Every route links to the primary government source and carries a last-reviewed date.
Skilled Worker visa
Work visa for non-UK workers with a job offer from a Home Office–licensed sponsor in an eligible occupation.
Health and Care Worker visa
Discounted Skilled Worker route for eligible NHS, adult social care, and allied health roles.
Global Talent visa
Unsponsored visa for leaders or potential leaders in academia, research, arts, culture, or digital technology.
Graduate visa
Post-study work visa for recent graduates of eligible UK higher education institutions.
High Potential Individual visa
Unsponsored work visa for graduates of a time-limited list of top global universities.
Innovator Founder visa
Endorsement-based visa for founders launching an innovative, viable and scalable business in the UK.
Scale-up visa
Sponsored route for workers joining qualifying fast-growing UK scale-up businesses, with faster settlement timelines.
Youth Mobility Scheme visa
Unsponsored 2-year visa for 18–30 or 18–35 year olds from participating countries and territories.
Student visa
Study visa for international students enrolled with a licensed Student sponsor at eligible UK institutions.
Family visa (partner/spouse)
Visa for partners of British citizens, settled persons, or certain other qualifying sponsors.
Standard Visitor visa
Short-stay visa for tourism, visiting family, or permitted business activities up to 6 months.
Critical Skills Employment Permit
Fast-track employment permit for high-skill roles on the Critical Skills Occupations List.
General Employment Permit
Sponsored employment permit for roles not on the Critical Skills list but above the general salary threshold.
Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)
Residence programme for founders establishing a High Potential Start-Up in Ireland.
Stamp 4 permission
Long-term residence permission allowing unrestricted work in Ireland.
Irish Student visa (Stamp 2)
Study permission for international students enrolled at eligible Irish institutions on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes.
Join Family (Irish national or EEA national)
Family reunification permission for spouses, civil partners, and dependants of Irish or EEA nationals resident in Ireland.
Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP — closed)
Historic golden-visa equivalent; closed to new applications from 15 February 2023.
EU Blue Card (Germany)
Work and residence permit for highly qualified non-EU professionals with a qualifying German job offer.
Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card)
Points-based residence permit allowing non-EU skilled workers to enter Germany to search for employment.
Skilled Worker residence permit (§18a/§18b AufenthG)
General sponsored work residence permit for qualified non-EU workers with a German job offer.
Recognition Partnership (Anerkennungspartnerschaft)
Residence permit allowing skilled workers to complete their qualification recognition while living and working in Germany.
Freelance / Self-employment residence permit (§21 AufenthG)
Residence permit for self-employed workers and liberal professionals establishing a business in Germany.
Job Seeker visa (§20 AufenthG)
Up to 6-month residence permit for qualified workers to seek employment in Germany (largely superseded by Chancenkarte).
German Student residence permit
Residence permit for international students enrolled at recognised German higher education institutions.
Family reunion residence permit
Residence permit for spouses and children of German residents or citizens.
D7 visa (passive income / retirement)
Residence visa for non-EU nationals with stable passive income (pensions, rental income, dividends).
D8 visa (digital nomad / remote work)
Residence visa for remote workers employed by or freelancing for companies outside Portugal.
D2 visa (entrepreneur / self-employment)
Residence visa for business owners, founders, and self-employed workers establishing activity in Portugal.
Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment)
Residence-by-investment route; real-estate and capital-transfer pathways were closed in October 2023, but fund-investment and other options remain.
D3 visa (highly qualified activity)
Residence visa for highly qualified workers with a Portuguese employment contract.
Portuguese Student visa
Residence visa for international students enrolled in Portuguese higher education or research programmes.
Family reunification (residence)
Residence authorisation for family members of legal residents in Portugal.
Digital Nomad Visa (Spain)
Residence permit for remote workers and international freelancers under the Startup Law (Ley de Startups).
Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)
Residence visa for financially self-sufficient non-EEA nationals not planning to work in Spain.
Highly Qualified Professional (HQP) permit
Residence permit for highly qualified workers with a Spanish employment contract, processed under the Law 14/2013 regime.
Entrepreneur Visa (Ley 14/2013)
Residence permit for founders establishing an innovative business in Spain under the Entrepreneurs' Law.
Spain Golden Visa (ending April 2025)
Residence-by-investment route announced to end on 3 April 2025; residual queries reference historical rules.
Spanish Student Visa
Study visa for courses longer than 90 days at recognised Spanish institutions.
Family reunification (Spain)
Residence permit for family members of Spanish residents; arreigo (settled-status) routes also available.
Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)
Primary sponsored work route for high-skill workers hired by IND-recognised sponsors.
Orientation year (Zoekjaar)
Unrestricted 1-year residence permit for recent graduates of Dutch or top-ranked international universities.
EU Blue Card (Netherlands)
Dutch implementation of the EU Blue Card for highly qualified non-EU workers.
Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur
Treaty-based self-employment residence for US nationals starting a business in the Netherlands.
Startup Visa (Netherlands)
1-year residence permit for founders working with a recognised Dutch startup facilitator.
Dutch Student residence permit
Study residence for international students enrolled at Dutch higher-education institutions.
Partner residence (Dutch national or resident sponsor)
Residence permit for partners, spouses, and registered partners of Dutch residents and citizens.
UAE Golden Visa
10-year renewable residence visa for investors, entrepreneurs, and outstanding talent across professional categories.
UAE Green Visa
5-year self-sponsored residence for skilled employees, freelancers, and investors.
UAE Employment (Standard Residence) visa
Standard employer-sponsored residence for workers recruited by UAE companies.
UAE Virtual Working Programme
1-year residence for remote workers employed by companies outside the UAE.
UAE Investor / Partner residence visa
Residence for business owners and partners holding qualifying shares in UAE companies.
UAE freelance permit with residence
Self-sponsored freelance residence via MOHRE or free-zone freelance permits.
Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Federal permanent-residence stream for applicants with qualifying Canadian work experience.
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
Federal points-based permanent residence for skilled workers without prior Canadian experience.
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
Permanent residence for qualified tradespeople with a Canadian job offer or provincial certification.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Province-led permanent residence streams giving a 600 CRS boost when aligned with Express Entry.
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
Open work permit for graduates of eligible Canadian Designated Learning Institutions.
Start-Up Visa (Canada)
Permanent residence for entrepreneurs with endorsement from a designated Canadian venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator.
Canadian Study Permit
Study permit for international students at Designated Learning Institutions, governed by provincial study attestation caps.
Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada)
Permanent residence sponsorship of spouses, common-law partners, or conjugal partners by Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
Employer-sponsored temporary work visa (formerly TSS) with reformed routes from December 2024.
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
Points-based permanent residence visa for skilled workers without employer or state sponsorship.
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
State-nominated permanent residence visa providing a 5-point SkillSelect boost.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
Provisional 5-year regional visa leading to permanent residence via subclass 191.
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
Permanent residence visa for workers nominated by Australian employers.
Working Holiday Maker visa (subclass 417/462)
Short-term work-and-travel visa for young people from participating countries.
National Innovation visa (formerly Global Talent)
Permanent residence for globally recognised high achievers in target sectors — replacement for the former Global Talent visa.
Australian Student visa (subclass 500)
Study visa for international students enrolled at CRICOS-registered institutions.
Partner visa (subclass 820/801, 309/100)
Residence visa for spouses and de facto partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens.
H-1B Specialty Occupation
Employer-sponsored non-immigrant visa for specialty occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher.
L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager)
Intracompany transfer for executives or managers moving to a US office of a related multinational employer.
L-1B Intracompany Transferee (Specialised Knowledge)
Intracompany transfer for employees with specialised knowledge of the employer’s products, services, or processes.
O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement
Visa for individuals with extraordinary ability in sciences, education, business, athletics (O-1A) or the arts/film/television (O-1B).
EB-1A Extraordinary Ability (Immigrant)
Employment-based first-preference green card for individuals with extraordinary ability — self-petitionable.
EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW)
Second-preference green card with a waiver of the job offer and PERM labor certification, where the beneficiary’s work is in the US national interest.
EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers
Third-preference employment-based green card requiring employer sponsorship and PERM labor certification.
EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program
Permanent residence through investment in a new US commercial enterprise that creates at least 10 full-time jobs.
E-2 Treaty Investor
Non-immigrant treaty investor visa for nationals of countries with a qualifying treaty of commerce and navigation with the US.
F-1 Student Visa (with OPT and STEM OPT)
Non-immigrant student visa for academic study at a SEVP-certified institution, with post-study OPT employment authorisation.
J-1 Exchange Visitor
Exchange visitor visa covering academic scholars, students, trainees, interns, researchers, au pairs, and other exchange programs.
TN USMCA Professionals (Canada & Mexico)
Non-immigrant work visa under USMCA for Canadian and Mexican citizens in listed professions.
K-1 Fiancé(e) of US Citizen
Non-immigrant visa allowing the fiancé(e) of a US citizen to enter the US to marry within 90 days and then apply for a green card.
Spouse of US Citizen or Green Card Holder (IR1/CR1 & F2A)
Permanent residence for the spouse of a US citizen (IR1/CR1) or lawful permanent resident (F2A preference).