The longest post-study work rights are in Australia (2 to 3 years, more for Indian and Hong Kong graduates), Canada and New Zealand (up to 3 years each), and US STEM graduates can stretch OPT to 3 years. What happens after the visa matters more than its length. In Canada and New Zealand, graduate work counts straight towards permanent residence, and Germany grants it 2 years into a qualified job if you learn German. The UK is cutting its Graduate visa to 18 months from 1 January 2027, and that time will not count towards settlement.

Where you study is often where you end up living for a decade. The Relocation Wizard matches you with countries on cost, climate, safety and lifestyle in a few minutes.

Key Takeaways

• Best route to permanent residence: Canada (12 months of skilled work qualifies you for Express Entry) and New Zealand (a local master's gives all 6 residence points; you still need a skilled job).
• Fastest settlement in Europe: Germany gives 18 months to find a job, then permanent residence after 2 years of qualified work with B1 German.
• UK deadline: apply by 31 December 2026 to get 2 years. From 1 January 2027 the Graduate visa is 18 months (PhD stays 3).
• Most expensive: Australia's 485 costs AUD 5,750 since 1 July 2026, and most applicants must be 35 or under.
• Least predictable: US OPT still works, but DHS has proposed making schools pay USD 70,000 per student for it, and the H-1B is now a wage-weighted lottery.

All figures are as of November 2026.

Post-Study Work Visas at a Glance

Country	Visa	How long	Main fee	Does it lead to PR?
Canada	Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)	Up to 3 years (any master's: up to 3)	CAD 255 + CAD 85 biometrics	Yes: 1 year of skilled work qualifies for Express Entry
United Kingdom	Graduate visa	2 years if you apply by 31 Dec 2026, then 18 months (PhD 3)	GBP 937 + GBP 1,035 a year health surcharge	No, and it will not count towards settlement
Australia	485 Post-Higher Education Work	2 to 3 years (India up to 4, Hong Kong/BNO 5), plus 1 to 2 for regional study	AUD 5,750	Indirectly: points and employer sponsorship
New Zealand	Post Study Work Visa	Up to 3 years	From NZD 1,670	Yes: local study and work earn residence points
United States	OPT (+ STEM OPT)	12 months, plus 24 for STEM	USD 470 online	No: H-1B lottery, then a green card queue
Germany	Job-search permit (section 20)	18 months	EUR 100	Yes, after the switch: PR 2 years into a qualified job
Netherlands	Orientation year	12 months	EUR 254	Not directly, but it lowers the work permit salary floor
Ireland	Stamp 1G	12 months (Level 8), up to 24 (Level 9+)	EUR 300	Counts for citizenship, not long-term residence
France	Job-search permit (APS/RECE)	12 months, not renewable	EUR 150	Not directly
Sweden	Permit to look for work	12 months (PhD 12 to 18)	SEK 1,500	Not directly

Canada: The Clearest Path From Graduate Job to PR

The PGWP matches your program if it ran 8 months to under 2 years, and gives up to 3 years for longer programs or any master's of at least 8 months. You get one in your life. IRCC's conditions:

• Language: CLB 7 in all four skills for university graduates (and, since 11 March 2025, college bachelor's degrees). Other college programs need CLB 5. Results must be under 2 years old.
• Field of study: college diploma and certificate graduates whose study permit application was made on or after 1 November 2024 need an eligible field. Degree holders are exempt. IRCC says the list will not change in 2026.
• Deadline: apply within 180 days of your final results. You can work while you wait only if your study permit was still valid on the day you applied.

Path to PR: 12 months (1,560 hours) of TEER 0 to 3 work in Canada makes you eligible for the Canadian Experience Class. Work done while studying does not count. Eligibility is not an invitation: CEC draws in 2026 needed 507 to 523 CRS points, so most graduates also need high language scores, French or more experience. Draws have been paused since job offer points for high-wage occupations started on 3 November (see our Express Entry high-wage points guide).

The new levels plan: IRCC's 2027-2029 plan (5 November 2026) keeps permanent residence at 380,000 a year, 100,000 of them in the federal high-skilled programs that include CEC. New students are held at 150,000 a year, and PGWPs do not count against the temporary targets. A one-time 2027 measure lets provinces nominate up to 100,000 workers already in Canada (IRCC backgrounder).

The catch: since 21 January 2025, a spouse gets an open work permit during your studies only if you are in a master's of 16 months or more, a doctorate or a listed professional degree.

Who it suits: anyone who puts permanent residence first and can reach CLB 7 or higher. Who it does not: college students in fields outside the list.

United Kingdom: Open Work Rights, No Longer a Settlement Route

The Graduate visa gives 2 years if you apply by 31 December 2026 and 18 months from 1 January 2027 (Statement of Changes HC 1333). PhD graduates keep 3 years. You apply from inside the UK before your Student visa expires, need no sponsor, and can take any job or be self-employed. It costs GBP 937 (fee table, 8 October 2026) plus a health surcharge of GBP 1,035 a year, about GBP 3,000 for 2 years. Only dependants already on your Student visa can stay with you.

What the Budget promised: the 28 October 2026 Budget pledges 2 years again "for graduates from high compliance universities where there are strong labour market outcomes", and a wider High Potential Individual (HPI) visa for the top 150 universities. Neither has a date or a definition, and no Statement of Changes has followed.

Path to settlement: you switch to a Skilled Worker job at graduate level (RQF 6). As a new entrant, which covers anyone coming from a Student or Graduate visa, you can be paid 70% of the going rate, with a floor of GBP 33,400, for up to 4 years including Graduate time. After that you need GBP 41,700 or the going rate. Under the earned settlement response of 2 November 2026, Student and Graduate years will not count and the Long Residence route will close. The baseline wait becomes 10 years, or 5 if you earn above GBP 50,271, once it is in the rules (see our UK earned settlement guide).

HPI or Graduate: graduates of the 82 universities on the 2026 HPI list can apply from anywhere for 2 years (3 for a PhD) at GBP 880, within a cap of 8,000 a year. Anyone who has held a Graduate visa is barred, so think before using one if you might work abroad first and come back.

Who it suits: graduates in sponsoring careers (tech, finance, healthcare) who want a strong job market for a few years. Who it does not: anyone counting on quick settlement.

Australia: Long, Expensive, With a Points Path

The Post-Higher Education Work stream of the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) runs 2 to 3 years: migration agents report 2 for a bachelor's or coursework master's and 3 for a research master's or PhD. Under the Australia-India trade agreement, Indian nationals get up to 2 years for a bachelor's (3 with first-class honours in STEM or ICT), 3 for a master's and 4 for a PhD. Hong Kong and BNO passport holders get up to 5, and regional study can earn a second visa of 1 to 2 years.

Conditions: 35 or under (under 50 for research master's and PhD graduates); IELTS 6.5 overall with 5.5 in each band, taken within a year (F2025L00907); 2 academic years of CRICOS study in Australia, completed in the 6 months before you apply. The fee is AUD 5,750 from 1 July 2026 (F2026L00874), up from AUD 4,600 in March; many guides still quote AUD 1,895.

Families: since 2 October 2026, most new student visas can no longer include a partner or children (F2026L01347). Pacific and ASEAN passport holders are among the exceptions.

Path to PR: a points-tested visa (189, 190 or 491; pass mark 65, with 5 points for Australian study and 5 for a Professional Year), or an employer-sponsored Skills in Demand visa (482) at the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD 79,423, then permanent residence through subclass 186, generally after 2 years with the sponsor (per migration agents).

Who it suits: graduates in occupations on the skills lists, Indian graduates, and anyone open to regional life. Who it does not: coursework graduates over 35, and families on a new student visa.

New Zealand: Up to 3 Years and Points for Local Study

The Post Study Work Visa gives 3 years after a master's or PhD with at least 30 weeks of study in New Zealand. A bachelor's or other qualification at Level 8 or below gets a visa as long as your study, up to 3 years. You can work for any employer or be self-employed. Apply within 3 months of your student visa expiring, with NZD 5,000 in funds, from NZD 1,670. You get one in your life.

New from 16 November 2026: Level 7 graduate diplomas qualify for up to 1 year if you already hold a bachelor's. A 6-month Short-Term Graduate Work Visa covers Level 5 to 7 qualifications with 24+ weeks of full-time study, as time to find an employer-sponsored job; it cannot support a partner's visa.

Path to PR: the Skilled Migrant Category needs 6 points plus a skilled job or offer. An NZ master's or PhD gives all 6, an NZ bachelor's 5, and each year of skilled NZ work adds 1 (up to 3). So a bachelor's plus a year in a skilled job paying at least the median wage (NZD 35.00 an hour since 9 March 2026) can be enough. Green List jobs can go straight to residence.

The catch: a small job market and lower pay than Australia: about USD 2,930 average net pay a month against USD 3,640, on the site's data.

Who it suits: master's graduates and anyone who wants a route they can plan. Who it does not: short-course students hoping for a long visa.

United States: The Best Pay, the Least Certainty

Post-completion OPT gives 12 months per degree level with up to 90 days of unemployment. STEM graduates can add a 24-month extension with an E-Verify employer and a training plan (Form I-983). Apply no later than 60 days after your program ends; the fee is USD 470 online.

What changed in 2026:

• On 8 October, DHS proposed that schools pay USD 70,000 per student for initial OPT and USD 30,000 for each later period before they can recommend you. It is only a proposal; comments close on 9 November.
• A final rule of 14 October ended automatic extensions for work permit renewals filed since 30 October 2025.
• Fixed stays of up to 4 years, replacing "duration of status", were finalised on 17 July but postponed by a federal court on 14 September (DHS FAQ).

Path to PR: OPT bridges to the H-1B lottery. Since the March 2026 registration, entries are weighted by wage level (four at level IV, one at level I), which works against new graduates. STEM OPT gives up to three attempts, and cap-gap keeps you working to 1 April if your employer files in time. The USD 100,000 H-1B fee does not apply to an approved change of status inside the US. After that, the green card wait depends on your birth country: November 2026 EB-2 final action dates were 1 November 2013 for India and 1 October 2021 for China (per Fragomen).

Who it suits: STEM graduates headed for high-paying jobs. Who it does not: anyone who needs a predictable way to stay.

Germany: 18 Months to Find a Job, PR 2 Years Later

After a German degree, section 20 of the Residence Act gives up to 18 months to find a job, with any work allowed meanwhile. Apply at the immigration office (Auslaenderbehoerde) before your student permit expires, with your degree, proof you can support yourself and health insurance. The fee is EUR 100.

The switch: an EU Blue Card needs EUR 50,700 a year in 2026, or EUR 45,934.20 for shortage occupations (IT, science, engineering, health, teaching) and graduates whose degree is at most 3 years old. The 2027 figures are not out; law firms project about EUR 53,100 and 48,100 from the new pension ceiling. Below that, a skilled worker permit covers any qualified job, which no longer has to match your degree.

Path to PR: German graduates can get a settlement permit after 2 years in a qualified job, with 24 months of pension contributions and B1 German. Citizenship follows after 5 years (the 3-year fast track ended on 30 October 2025).

The catch: language. B1 is a legal requirement for the 2-year route, and most jobs outside tech and research expect German. In return, rent takes a smaller share of pay than anywhere else here (see the table below).

Who it suits: engineering, IT and science graduates willing to learn German; it is the fastest route to permanent status in this comparison. Who it does not: English-only graduates outside tech.

The Netherlands: 12 Months and a Lower Salary Bar

The orientation year lasts 12 months and cannot be extended. Apply within 3 years of graduating from an accredited Dutch bachelor's or master's, or a foreign master's or PhD from a top-200 university. You can work for any employer without a work permit, and the fee is EUR 254.

Its real value is the reduced highly skilled migrant salary: EUR 3,122 gross a month in 2026 if you apply during the orientation year or within 3 years of graduating, against EUR 4,357 under 30 and EUR 5,942 from 30. The employer must be an IND recognised sponsor. Permanent residence needs 5 continuous years and the A2 civic integration exam; the IND treats study and the orientation year as temporary purposes, so check how your years count. If you studied in the Netherlands, you will usually fail the 150 km test for the 30% ruling.

Ireland: 12 or 24 Months and a Low Graduate Threshold

Under the Third Level Graduate Programme, honours bachelor's (Level 8) graduates get 12 months, and master's (Level 9) graduates 12 months renewable once to 24 if they show they are looking for a graduate job. Apply within 6 months of your results; registration is EUR 300. You can work full time but not be self-employed.

A Critical Skills Employment Permit needs EUR 36,848 if you qualified in the previous 12 months (EUR 40,904 otherwise, since 1 March 2026), and after 2 years you can move to Stamp 4, which needs no permit. Stamp 1G time counts as reckonable residence for citizenship, though student time does not. A bill published in September would raise the requirement from 5 to 8 years and could exclude temporary permissions.

France and Sweden: 12 Months, Then a Salary Floor

France: French master's-level graduates get a 12-month job-search permit (EUR 150, not renewable). A job related to your studies paying over EUR 2,800.53 gross a month (1.5 times the minimum wage) skips the labour market test.

Sweden: a permit to look for work lasts up to 12 months after a bachelor's or master's (12 to 18 after a PhD), with SEK 10,656 a month in funds. A former student's first work permit inside Sweden needs 75% of the median salary (SEK 28,725 a month); the general floor is SEK 34,470 since 16 June 2026.

From Graduate Visa to Permanent Residence

Country	Next permit	Salary you need (2026)	Earliest permanent status
Canada	Express Entry (CEC)	No floor, but CRS 507 to 523 in 2026 draws	PR application after 12 months of skilled work, if invited
UK	Skilled Worker	GBP 33,400 as a new entrant, then GBP 41,700	10 years under earned settlement (5 above GBP 50,271)
Australia	482 or points visa	AUD 79,423 for a 482	Subclass 186 after about 2 years, or a points visa
New Zealand	Skilled Migrant Category	NZD 35.00 an hour	Residence with 6 points and a skilled job
United States	H-1B (lottery)	Prevailing wage; higher wage, better odds	Green card queue (EB-2 India at 2013 dates)
Germany	Blue Card or skilled worker permit	EUR 45,934.20 (recent graduate Blue Card)	2 years in a qualified job, with B1 German
Netherlands	Highly skilled migrant	EUR 3,122 gross a month (reduced)	5 years plus the A2 exam
Ireland	Critical Skills permit	EUR 36,848 (within 12 months of qualifying)	Stamp 4 after 2 years

Can You Afford the Job Hunt?

Graduate jobs cluster in big cities, and starting pay is often below average. On the site's data, this is how much of an average net salary an average rent takes:

Country	Average rent (USD/month)	Average net salary (USD/month)	Rent as share of pay
Germany	1,296	2,981	43%
New Zealand	1,459	2,929	50%
Sweden	1,500	2,790	54%
France	1,367	2,471	55%
Australia	2,143	3,639	59%
Netherlands	2,153	3,459	62%
Ireland	2,114	3,064	69%
Canada	1,994	2,792	71%
United Kingdom	2,764	3,086	90%
United States	4,078	4,428	92%

Put your own city and expected salary into the cost of living calculator, and use country compare to put two shortlisted countries side by side.

Which Country Fits Your Situation

• Permanent residence above everything: Canada or New Zealand, or Germany if you will learn German.
• A college diploma, not a degree: check Canada's field-of-study list before you enrol; in New Zealand, Level 5 to 7 courses may only lead to the 6-month visa.
• Bringing a partner or children: Canada's spouse permits need a 16-month master's or a PhD, Australia mostly stopped adding families to new student visas, and the UK only keeps dependants you already had.
• Over 35: Australia's 485 is closed to coursework graduates; the others have no age cap, though Express Entry gives fewer points each year after 29.
• From India: Australia gives the longest 485, while the US EB-2 queue sits at 2013 dates.
• STEM and top pay: the US, with Germany and the Netherlands as safer fallbacks (see our guide for software engineers).

Common Mistakes

1. Choosing by visa length alone. Three years in the US or Australia can end with no way to stay, while 18 months in Germany can lead to permanent residence.
2. Missing the deadline. Canada allows 180 days after results, New Zealand 3 months after the student visa expires, the US 60 days after the program ends and Ireland 6 months. The UK and Germany need you to apply before your student permission ends.
3. Letting your study permit lapse in Canada. You can only work while waiting for the PGWP if it was valid on the day you applied.
4. Counting UK study years towards settlement. Under earned settlement they will not count.
5. Trusting old fees. Australia's 485 is AUD 5,750, not AUD 1,895, and the UK Graduate visa is GBP 937.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which country has the longest post-study work visa?

For most graduates who qualify, Australia: 2 to 3 years, up to 4 for Indian PhD graduates and 5 for Hong Kong and BNO passport holders, plus 1 to 2 years for regional study. Canada and New Zealand give up to 3 years, and US STEM graduates can combine OPT and the extension for 3.

Does the UK Graduate visa count towards indefinite leave to remain?

No. It never counted towards the 5-year Skilled Worker route, and under the earned settlement response of 2 November 2026, Student and Graduate time will not count at all while the Long Residence route closes. The changes still need a Statement of Changes to take effect.

Can I bring my partner on a post-study work visa?

UK Graduate visa holders can only keep dependants who were already on their Student visa. Australia stopped adding partners and children to most new student visas from 2 October 2026. New Zealand's Post Study Work Visa can support a partner's work visa, but the new 6-month graduate visa cannot.

Is the US ending OPT?

Not as of November 2026. DHS has proposed that schools pay USD 70,000 per student for initial OPT, but it is a proposal, with comments closing on 9 November. OPT applications still cost USD 470 online under the existing rules.

Your Next Step

Shortlist two or three countries from the tables above, then run the Relocation Wizard to see how each fits your budget, climate and lifestyle, and check the cost of living in the city where you would look for work. PhD students and researchers can also read our guide for researchers.

Sources

• IRCC: About the Post-Graduation Work Permit
• IRCC: Supplementary information for the 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan
• GOV.UK: Graduate visa
• Study Australia: Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
• Immigration New Zealand: Post Study Work Visa
• USCIS: Optional Practical Training for F-1 students
• German Residence Act, section 20
• IND: Residence permit for orientation year