Work Visa Types - Compare 125 Visas Worldwide
Every work visa type across 34 countries. Filter by category, compare requirements, and find your pathway.
Visa types
125
Countries
34
Categories
6
Languages
5
Compare by what matters to you
Skilled Worker Visas
88Employer-sponsored visas for skilled professionals. Salary thresholds typically apply.
🇦🇺Australia
Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (subclass 186)
Salary: A$73,150/yr
Processing: 6-20 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇦🇺Australia
Global Talent Visa (subclass 858)
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 8-24 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇦🇺Australia
Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189)
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 8-40 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇦🇺Australia
Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190)
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 8-36 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇦🇺Australia
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491)
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 8-32 weeks
PR path: 36 months
🇦🇺Australia
Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482)
Salary: A$73,150/yr
Processing: 4-12 weeks
PR path: 24 months
🇨🇦Canada
Atlantic Immigration Program
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 12-24 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇨🇦Canada
Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 16-28 weeks
PR path: 6 months
🇨🇦Canada
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 20-32 weeks
PR path: 6 months
🇨🇦Canada
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 20-32 weeks
PR path: 6 months
🇨🇦Canada
Global Talent Stream
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 2 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇨🇦Canada
Provincial Nominee Program
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 24-40 weeks
PR path: 6 months
🇫🇷France
EU Blue Card (France)
Salary: €53,836/yr
Processing: 4-10 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇫🇷France
Researcher Visa (Passeport Talent — Chercheur)
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 3-6 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇫🇷France
Salaried Worker Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 6-12 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇫🇷France
Seasonal Worker Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 2-4 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇫🇷France
Talent Passport (Passeport Talent)
Salary: €40,290/yr
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇩🇪Germany
EU Blue Card
Salary: €50,700/yr
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: 21 months
🇩🇪Germany
Researcher Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 2-6 weeks
PR path: 48 months
🇩🇪Germany
Skilled Worker Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-12 weeks
PR path: 48 months
🇦🇪United Arab Emirates
Employment Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 1-3 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇦🇪United Arab Emirates
Green Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 2-4 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇬🇧United Kingdom
Global Talent Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 3-8 weeks
PR path: 36 months
🇬🇧United Kingdom
Graduate Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 3-8 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇬🇧United Kingdom
Health and Care Worker Visa
Salary: £29,000/yr
Processing: 3-8 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇬🇧United Kingdom
High Potential Individual Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 3-8 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇬🇧United Kingdom
Scale-up Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 3-8 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇬🇧United Kingdom
Skilled Worker Visa
Salary: £38,700/yr
Processing: 3-8 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇮🇪Ireland
Critical Skills Employment Permit
Salary: €40,904/yr
Processing: 6-8 weeks
PR path: 24 months
🇮🇪Ireland
General Employment Permit
Salary: €36,505/yr
Processing: 8-12 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇰🇼Kuwait
Government Sector Work Permit (Article 17)
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇰🇼Kuwait
Private Sector Work Permit (Article 18)
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇳🇱Netherlands
EU Blue Card
Salary: €74,940/yr
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇳🇱Netherlands
Highly Skilled Migrant
Salary: €71,304/yr
Processing: 2-4 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇳🇿New Zealand
Accredited Employer Work Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 2-6 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇳🇿New Zealand
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 12-24 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇶🇦Qatar
Work Residence Permit
Salary: QAR 21,600/yr
Processing: 3-6 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇸🇦Saudi Arabia
Employment Visa (Iqama)
Salary: SAR 180,000/yr
Processing: 3-8 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇸🇬Singapore
Employment Pass
Salary: S$67,200/yr
Processing: 2-3 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇸🇬Singapore
Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass
Salary: S$360,000/yr
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇸🇬Singapore
S Pass
Salary: S$39,600/yr
Processing: 2-3 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇧🇪Belgium
EU Blue Card Belgium
Salary: €60,998/yr
Processing: 8-12 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇧🇪Belgium
Single Permit
Salary: €47,174/yr
Processing: 12-16 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇩🇰Denmark
Fast-Track Scheme
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 2-4 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇩🇰Denmark
Pay Limit Scheme
Salary: kr 552,000/yr
Processing: 4-12 weeks
PR path: 48 months
🇩🇰Denmark
Positive List
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-12 weeks
PR path: 48 months
🇮🇹Italy
Decreto Flussi
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 8-16 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇮🇹Italy
EU Blue Card Italy
Salary: €35,500/yr
Processing: 4-12 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇯🇵Japan
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-12 weeks
PR path: 120 months
🇯🇵Japan
Highly Skilled Professional
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-12 weeks
PR path: 12 months
🇯🇵Japan
Specified Skilled Worker
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-12 weeks
PR path: 120 months
🇳🇴Norway
Skilled Worker
Salary: kr 312,000/yr
Processing: 4-12 weeks
PR path: 36 months
🇳🇴Norway
Specialist
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-12 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇵🇱Poland
EU Blue Card Poland
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇵🇱Poland
Employer Declaration
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 1-2 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇵🇱Poland
Type A Work Permit
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-12 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇵🇹Portugal
Tech Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇵🇹Portugal
Work Visa
Salary: €10,440/yr
Processing: 8-16 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇰🇷South Korea
E-7 Specially Designated Activities
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇰🇷South Korea
E-7-1 Points-Based Skilled Worker
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇪🇸Spain
Highly Qualified Professional Visa
Salary: €50,000/yr
Processing: 4-12 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇸🇪Sweden
EU Blue Card Sweden
Salary: kr 636,000/yr
Processing: 4-12 weeks
PR path: 48 months
🇸🇪Sweden
Work Permit
Salary: kr 341,760/yr
Processing: 4-16 weeks
PR path: 48 months
🇨🇭Switzerland
B Permit (Residence)
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-16 weeks
PR path: 120 months
🇨🇭Switzerland
C Permit (Settlement)
Salary: No minimum
Processing: Varies
PR path: Yes
🇨🇭Switzerland
L Permit (Short-Term)
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-12 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇺🇸United States
EB Green Cards
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 52-520 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇺🇸United States
H-1B
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 12-24 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇺🇸United States
O-1
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 8-16 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇦🇹Austria
Blue Card Austria
Salary: €55,678/yr
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇦🇹Austria
Red-White-Red Card Key Workers
Salary: €48,510/yr
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: 21 months
🇦🇹Austria
Red-White-Red Card Shortage Occupations
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇧🇭Bahrain
Work Permit
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 1-2 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇨🇿Czech Republic
Blue Card
Salary: Kč 828,000/yr
Processing: 8-12 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇨🇿Czech Republic
Employee Card
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 8-12 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇫🇮Finland
Blue Card Finland
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-12 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇫🇮Finland
Employed Person Residence Permit
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 8-16 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇫🇮Finland
Specialist Residence Permit
Salary: €47,244/yr
Processing: 4-16 weeks
PR path: 48 months
🇰🇪Kenya
Class A Mining Permit
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-12 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇰🇪Kenya
Class D Work Permit
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-12 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇲🇾Malaysia
Employment Pass Category I
Salary: RM 240,000/yr
Processing: 2-4 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇲🇾Malaysia
Employment Pass Category II
Salary: RM 120,000/yr
Processing: 2-4 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇴🇲Oman
Employment Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 2-4 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇴🇲Oman
Temporary Work Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 1-2 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇿🇦South Africa
Critical Skills Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-12 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇿🇦South Africa
General Work Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-12 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇹🇷Turkey
Turquoise Card
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 8-16 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇹🇷Turkey
Work Permit
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-12 weeks
PR path: No direct path
Intra-Company Transfer Visas
10For existing employees moving between offices of the same multinational group.
🇨🇦Canada
Intra-Company Transfer
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-12 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇫🇷France
Intra-Company Transfer (ICT)
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇩🇪Germany
ICT Card
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 2-6 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇬🇧United Kingdom
Global Business Mobility — Senior or Specialist Worker
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 3-8 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇮🇪Ireland
Intra-Company Transfer Permit
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 6-8 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇪🇸Spain
Intra-Company Transfer (ICT)
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇸🇪Sweden
ICT Permit
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇺🇸United States
L-1
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 8-16 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇨🇿Czech Republic
ICT Card
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇿🇦South Africa
Intra-Company Transfer Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: No direct path
Business and Investor Visas
9For business owners, founders, and high-net-worth investors. Often path to permanent residency.
🇦🇺Australia
Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa (subclass 188)
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 12-40 weeks
PR path: 48 months
🇨🇦Canada
Start-up Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 36-52 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇫🇷France
Entrepreneur/Investor Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 6-12 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇦🇪United Arab Emirates
Golden Visa
Salary: AED 360,000/yr
Processing: 2-4 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇬🇧United Kingdom
Innovator Founder Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 3-8 weeks
PR path: 36 months
🇸🇦Saudi Arabia
Premium Residency (Green Card)
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇰🇷South Korea
D-8 Investor Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇧🇭Bahrain
Golden Residency
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇴🇲Oman
Investor Residence Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: No direct path
Freelance and Self-Employed Visas
13For freelancers, consultants, and entrepreneurs working for themselves.
🇩🇪Germany
Freelance Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-12 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇦🇪United Arab Emirates
Freelance Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 1-3 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇳🇿New Zealand
Working Holiday Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 2-4 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇶🇦Qatar
Business Entry Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 1-2 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇸🇦Saudi Arabia
Freelancer Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇧🇪Belgium
Professional Card
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 12-16 weeks
PR path: Yes
🇮🇹Italy
Digital Nomad Italy
Salary: €28,000/yr
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇵🇹Portugal
D7 Passive Income Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 8-16 weeks
PR path: 60 months
🇪🇸Spain
Digital Nomad Visa
Salary: €30,240/yr
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇧🇭Bahrain
Flexi Permit
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 1-2 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇰🇪Kenya
Class G Work Permit
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-12 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇲🇾Malaysia
DE Rantau
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 2-4 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇹🇷Turkey
Independent Work Permit
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: No direct path
Job Seeker Visas
4Arrive first, find work later. No job offer required at application.
🇩🇪Germany
Job Seeker Visa
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇩🇪Germany
Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇳🇱Netherlands
Orientation Year (Search Year)
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: No direct path
🇳🇴Norway
Job Seeker
Salary: No minimum
Processing: 4-8 weeks
PR path: No direct path
Digital Nomad Visas
1For remote workers and freelancers earning from foreign clients.
Common questions about visa types
What is the easiest work visa to get?
Germany's Opportunity Card requires no job offer and is points-based. For IT specialists, the EU Blue Card requires only 2 years of experience with no degree.
Which work visa leads to permanent residency fastest?
Canada Express Entry grants direct PR in 6 months. Australia's 189 visa is also direct PR. Germany's Blue Card leads to PR in 21 months.
Do I need a job offer for a work visa?
Not always. Canada Express Entry, Germany Opportunity Card, Australia 189, and several digital nomad visas require no employer sponsor.
What is the difference between a work visa and a work permit?
A work visa grants entry to a country for employment. A work permit (like an EAD in the US) authorizes employment while already in the country. Some countries use the terms interchangeably.
Can I bring my family on a work visa?
Most countries allow dependent visas for spouses and children. Canada, Germany, and Australia include family in the primary application. The UK and US require separate dependent applications.
How many visa types does WorkVisa Guide cover?
We cover 125 visa types across 34 countries in 5 languages, including skilled worker, business, investor, digital nomad, startup, and points-based visas.
Disclaimer
Visa rules and salary thresholds change frequently. Always verify the current requirements with the destination country's immigration authority before applying.
WorkVisa Guide is published by Blackcedar Media Limited. We do not provide legal services and are not affiliated with any government immigration authority.
For our full legal disclaimer, see Disclaimer.