5 countries offering permanent residency pathways after study
International students who want to settle abroad should make it a point to look for countries that will provide them with an easy route to permanent residency (PR) after the completion of their studies.
Some countries have designed immigration systems to let graduates stay and work, often providing pathways to permanent residency.
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Read also: Canada scraps study permits pathway to permanent residency for foreign students
Here are five countries that offer permanent residency pathways after study for international students.
Germany
Germany is sought-after for international graduates, with various routes to permanent residency. You could stay with the Job Seeker Visa to look for a job for up to 18 months after graduation. When graduates get a job, they can apply for a Settlement Permit (PR) after some years.
The Blue Card is also available to highly skilled professionals with residency and work permits if they have a job offer that meets the salary requirements. Germany also provides an Employment Visa for individuals with solid job contracts which is issued for the long term. The country offers a good pathway for graduates because of their interest in conserving talents.
Australia
Clear post-study permanent residency pathways make Australia one of the most sought-after destinations for International students. An excellent way to gain experience in your field of study is via the Post-Study Work Visa (subclass 485) which gives graduates rights to work. This is because graduates are eligible for a Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) or a Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190), both of which operate on a visa points-based system that favours applicants with skills in demand by Australian employers.
This will also allow graduates a better chance at permanent residency through the regional pathways designed for anyone who wants to live and work in regional areas. Australia is a desired destination with better opportunities to live over the long term because of its strong economy and multicultural society.
New Zealand
International graduates in New Zealand do not need to search high and low for alternative pathways to permanent residency, because they are simple. Skilled Migrant Category – SMC is a points-based visa for graduates with job offers or relevant experience in skilled areas.
For graduates, New Zealand also has a Post-Study Work Visa that enables them to gain local work experience. With its emphasis on addressing skill shortages in major industries like healthcare and IT, the country is an attractive option for graduates.
As much as Singapore is selective about its immigration system, there are many pathways for international graduates. If graduated students have received a job in Singapore, the Professionals, Technical Personnel, and Skilled Workers Scheme (PTS) is the pathway.
For entrepreneurs or investors who can contribute significantly to Singapore’s economy, there is the option of the Global Investor Program (GIP). Apart from this, there is an EntrePass visa for post-graduates planning to launch a new business venture in Singapore.
Those are some key reasons why Canada remains the destination of choice for many skilled individuals, given the fact that it has one of the hottest economies around and a business environment that is attracting thousands upon thousands to its shores each year.
Sweden
In Sweden, graduates can apply for a job-seeking visa to look for work in their field of study which is valid for one year upon graduation. During this time, if they find a job or start their own business, they can apply for a work permit or permanent residency after several years of continuous business.
The governments of these countries have clear pathways to permanent residency post-study that international graduates can follow in order to get a PR visa. To retain the talented graduates each of these nations fosters, they have adjusted their immigration policies to allow students to build a future away from home.
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