Top 8 Best Countries to Stay in After Graduation

Many students see studying abroad as a gateway to living in another country — and for good reason. Education is one of the safest, most reliable, and 100% legal ways to immigrate.

On top of that, getting a student visa is usually much easier than a work visa. And a few years at a university abroad give you time to:

• adapt to the local culture and lifestyle,
• build valuable professional and personal connections,
• learn the local language and feel confident living and working in your new country.

Dreaming of a high-quality education and a secure future abroad? We’ve put together a list of 8 countries with strong graduate job markets, competitive starting salaries, and real opportunities to stay after graduation. We’ll also explain how post-study work visas and permanent residence work in each country.

Contents

• What is Permanent Residence and what benefits does it offer?
• What is a Post-Study Work Visa?
• Top 8 countries for student-led immigration
• Germany
• Canada
• Spain
• Finland
• Austria
• France
• Australia
• UAE
• Assistance with studying abroad

What Is Permanent Residence and What Benefits Does It Offer?

Permanent Residence (PR) is a legal status that allows a foreign national to live in a country on a permanent basis, with no time limits.

Unlike a temporary residence permit, PR does not need to be renewed and essentially places you on the same footing as long-term residents of the country.

PR is often seen as a key step on the path to citizenship. In most countries, applying for citizenship becomes possible after several years of living in the country as a permanent resident.

Benefits of Permanent Residence

For international graduates, PR offers far more opportunities than a student or temporary work visa:

1. The right to live permanently. PR eliminates the need to constantly renew visas or residence permits — a process that can be stressful, time-consuming, and uncertain.
2. Freedom to work and do business. Permanent residents can work freely and even start their own business without needing additional permits or employer-sponsored visas.
3. Access to social benefits. PR often provides access to public healthcare, insurance, social protection, benefits, and government programs that are typically reserved for citizens or long-term residents.
4. Freedom of movement. With PR, you can move freely within the country and travel in and out without having to apply for a new visa every time.
5. Long-term stability and planning. PR allows you to plan your future with confidence — whether that means starting a family, buying property, launching a business, or building a long-term career.

What Is a Post-Study Work Visa?

A post-study work visa is a temporary work visa that many countries offer to international students after graduation. It allows graduates to stay in the country legally for a limited period (usually 1–3 years) to find a job in their field, gain professional experience, and adapt to the local labor market.

It’s important to understand that a post-study work visa is not permanent residence. However, it plays a crucial role in the PR journey, as local work experience is a major advantage — and in some countries, a mandatory requirement — when applying for permanent residence.

Top 8 Countries for Student-Led Immigration

We’ve selected 8 countries that offer international students strong opportunities to stay after graduation. Our selection is based on key factors such as:

• availability of a post-study work visa,
• duration of that visa,
• pathways to permanent residence,
• career prospects, and
• average graduate salaries.

Germany

After graduating from a German university, international students can apply for a Job Seeker Visa valid for up to 18 months. This visa allows you to legally stay in Germany after your studies and look for a job related to your degree.

What’s next?

Once you find a job and sign an employment contract, you have two main pathways: obtaining Residence Permit and EU Blue Card.

Residence Permit is the standard work-based residence permit. With this option, you can apply for permanent residence after 5 years of living and working in Germany.

The EU Blue Card is one of the most attractive options for international graduates. To qualify, you must have:

• a degree from a recognized university,
• a valid job offer or employment contract,
• a minimum annual salary of €45,934 for STEM professions and €50,700 for other fields.

The Blue Card offers a fast-track route to permanent residence: after 33 months of employment, or after just 21 months if you have German language skills at B1 level.

You can apply for German citizenship 6–8 years after obtaining permanent residence, provided you meet additional requirements such as sufficient language proficiency, a stable income, and passing a citizenship test.

Salaries in Germany

The average annual salary in Germany in 2026 is approximately €53,400. Actual earnings depend heavily on your field and level of experience.

Here’s an approximate starting salary range for recent graduates:

• IT / Computer Science: €45,000 – €60,000
• Engineering: €46,000 – €55,000
• Business / Economics: €40,000 – €50,000
• Law: €42,000 – €55,000
• Natural Sciences: €38,000 – €45,000
• Social Sciences & Humanities: €33,000 – €42,000

Canada

In Canada, university graduates can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), which allows them to work legally in the country after completing their studies. The duration of the PGWP depends on the length and level of the study program:

• programs lasting 2 years or longer — PGWP is issued for up to 3 years,
• shorter programs — PGWP is issued for a period equal to the length of the studies,
• exception: master’s programs — graduates can receive a 3-year PGWP, even if the program is shorter.

Important: You must apply for the PGWP within 180 days after graduation, and your study permit must still be valid at the time of application.

What’s next?

International graduates with Canadian work experience can apply for Permanent Residence (PR) through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Key requirements include:

• at least 1 year of work experience in Canada (the job must fall under TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3),
• work experience must be gained while holding a valid PGWP (or another authorized work permit),
• proof of language proficiency (English and/or French),
• intention to live outside the province of Quebec.

In addition to CEC, graduates can also apply through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), which significantly increase PR chances. Each province sets its own criteria, but most PNP graduate streams require:

• degree from a post-secondary institution in the province,
• valid job offer or relevant Canadian work experience,
• proof of language proficiency,
• intention to live and work in the province long-term.

After obtaining Permanent Residence, graduates can eventually apply for Canadian citizenship. This typically requires living in Canada for at least 730 days within a 5-year period, along with meeting language and civic knowledge requirements.

Salaries in Canada

The overall salary range for international graduates in Canada is approximately CAD 44,400 to CAD 98,800 per year, with an average annual salary of around CAD 63,800 (about USD 46,000).

In higher-paying sectors such as IT, engineering, finance, and healthcare, salaries can be significantly higher:

• Software Engineer: CAD 90,000 – 130,000 (USD 64,800 – 93,600)
• Data Scientist: CAD 95,000 – 135,000 (USD 68,400 – 97,200)
• Healthcare Professionals: CAD 80,000 – 120,000 (USD 57,600 – 86,400)
• Financial Analyst: CAD 70,000 – 110,000 (USD 50,400 – 79,200)

Spain

Graduates of Spanish universities can apply for a Post-Study Residence Authorization, which allows them to legally stay in Spain and look for a job for up to 12 months after graduation.

To qualify, a graduate must:

• hold a degree from a Spanish university (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD),
• submit the application before the student residence permit expires (usually within 60 days after graduation),
• prove they have sufficient financial means to support themselves.

Important: The Post-Study Residence Authorization does not automatically grant the right to work. However, it allows you to legally remain in Spain while searching for a job or starting your own business.

What’s next?

If you find a job and sign an employment contract within this one-year period, you can switch your status to a work residence permit. The initial work permit is issued for 1 year and can be renewed.

Permanent Residence (PR) in Spain becomes available after 5 years of continuous legal residence, provided you have not spent more than 10 months outside the country in total during that period.

After 10 years of residence, you can apply for Spanish citizenship. In some cases, this period may be shorter — for example, just 1 year if you are married to a Spanish citizen.

Salaries in Spain

Earning potential for international graduates in Spain depends on your field and region. Below are approximate starting salary ranges:

• IT / Software / Tech: €30,000 – €40,000
• Engineering / STEM: €28,000 – €38,000
• Business / Finance: €24,000 – €35,000
• Healthcare: €26,000 – €36,000

Finland

International graduates of Finnish universities can apply for a residence permit valid for up to two years to look for a job or start a business in Finland. This Residence Permit can be applied for within five years after the expiration of a student or research residence permit.

To apply, you’ll need:

• a degree from a Finnish higher education institution (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD),
• proof of sufficient financial resources,
• a valid passport and other standard documents.

This residence permit allows you to work without restrictions in any field, giving you time to search for a job related to your qualifications or explore entrepreneurial opportunities.

Important: This permit is not a long-term work visa. Once you find a job and sign an employment contract, you must apply for a new work-based residence permit.

What’s next?

You can apply for Permanent Residence (PR) in Finland after 6 years of continuous residence in the country. For graduates with a Master’s degree or PhD who have at least 2 years of work experience in Finland, this period is reduced to 4 years. Time spent in Finland on a student residence permit also counts toward the total residence period.

Salaries in Finland

The average annual salary in Finland in 2026 is approximately €45,600. Actual earnings depend on your profession and experience level.

Typical salary ranges include:

• Software Developer: €31,000 – €63,000
• IT Specialist: €50,000 – €60,000
• Data Analyst: €33,000 – €67,000
• Data Scientist: €53,000 – €174,000 (wide range depending on seniority)
• Healthcare Professional: €23,000 – €59,000
• Engineer: around €51,600
• Finance & Banking: around €56,400

Austria

After graduating from an Austrian university, students from non-EU and non-EEA countries can stay in Austria for up to 12 months to look for a job or start a business. This is done by extending the existing student residence permit — Austria does not offer a separate post-study work visa.

What’s next?

If you find a job related to your field of study within this one-year period, you can apply for the Red-White-Red (RWR) Card, which serves as both a work and residence permit. The RWR Card is issued for 2 years and allows you to live and work in Austria in your qualified profession.

You can apply for Permanent Residence after 5 years of continuous legal residence, provided you meet requirements such as sufficient German language skills, stable income, and a clean legal record.

Austrian citizenship becomes available after 10 years of residence in the country.

Salaries in Austria

The average annual salary in Austria is approximately €50,000 – €52,000, which is above the EU average. Entry-level professionals can expect the following salary ranges:

• IT Specialists / Software Developers: €38,000 – €60,000
• Engineers: €35,000 – €50,000
• Healthcare Professionals: €36,000 – €50,000
• Financial Analysts: €38,000 – €55,000

France

Opportunities to stay in France after graduation depend on your level of education. The country offers several types of residence permits, including:

• “Employee” or “Temporary Worker” residence permit (carte de séjour salarié ou travailleur temporaire),
• Job search or business creation residence permit (carte de séjour recherche d’emploi / création d’entreprise),
• Talent / professional residence permit (carte de séjour talent), and more.

Students who have completed 2–3 years of study in France (BAC +2, Licence, or Licence Professionnelle) can obtain an employee or temporary worker permit, but this requires a signed employment contract or job offer — meaning it does not allow you to search for a job.

For graduates with a Master’s degree or higher, there is another option: the Job Search / Business Creation permit, which allows you to stay in France for 12 months after graduation to either find work or start a business in your field.

The Talent / Professional permit is a long-term residence permit available if you have a job contract of at least 3 months. The salary must be above twice the minimum wage (SMIC).

What’s next?

After 5 years of continuous residence, you can apply for a long-term residence permit (Carte de résident), valid for 10 years. This permit can be renewed or later converted into permanent residence (Carte de résident permanent).

Alternatively, you can apply for French citizenship after 5 years of living in France. Requirements include B1-level French proficiency, paying taxes, and passing a civic exam.

Salaries in France

The average annual salary in France ranges from €44,000 to €60,000. Entry-level salaries are roughly €30,000 – €45,000, with higher starting pay in in-demand fields such as IT and finance:

• Software Developer: €35,000 – €50,000
• Junior Engineer: €35,000 – €45,000
• Data Analyst: €38,000 – €50,000
• Financial Analyst: €33,000 – €45,000
• Healthcare Professional: €30,000 – €45,000

Australia

After successfully completing their studies, international graduates in Australia can apply for a Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485). The duration depends on the level of study:

• Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees: up to 2 years,
• Research Master’s: up to 3 years,
• PhD: up to 4 years.

This visa allows full-time work in any field, including self-employment, searching for a job in your field, and gaining experience toward Permanent Residence (PR).

What’s next?

The 485 visa is the first step toward permanent residency, but usually not enough to apply for PR on its own. To qualify for PR in Australia, you need to accumulate a certain number of points through the point-based system, which awards points for work experience, English proficiency, and other criteria. After the 485 visa, graduates typically need to apply for one of the skilled or professional visas (Australia offers more than 20 types).

To apply for citizenship by naturalization, you must live in Australia for at least 4 years on work visas, including 12 months on permanent residency before applying.

Salaries in Australia

The average annual salary in Australia is AUD 90,000 (~USD 61,300). Entry-level salaries range from AUD 48,000 – 66,000 (~USD 32,700 – 45,000).

Average salaries by sector:

• Healthcare & Medicine: USD 75,200
• IT: USD 79,200
• Construction: USD 70,000
• Education: USD 57,000
• Finance & Banking: USD 73,000
• Tourism & Hospitality: USD 46,000
• Mining & Energy: USD 91,000

Highly demanded IT professions have significantly higher starting salaries:

• Cybersecurity: USD 75,000 – 90,000
• Cloud Computing: USD 75,000 – 90,000
• Data Science: USD 72,000 – 88,000
• Software Development: USD 70,000 – 85,000
• Business Analysis: USD 68,000 – 82,000
• UX/UI Design: USD 65,000 – 80,000

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Graduates of universities in the UAE have several ways to stay in the country after graduation:

1. Extending your student visa

Graduates from licensed universities can extend their student visa to get extra time for job hunting. To do this, you need:

• a valid student visa,
• your degree certificate and graduation transcript,
• payment of the required fees.

This extension provides legal residence while you look for work but does not automatically grant a work permit.

2. Job Seeker Visa

The Job Seeker Visa allows graduates to stay in the UAE for 60, 90, or 120 days while looking for a job. Its key advantage is that you don’t need an employer sponsor or a job offer to apply. Requirements include:

• a Bachelor’s degree or higher,
• proof of financial means to support yourself during your stay.

Important: You cannot work while on a Job Seeker Visa. You must first secure a job and then apply for a work visa.

3. Golden Visa for Outstanding Graduates

The Golden Visa is a long-term residence permit designed to attract top talent to the UAE. It is valid for 5 or 10 years and is available to outstanding graduates from both UAE universities and top international institutions.

To qualify, you must demonstrate academic excellence, for example by providing transcripts, awards, or recommendation letters from professors.

Salaries in the UAE

The average monthly salary across the UAE ranges from 12,000 to 45,000 AED (approximately $3,900 – $12,250 USD per month), or 144,000 – 540,000 AED per year ($39,200 – $147,000 USD).

In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, salaries are generally higher: 180,000 – 720,000 AED per year ($49,000 – $196,000 USD).

Approximate annual salaries by profession:

• Sales Manager: $45,360 – $116,600
• HR Manager: $38,900 – $97,200
• Marketing Manager: $48,600 – $94,000
• Financial Analyst: $32,400 – $78,700
• Data Scientist: $38,900 – $81,000
• Teacher (International School): $32,400 – $61,600
• Software Engineer: $25,900 – $48,600
• Graphic Designer: $19,400 – $48,600

Assistance with Studying Abroad

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