6 uncommon Work-Study Visa Programs for your migration

 

Today, people are eager to develop their abilities and progress professionally to receive a chance to work abroad and improve their standard of living. The best approach to attaining this goal is through work-study visa programs, which enable students to study and work in other countries at the same time. 

Besides well-known programs that are known worldwide, such as the USA F-1 visa or the Canadian Student Work Permit, there are several numerous and exceptional work-study visas that can be used for migration. 

So let’s take a closer look at some of the least known work-study visa programs in the world. If you are a person aiming for the immigration process but also thinking that you don’t want to go to the most common choices, then this is for you. Let’s dive in!

1. The Netherlands: Orientation Year Visa (Zoekjaar Visa)

Work-Study Visa Programs

The Netherlands has long been a leading destination for international students due to the quality of its educational infrastructure and multicultural policies. One of the more interesting ways that the Netherlands provides for foreigners is the Orientation Year Visa, or Zoekjaar Visa in Dutch.

What is it?

This is one of the most uncommon work-study visa programs meant for graduates of the Netherlands or any international university recognized worldwide. It enables them to remain in the country for a year after the completion of their studies to search for employment or start a business.

What’s great about this visa is that during this orientation year, you can work in any field they like with no limit! You can work a full-time job position, do freelance work, or even own your own business at the same time.

Why is it uncommon?

It’s not as popular as standard student visas, but it is a fantastic chance for graduates. It is a route to being granted permanent residency because when you get a job in the course of the orientation year, you can easily switch to the highly skilled migrant visa.

Who’s it for?

  • Graduates of Dutch universities
  • Graduates having a degree from any of the top 200 universities in the world largely recognized by the Dutch Government

What are the key benefits?

  • You can work without obtaining a special work permit.
  • It is a good opportunity to advance your career when you are planning on working in the Netherlands.
  • You do not have any limitations when it comes to the kind of work you can engage in during your orientation year.

Case study:

Chinedu Okonkwo, a 28-year-old Nigerian graduate, completed his master’s degree in Environmental Engineering at Delft University of Technology in 2022. After graduation, Chinedu applied for the Zoekjaar Visa, which gave him an additional year to explore job opportunities in the Netherlands. 

Within six months, he secured a role as a sustainability consultant at Arcadis, a leading engineering consultancy firm in Rotterdam. The Zoekjaar Visa allowed him to work without restrictions, and after securing a full-time contract, he transitioned to a highly skilled migrant visa. By 2024, Chinedu was well on his way to applying for permanent residency in the Netherlands.

2. Germany: Job Seeker Visa

Work-Study Visa Programs

Germany, a country with a strong economy and efficient school system, has provided an opportunity through the Job Seeker Visa. Although this is not one of the most popular Work-Study Visa Programs, it’s a rather advantageous one, as it is one of the visas that offered work experience after studying in Germany.

What is it?

The Job Seeker Visa is a residence permit aimed at long-term permits that enables the holder to look for a job with permission to reside in Germany for up to half a year.

This is unlike other visas, whereby the applicant must have an offer of employment from a company in the host country. But once you get a job, you can change it to your work permit. They have schools, colleges, and universities providing accommodation to their students.

Why is it uncommon?

Again, most countries do not have a particular visa for job-seeking individuals, and this policy makes the German policy very special. Most countries force you to leave as soon as your study permit expires, but in Germany, you are given an additional six months to get a job.

Who’s it for?

  • It is for non-EU nationals with a recognized degree
  • Also for individuals with the sufficient monetary capacity to cover their stay in Germany

What are the key benefits?

  • If you choose the job option, you can find other suitable job openings within the next six months because there is no pressure to go.
  • It gives one direct access to a work visa and eventually permanent resident status.
  • Due to the high demand for professionals in the German labor market, especially in engineering, IT, finance, and healthcare, if you have the necessary qualifications, you are likely to find a job.

Case study:

Carlos Silva, a 29-year-old Brazilian software engineer, completed his master’s degree in computer science at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2021. After graduation, he applied for Germany’s Job Seeker Visa, which gave him six months to find a job. 

In his fourth month, he landed a role as a backend developer with a Berlin-based startup, N26, one of Europe’s fastest-growing fintech companies. The Job Seeker Visa allowed him to stay in Germany during the job hunt without the pressure of returning to Brazil, and after securing a job offer, he transitioned to a Blue Card, which eventually led to permanent residency.

3. South Korea: D-2-7 Visa for Talented Students

Work-Study Visa Programs

With modern technology, rich culture, and quality education institutions, South Korea is slowly gaining popularity as an ideal study destination among international students. One of the least discussed visa categories pertaining to Work-Study Visa Programs in South Korea is the D-2-7 Visa, which is also called the Visa for Talented Students.

What is it?

The D-2-7 Visa is an educational visa for international students who can be considered to have some specific talents in the field of science, engineering, or technology. It permits students to find a part-time job while studying and can provide a procedure for students to remain in Korea after successfully completing their studies.

Why is it uncommon?

Besides the regular student visas in South Korea that a lot of people know about, there is the D-2-7 visa for the students with talent. Few people are aware of it, but it is quite valuable if you are eligible for it.

Who’s it for?

  • International students who have well established themselves in STEM courses
  • Those studying at an undergraduate or a postgraduate university in South Korea

What are the key benefits?

  • Part-time jobs can be done while attending classes.
  • You have a clear pathway to remain in South Korea after your degree when you are already planning to find a job in high-need areas.
  • Technology and startup culture are advancing in South Korea, which offers many prospects for talented people.

Case study: 

Chen Wei, a 22-year-old Chinese student, was admitted to the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) in 2020, where he pursued a degree in mechanical engineering. Due to his high academic performance and several research papers published in robotics, he was granted the D-2-7 Visa for Talented Students. 

This visa allowed him to work part-time at a tech startup in Seoul, which focused on developing AI-driven robotics for manufacturing. After graduating in 2023, he was offered a full-time position at the same company, which enabled him to transition to a work visa and continue his career in South Korea.

4. New Zealand: Pathway Student Visa

New Zealand’s landscapes and the education system are recognized globally, but let us take a look at an uncommon visa that the country provides: the Pathway Student Visa. This visa permits students to enroll in up to 3 courses at a stretch under a single visa, which is quite suitable for any individual who wants to pursue an extended educational program.

What is it?

The Pathway Student Visa lets you study up to three courses consecutively within five years—all without needing a change of visa.

This could mean finishing an English language program, then a diploma/bachelor’s degree program, then a master’s degree program. A part of the attraction of this visa is that you get an opportunity to work and study—but this is while working part time.

Why is it uncommon?

It can also be noted that most of the student visas in Europe allow the students to study for one particular course or program only. However, New Zealand’s Pathway Student Visa is the only one that lets you build a path for your education for several years in one single visa.

Who is it for?

  • Any student interested in an extended educational program in New Zealand
  • Students who wish to practice multiple subjects or get multiple qualifications

What are the key benefits?

  • To be a student, you work up to 20 hours a week during your studies.
  • I want to clarify that you do not need to obtain a visa again after each course or degree.

In addition, if you choose to work in New Zealand upon your education, it offers an easy and convenient route to permanent residency.

Case study:

Rajesh Patel, a 27-year-old Indian student, applied for the Pathway Student Visa in 2019 to pursue a long-term academic plan in New Zealand. He initially enrolled in an English language course at the University of Auckland, then transitioned to a bachelor’s degree in business studies and finally completed a postgraduate diploma in information technology.

Thanks to the Pathway Student Visa, he didn’t need to renew his visa between these courses, allowing him to focus on his studies. During his studies, he worked part-time as a data analyst for a local tech company. After graduation in 2023, he was offered a full-time position and subsequently applied for a work visa, setting him on a path toward permanent residency.

5. Portugal: Tech Visa

Right now and for the past few years, Portugal has emerged as one of the leading startup destinations in Europe. Although Portugal offers many Work-Study Visa Programs, it is still essential to pay attention to the fact that the Tech visa is an unusual visa; however, it is very interesting for individuals involved in the technosphere.

What is it?

The Tech Visa is specifically aimed at talented workers in the field of technology and offers a favorable way for the qualified workers to enter and reside in Portugal. It enables a skilled IT worker to come and work in Portugal and for a company in Portugal without going through the normal process.

This aspect of the visa sets this one apart from others while being open to qualified students already in the country and those in technical courses, as well as recent graduates in other countries, provided they get an employment offer from a recognized technology firm in the country.

Why is it uncommon?

Whereas many countries have generalized working visas, Portugal has a more specific tech visa for the sector.

This has made the process a lot easier, especially for tech professionals to move and seek employment in Portugal.

Who’s it for?

  • Those who obtained their degree recently or are studying in a related technical discipline.
  • Competent tech candidates with a job offer in the country or individuals seeking a new career challenge in Portugal.

What are the key benefits?

  • IT workers are provided with fast-track visa services.
  • You can work in one of the fastest-growing tech hubs in Europe.
  • It is also clear that this visa gives a straightforward approach to acquiring a permanent residence permit in Portugal.

Case study:

Lucia Santos, a 30-year-old software developer from Brazil, applied for Portugal’s Tech Visa after receiving a job offer from Farfetch, a well-known e-commerce company in Porto. Lucia had recently completed her master’s degree in computer engineering at the University of São Paulo and was looking for opportunities in Europe’s growing tech sector.

The Tech Visa allowed her to bypass the usual bureaucratic hurdles and moved to Portugal within two months of receiving her job offer. By 2024, she had become a key member of Farfetch’s development team and was on track for permanent residency.

6. Ireland: Third Level Graduate Scheme

Over the years, Ireland has emerged as one of the desired destinations to pursue higher education, especially for technology, engineering, and health care-related courses.

The Third Level Graduate Scheme is one of the most distinctive Work-Study Visa Programs that can be obtained in the course of studying in Ireland; this visa enables the graduates to remain in the country in the process of searching for jobs.

What is it?

The Third Level Graduate Scheme facilitates the stay of non-EU/EEA students in Ireland for up to two years (depending on the degree level) to seek employment. They can also work full-time during this period without requiring a work permit.

Once they get an employment, they can then be issued with a general employment permit or a critical skills permit.

Why is it uncommon?

For most of the countries, students are asked to leave after the expiry of their student visa; however, Ireland avails a certain time for the graduates to look for jobs. It is especially helpful to individuals who are willing to move from student life to working life in Ireland.

Who’s it for?

  • Residents, including non-EU/EEA graduates of recognized Irish institutions.
  • Students who are interested in getting employed within sectors such as information technology, healthcare, and engineering.

What are the key benefits?

  • You can even work full time, and there is no need for another work authorization.
  • It offers a transition from student life to professional life in Ireland and has several benefits.
  • It would also be pertinent to mention here that there are specifically defined channels of acquiring permanent residency if one gets a long-term job.

Case study:

Adebayo Olatunji, a 26-year-old Nigerian student, completed his master’s degree in biomedical engineering at Trinity College Dublin in 2022. After graduation, he applied for the Third Level Graduate Scheme, which allowed him to stay in Ireland for two years to search for employment.

Within eight months, Adebayo secured a job as a research associate at Medtronic, a global leader in medical technology. This allowed him to transition to a Critical Skills Employment Permit, a key step toward achieving permanent residency. By 2024, Adebayo had already begun the process of applying for long-term residency, thanks to his steady employment in a high-demand sector.

Conclusion

International migration for work or further education is a big step to take in ones life, and getting the right visa process is the key. Although many common visas that are known today include the U.S. F-1 or the Australian student visa, there are so many remarkable Work-Study Visa Programs for migration.

No matter if you are a recent graduate, a tech enthusiast, or someone interested in career changes, here are ten visa types that show that there are multiple ways to achieve your international dream and even gain a permanent residency status.

Therefore, if you’re thinking of shifting to a foreign country but aren’t looking forward to doing it in the usual common or conventional ways, such unusual visas might be what you are searching for.

From the Netherlands Zoekjaar Visa to Germany’s Job Seeker Visa to the Portugal Tech Visa, each of them presents a combination of work and study experience that could shape up a successful international career for you.

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