Worker
|
Skilled Work Residency | ~€3,000/mo+ | Yes | Shortage occupation list | Vocational / degree | 5 years |
Slovenia Single Permit
|
Skilled Work Residency | Collective-agreement pay | Yes labour-market test | Most occupations | — | 5 years |
Japan Highly Skilled Professional
|
Work Residency | Points-based | Yes | Highly skilled (points) | Degree | 1–3 years (fast-track) |
|
Japan Skilled Worker Visa
|
Work Residency | Market rate | Yes | Specified work categories | Degree / experience | 10 years |
Israel B/1 Work Visa
|
Work Residency | ~2× avg (experts) | Yes | Experts / specialists | — | Not a PR path |
Spain EU Blue Card
|
Skilled Work Residency | ~€34,000 (0.8× shortage/grads) | Yes | Graduate occupations | University degree | 5 years |
|
Spain Employee Work Visa
|
Work Permit Residency | Sector minimum | Yes labour-market test | Most occupations | — | 5 years |
|
Spain Highly Qualified Professional
|
Skilled Work Residency | ~€40,000+ | Yes | Highly qualified roles | Degree / experience | 5 years |
France EU Blue Card
|
Skilled Work Residency | €59,700 | Yes | Graduate occupations | University degree | 5 years |
|
France Employee Work Permit
|
Work Permit Residency | ≥ SMIC (€21,876) | Yes | Most occupations | — | 5 years |
|
France Talent Employee
|
Skilled Work Residency | ~€43,752 (2× SMIC) | Yes / qualifying | Talent categories | Degree / skills | 5 years |
Italy EU Blue Card
|
Skilled Work Residency | ~€36,300 (~€28,200 shortage) | Yes | Graduate occupations | University degree | 5 years |
Taiwan Gold Card
|
Skilled Work Residency | TWD 160,000/mo (or talent criteria) | No open work | Special professionals | — | 5 years (APRC) |
Czech EU Blue Card
|
Skilled Work Residency | CZK 69,248/mo | Yes | Graduate occupations | University degree | 5 years |
|
Czech Employee Card
|
Skilled Work Residency | ≥ guaranteed wage | Yes | Most occupations | — | 5 years |
Greece EU Blue Card
|
Skilled Work Residency | 1.5× national average | Yes | Graduate occupations | University degree | 5 years |
Andorra Employee Residence
|
Employment Residency | Andorra wage | Yes employer + quota | Quota occupations | — | 10 years |
Poland EU Blue Card
|
Skilled Work Residency | PLN 13,355/mo (~€3,100) | Yes | Graduate occupations | University degree | 5 years |
|
Poland Work Residence
|
Work Permit Residency | ≥ minimum wage | Yes labour-market test | Most occupations | — | 5 years |
Portugal EU Blue Card
|
Skilled Work Residency | €21,030 | Yes | Graduate occupations | University degree | 5 years |
|
Portugal Highly Qualified Activity
|
Skilled Work Residency | ~1.5× avg salary | Yes | Highly qualified roles | Degree | 5 years |
|
Portugal Job Seeker Visa
|
Job Seeker Residency | — | No job-seeker | Any (job search) | — | Via job → 5 yrs |
|
Portugal Tech Visa
|
Skilled Work Residency | Company-set | Yes certified company | Tech roles | — | 5 years |
|
Portugal Work Residence
|
Work Permit Residency | ≥ min wage | Yes labour-market test | Most occupations | — | 5 years |
Chile Work Residency
|
Employer Sponsored Residency | Contract wage | Yes | Most occupations | — | ~2 years (PR) |
Slovakia EU Blue Card
|
Skilled Work Residency | ~1.2× avg salary | Yes | Graduate occupations | University degree | 5 years |
Türkiye Turquoise Card
|
Work Residency | — | Varies qualification | Highly qualified | Degree / achievement | Indefinite (→ citizenship) |
|
Türkiye Work Visa
|
Work Residency | Multiple of min wage | Yes | Most occupations | — | Long-term res. after 8 yrs |
Argentina Work Visa
|
Employer Sponsored Residency | Contract wage | Yes | Most occupations | — | → permanent (2–3 yrs) |
Uruguay Work Residency
|
Employer Sponsored Residency | Contract wage | Yes | Most occupations | — | → permanent |
Romania Blue Card
|
Skilled Worker Residency | €20,782/yr | Yes | Graduate occupations | University degree | 5 years |
Bahamas Work Permit
|
Employer Sponsored Residency | Market rate | Yes employer proves no local | Most occupations | — | 10 years |
Georgia Work Residence Permit
|
Work Residency | — | Yes | Most occupations | — | 10 years |
Malaysia Employment Pass
|
Work Residency | MYR 5,000+/mo (tiered) | Yes | Managerial / technical | Degree | PR after 5 yrs (selective) |
Thailand LTR Visa
|
Work Residency | $80,000/yr (work-from-Thailand pro) | Varies | High-skilled professionals | Degree | 10-yr visa (not PR) |
|
Thailand Work Visa
|
Work Residency | ~THB 50,000/mo (by nationality) | Yes | Most occupations | — | PR after 3 yrs (quota) |
Bulgaria Blue Card
|
Skilled Worker Residency | ~€9,933/yr | Yes | Graduate occupations | University degree | 5 years |
Bosnia and Herzegovina Blue Card
|
Skilled Worker Residency | Higher (skilled) | Yes | Highly qualified roles | Degree | 5 years |
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina Work Residence
|
Work Permit Residency | Contract wage | Yes work permit | Most occupations | — | 5 years |
Mexico Work Visa
|
Employer Sponsored Residency | Contract wage | Yes | Not treaty-limited; most occupations | — | 4 years (→ PR) |
DR Work Residency
|
Employer Sponsored Residency | Contract wage | Yes | Most occupations | — | 5 years |
Ecuador Professional Visa
|
Skilled Worker Residency | — | Varies | Professionals (degree) | Degree | 21 months (PR) |
|
Ecuador Work Visa
|
Employer Sponsored Residency | Contract wage | Yes | Most occupations | — | 21 months (PR) |
Peru Worker Residence
|
Employment Residency | Contract wage | Yes | Most occupations | — | 3 years |
Brazil Work Visa
|
Employer Sponsored Residency | Contract wage | Yes | Most occupations | — | 4 years |
Colombia Work Visa (M-5)
|
Employer Sponsored Residency | Contract wage | Yes | Most occupations | — | 5 years |
Paraguay Work Residency
|
Employer Sponsored Residency | Contract wage | Yes | Most occupations | — | 3 years (PR) |
Vietnam Talent Visa
|
Work Residency | High (talent) | Varies | Experts / talent | Degree | — |
|
Vietnam Work Visa
|
Work Residency | Market rate | Yes | Most occupations | — | PR after 3 yrs |
South Africa Critical Skills Visa
|
Skilled Work Residency | -- | No initial contract in some cases | Critical Skills List | SAQA-evaluated qualification | Work visa first |
Philippines Work Visa (9G)
|
Work Residency | Market rate | Yes | Roles needing AEP | — | PR (separate route) |
Belize Work Permit
|
Employer Sponsored Residency | Market rate | Yes | Most occupations | — | 5 years |
El Salvador Employment Residency
|
Employment Residency | Contract wage | Yes | Most occupations | — | Varies |
No pathways match that filter.