{"id":247538,"date":"2026-10-12T13:12:58","date_gmt":"2026-10-12T07:42:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gostudyin.com\/uk\/study-guides\/global-post-study-work-visa-comparison-2\/"},"modified":"2026-10-12T13:12:58","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T07:42:58","slug":"global-post-study-work-visa-comparison-2","status":"publish","type":"gsi_study_guides","link":"https:\/\/gostudyin.com\/uk\/study-in-uk\/study-guides\/global-post-study-work-visa-comparison-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Post-Study Work Visa Comparison: Where Can You Stay and Work After Graduating?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’re comparing post-study work visas, Canada and New Zealand offer the longest stay for most master’s graduates, at up to 3 years. Australia, Ireland, the UK, and Germany give between 18 months and 2 years; France gives 12 months, and the UAE has no dedicated route.<\/p>\n

Knowing how long you can stay, and which visa comes next, helps you choose a destination that fits your career goals.<\/p>\n

Find Your Best Post-Study Route Today<\/a><\/div>\n
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How Do Post-Study Work Visas Compare at a Glance?<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Destination<\/th>\nGraduate Permission<\/th>\nStay After a Taught Master’s<\/th>\nKey Eligibility Condition<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Canada<\/td>\nPost-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)<\/a><\/td>\n3 years (programme of at least 8 months)<\/td>\nLanguage test result and application within 180 days<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
New Zealand<\/td>\nPost Study Work Visa<\/a><\/td>\n3 years<\/td>\nAt least 30 weeks of full-time study in New Zealand<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Australia<\/td>\nTemporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)<\/a><\/td>\n2 years (research degrees: up to 3 years)<\/td>\nAged 35 or under for most applicants<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ireland<\/td>\nStamp 1G<\/a><\/td>\nUp to 24 months, granted as two 12-month periods<\/td>\nApply within 6 months of your results<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UK<\/td>\nGraduate visa<\/a><\/td>\n18 months from 1st January 2027 (PhD: 3 years)<\/td>\nApply from inside the UK before your Student visa expires<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Germany<\/td>\nJob-seeker residence permit<\/a><\/td>\nUp to 18 months<\/td>\nDegree from a German university<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
France<\/td>\nRECE job-search permit<\/a><\/td>\n12 months, not renewable<\/td>\nMaster’s-level degree or professional bachelor’s<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UAE<\/td>\nNo dedicated route<\/td>\nNot applicable<\/td>\nMost graduates need an employer-sponsored visa<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Bachelor’s graduates often get less: Ireland gives 12 months for a Level 8 honours degree, and Canada matches your programme length, up to 3 years.<\/p>\n

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How Does the Post-Study Work Visa Work in Each Country?<\/h2>\n

UK Graduate Visa<\/h3>\n

The UK Graduate visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31st December 2026 and 18 months if you apply from 1st January 2027, with PhD graduates receiving 3 years. According to GOV.UK<\/a>, you must apply from inside the UK before your Student visa expires, and you can’t extend it, although you can switch to a Skilled Worker visa. The application fee is \u00a3937, plus a healthcare surcharge that’s usually \u00a31,035 for each year.<\/p>\n

UK Graduate Route Guide<\/a><\/div>\n

Canada Post-Graduation Work Permit<\/h3>\n

Canada’s PGWP lasts up to 3 years, and IRCC confirms<\/a> master’s graduates can receive 3 years even if their programme was under 2 years. It’s an open work permit. University graduates need Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7, Canada’s scale for English ability, while college graduates need CLB 5 and, for most non-degree programmes, a course in an eligible field.<\/p>\n

Canada PGWP Guide<\/a><\/div>\n

New Zealand Post Study Work Visa<\/h3>\n

New Zealand’s Post Study Work Visa lasts up to 3 years, and Immigration New Zealand<\/a> grants the full 3 years to master’s and doctoral graduates who studied there for at least 30 weeks. Degree graduates can work for any employer, and you can only hold this visa once.<\/p>\n

New Zealand Post-Study Visa Guide<\/a><\/div>\n

Australia Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)<\/h3>\n

Australia’s Post-Higher Education Work stream usually allows 2 to 3 years, depending on your qualification. Study Australia<\/a> states you must be aged 35 or under (exceptions apply) and have held a Student visa in the last 6 months. You can work unrestricted hours, and regional study and residence may unlock a second visa of 1 to 2 years.<\/p>\n

Some nationalities receive different stay periods under bilateral arrangements, so check the Department of Home Affairs<\/a> for the terms that apply to you, and see our guide to studying in Australia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ireland Stamp 1G<\/h3>\n

Ireland’s Stamp 1G gives 12 months after a Level 8 honours bachelor’s and up to 24 months after a Level 9 master’s or Level 10 PhD on Ireland’s National Framework of Qualifications. As Ireland’s Immigration Service<\/a> sets out, master’s graduates receive 12 months first, and renewal depends on showing you’ve actively sought graduate-level work. You can work full time without an employment permit. Find out more in our guide to studying and working in Ireland<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ireland Stamp 1G Visa Guide<\/a><\/div>\n

Germany Job-Seeker Residence Permit<\/h3>\n

Germany gives graduates of German universities up to 18 months to find skilled work, and Make it in Germany<\/a> confirms you can take any job while you search. Once you find a qualified role, you switch to a skilled-worker permit or EU Blue Card. Public universities charge little or no tuition, but your student visa needs a blocked account of at least \u20ac11,904 in 2026. See our breakdown of the cost of studying in Germany<\/a>.<\/p>\n

France RECE Job-Search Permit<\/h3>\n

France’s “Recherche d’emploi ou cr\u00e9ation d’entreprise” (RECE) permit lasts 12 months, can’t be renewed, and lets eligible graduates work while they look for a job or start a business. Service-Public.fr<\/a> limits it to master’s-level and professional bachelor’s graduates, and general bachelor’s graduates need a job offer before switching.<\/p>\n

Graduates of some nationalities can use a bilateral agreement instead, which may offer different terms, so check what applies to you before you apply.<\/p>\n

UAE: Employer Sponsorship and Golden Visa<\/h3>\n

The UAE<\/a> doesn’t offer a post-study work visa, so most graduates move into an employer-sponsored work visa. A 60- to 120-day job-exploration visit visa exists for recent graduates of top 500 universities, but it isn’t a work permit. High achievers may qualify for a 10-year Golden Visa; the Abu Dhabi criteria<\/a> require a GPA of at least 3.5 from an A-classified UAE university or 3.8 from a B-classified one.<\/p>\n

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Which Country Is Best for Your Profile?<\/h2>\n

There’s no single winner. Use these scenarios to narrow your shortlist:<\/p>\n