Work & Study permits

This is a starting point for finding the right official process, not a substitute for reading the requirements for your specific situation. Work and study permit rules — including salary thresholds, quotas, and eligible occupations — change often. Confirm current requirements directly with the linked agency before applying.

Work visas for skilled workers fall under the Skilled Immigration Act, which covers people with recognised vocational training or a university degree. You generally need a signed job offer first; the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) reviews many applications before the visa is issued at a German mission abroad.

Official source: Make it in Germany (Federal Government portal), "German work visa" — https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/looking-for-foreign-professionals/entering/german-work-visa

Study applicants apply for a national (D) student visa at a German mission abroad after securing university admission; requirements, including proof of funds, are set out by the Federal Foreign Office.

Work permits are handled by the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) and generally require a job offer meeting a minimum salary threshold, which is reviewed periodically — from June 2026, the minimum is set at 90% of the national median salary. Study permits are a separate application requiring admission to a Swedish institution and proof you can support yourself.

Official source: Migrationsverket, "Work permit or residence permit to work in Sweden" — https://www.migrationsverket.se/en/you-want-to-apply/work.html

Work is generally via the Skilled Worker visa, sponsored by a Home Office–licensed employer, administered by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). Study is via the Student visa, which requires a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed education provider.

Official source: GOV.UK, "Skilled Worker visa" — https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa — and "Student visa" — https://www.gov.uk/student-visa

Work permits (employer-specific or open) and study permits are both handled by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), generally applied for online. A study permit usually requires an acceptance letter from a designated learning institution; most work permits require a job offer, and some require an employer to first obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment.

Official source: Government of Canada, "Work in Canada" — https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada.html — and "Study in Canada" — https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada.html

The main skilled-work route is the H-1B visa, run by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); it is capped and allocated through an annual electronic registration and lottery, so timing matters. Study is via the F-1 student visa, which requires admission to a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school before applying for the visa at a US embassy or consulate.

Official source: USCIS, "H-1B Specialty Occupations" — https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/h-1b-specialty-occupations — and US Department of State, "Student Visa" — https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/student-visa.html