Post-Study Work Visas by Country for Indian Students

Post-study work visa comparison: 11 countries

Countries with post study work visa routes differ in length, conditions and what comes next. The table below is the quick view, last verified 5 November 2026.

Sources for this table: GOV.UK; IRCC; Study Australia; Study in the States; Make it in Germany; Irish Immigration; Immigration NZ; ICA on AskGov; ICA; Business.gov.nl; Migration Agency; Service-Public.fr.

Read each row as the permit's own rules, not a promise of a job or PR. The table shows no tuition cost, no processing times and no visa fees, and the next-step column is not a guarantee.

Which country gives the fastest route to PR after study?

There is no official list of the easiest country to get PR after study, so we compare the published rules. Our criterion: the shortest period after which an official page says you can apply for permanent residence itself, not just enter a selection pool. Rules differ in what they demand, so this is a guide, not a like-for-like race.

1. Germany: a settlement permit after 21 months on a Blue Card with German at level B1, or 27 months with level A1, according to Make it in Germany. You need a job that meets the salary threshold.
2. Canada: the Canadian Experience Class asks for less time (1 year of skilled work in Canada within the last 3 years, plus a language test), but this only makes you eligible for the Express Entry pool, and PR follows an invitation.
3. New Zealand: the Skilled Migrant Category needs a skilled job with an accredited employer. The skilled work experience pathway adds 2 years of skilled New Zealand work, while the points pathway needs 6 points.
4. UK: the Home Office plans a 10-year default (no start date yet). Under current rules, time on the Student and Graduate routes does not lead directly to settlement, but can count towards the 10-year Long Residence route. Under the Earned Settlement plan, the Home Office says this time will not count (no start date announced), according to the government response, page 24.

We have not ranked the other countries, because the official pages we checked state no such period.

Which country fits your field of study?

The best country for work after masters depends on your subject and the rule that applies to it. Each line below follows an official rule.

Sources for this table: 24-month STEM OPT extension; Post Study Work Visa; Blue Card threshold; Study Australia; eligible field of study.

UK post-study work visa: the Graduate Route in brief

The Graduate Route, called the Graduate visa on GOV.UK, lets you stay in the UK after completing an eligible UK course. GOV.UK (checked 5 November 2026) gives 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027, or 2 years if you apply by 31 December 2026; doctoral graduates get 3 years. You must apply from inside the UK on a Student visa. The fee is £937, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge, usually £1,035 for each year. The visa cannot be extended, though you may be able to switch to another visa. Under current rules, time on the Student and Graduate routes does not lead directly to settlement, but can count towards the 10-year Long Residence route. Under the Earned Settlement plan, the Home Office says this time will not count (no start date announced), per the government response, page 24.

Full detail is on our study in the UK page. For careers, seeafter MS jobs in the UK.

Canada post-graduation work permit (PGWP) in brief

A post-graduation work permit (PGWP) is a work permit for graduates of programmes at a designated learning institution in Canada. IRCC (page modified 9 March 2026) allows up to 3 years for programmes of 2 years or more. Shorter programmes of at least 8 months can get a permit up to the programme length, and a master's of at least 8 months can get 3 years. Language results are required: CLB 7 for degree holders and CLB 5 for college graduates (page modified 24 June 2026). College graduates also need an eligible field of study if their study permit application was submitted on or after 1 November 2024. Apply within 180 days.

The detail is on our study in Canada page, and the official IRCC pages linked above list the full conditions.

Germany: job-seeker permit and Blue Card in brief

Non-EU nationals who graduate from a German university can get a residence permit valid for up to 18 months to look for qualified work; it is not renewable and any job is allowed meanwhile, according to Make it in Germany (page dated 26 October 2026). You need proof of completed studies, health insurance and proof that you can support yourself. Ask your local foreigners authority which documents it wants. The EU Blue Card is a separate residence title for people with an academic degree and a work contract above the salary minimum, and it needs a job that matches your qualifications. For 2026 the minimum gross annual salary is €50,700, or €45,934.20 for shortage occupations and new graduates with Federal Employment Agency approval.

See our study in Germany page, and use the official pages linked above to check the current conditions.

Other countries in brief

Australia

The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) Post-Higher Education Work stream gives 2 to 3 years, and 2 to 4 years for Indian nationals, per Home Affairs' December 2025 report and the India trade agreement letter. Most applicants must be 35 or under (Study Australia). See our Australia student visa guide and study in Australia.

USA (OPT)

F-1 graduates get 12 months of Optional Practical Training, plus a 24-month extension for STEM degrees, per Study in the States. See study in the USA and after MS jobs in the USA.

Ireland

Stamp 1G: Level 8: 12 months. Level 9 or above: 12 months, renewed for a further 12 months if you show you are seeking graduate-level work (for example interviews or graduate agency sign-ups), per Irish Immigration.

New Zealand

The Post Study Work Visa lasts up to 3 years and costs from NZ$1,670, per Immigration New Zealand. Degree holders at Level 7 or higher can work in any job.

Singapore

Graduates of approved institutions can apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass to seek work: 1 year, non-renewable (ICA on AskGov). Work rights are not stated on the ICA page. The usual next step is an Employment Pass. See study in Singapore.

Netherlands

The orientation year permit lasts a maximum of 1 year and can be applied for within 3 years of finishing studies, per Business.gov.nl.

The remaining countries in the comparison table

Sweden allows a permit of up to 1 year after a bachelor's or master's, per the Migration Agency. France gives master's-level graduates of French institutions a 1-year job-search or business-creation residence card that cannot be renewed, per Service-Public.fr (verified 1 June 2026).

Eligibility and documents for a post-study work visa

Post study work visa eligibility differs by country, but most permits ask for the same things. First, a completed qualification from a recognised institution: Canada requires a designated learning institution, Ireland a recognised Irish award, and the Netherlands a designated institution if you studied abroad. Second, a deadline: 180 days in Canada, 6 months in Ireland, usually 3 months in New Zealand (6 or 12 months in some cases), 3 years in the Netherlands. Third, funds: New Zealand asks for NZ$5,000 and Sweden SEK 10,656 a month for 2026.

Checklist:

• Passport and current student visa or permit
• Proof you completed your course
• Proof of funds and health insurance
• Language test result, where required (Canada)
• Application fee receipt

Eligibility is where countries differ most, so check the official page in the table.

Is studying abroad worth it? Cost vs return

Is studying abroad worth it? It depends on whether you get a qualifying job. We cannot give an average first-job salary, because official pages do not publish one across countries. What they publish are the salary floors for the next step. The EU Blue Card in Germany asks for €45,934.20 a year for new graduates in shortage jobs. Singapore's Employment Pass asks for at least S$5,600 a month at age 23 or below outside financial services, and S$6,000 for new applications from 1 January 2027. In the UK, the Graduate visa costs £937 plus the Immigration Health Surcharge, usually £1,035 for each year of the visa. Tuition varies by course; see our cost of studying in the USA guide and education loan assistance.

Need help with your student visa?

Choosing a country is easier with a counsellor who knows each permit and each deadline. Our team can check your profile against the rules above and guide you through the application, from documents to filing. Tell us your course and country, and we will explain which rules apply. Start with our visa assistance service.

Post-study work visa FAQs

Which country gives the longest post-study work visa?

The answer to which country gives longest post study work visa terms depends on your qualification. On published maximums, Australia is longest for Indian nationals at 2 to 4 years, according to Home Affairs and the India trade agreement letter. Canada and New Zealand allow up to 3 years. The UK gives 18 months from 1 January 2027 (2 years before that).

Which country gives PR fastest after study?

If you count the time before you can apply for PR itself, Germany is shortest: a settlement permit after 21 months on a Blue Card with German at B1, or 27 months at A1. You need a job that meets the salary threshold. Canada needs less (1 year of skilled work) but that only makes you eligible for Express Entry, with no guaranteed invitation. The UK plans a 10-year default.

Can I work in the USA after a master's?

Yes, on Optional Practical Training. F-1 students get 12 months, plus a 24-month extension for a STEM degree with an E-Verify employer. You do not need a job offer to apply, and unemployment is limited to 90 days. For longer stays you need an H-1B, which has an annual cap of 85,000, including 20,000 for US master's holders, per USCIS.

What is the Graduate Route?

The Graduate Route is the UK's post-study work visa, called the Graduate visa on GOV.UK. It lets you stay after completing an eligible UK course, for 2 years if you apply by 31 December 2026 and 18 months from 1 January 2027. Doctoral graduates get 3 years. The application fee is £937.

What is PGWP?

PGWP stands for post-graduation work permit, Canada's work permit for graduates of eligible programmes at designated learning institutions. It lasts up to 3 years, depending on programme length. Most applicants need language test results, and college graduates need an eligible field of study. You must apply within 180 days of completing your programme.

Can I stay in Germany after my studies?

Yes, if you graduate from a German university. Non-EU nationals can get a residence permit valid for up to 18 months to look for qualified work. It is not renewable, and you may take any job while you search. A Blue Card is the next step once you have a qualifying job.

How long can Indian graduates stay in Australia after study?

Home Affairs reports that the Post-Higher Education Work stream gives 2 to 3 years, and 2 to 4 years for Indian nationals under the Australia-India trade agreement. Most applicants must be 35 or under. A regional second stream can add 1 to 2 years.

Do I need a job offer for a post-study work visa?

A post study work visa for Indian students often needs no job offer. The US OPT application needs no job offer, Germany's job-seeker permit is for looking for work, and the Netherlands orientation year allows free work. A Blue Card in Germany does need a job offer of at least six months.

How soon after graduating must I apply?

It varies. Canada allows 180 days, Ireland 6 months from notification of your award, and New Zealand usually within 3 months of your student visa ending (6 or 12 months in some cases). In the USA, OPT applications go in from 90 days before completion to 60 days after. The Netherlands allows 3 years.

Does time on a post-study visa count towards PR?

Under current rules, time on the Student and Graduate routes does not lead directly to settlement, but can count towards the 10-year Long Residence route. Under the Earned Settlement plan, the Home Office says this time will not count (no start date announced), per its response, page 24. In Germany, the 21 or 27 months run on a Blue Card, not the job-seeker permit. For other countries, check the official page for the permit you plan to use.

How much money must I show for a post-study permit?

It depends on the country. New Zealand asks for proof of at least NZ$5,000. Sweden asks that you can support yourself, at SEK 10,656 a month for applications in 2026. Germany asks for proof you can secure your livelihood.