The UK Graduate Route costs £558 and lasts 2 years for most graduates; Canada's Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) can run up to 3 years; Australia's Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) costs AUD 2,500. If you hold an Indian passport and are weighing where to study, post-study work rights are often the deciding factor. This guide compares 8 destinations side by side.
How do post-study work rights compare across 8 countries?
The table below summarises the key parameters. Fees shown are government fees only; check each destination page for current biometric and service charges.
| Destination | Permit name | Max duration | Govt fee (local) | Govt fee (approx USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Graduate Route | 2 yrs (3 for PhD) | £558 | ~$746 |
| Canada | PGWP | Up to 3 years | CAD 150 | ~$107 |
| Australia | Subclass 485 | 2–4 years (varies) | AUD 2,500 | ~$1,780 |
| Germany | Job-seeker visa (post-study) | 18 months | €75 | ~$86 |
| Ireland | Third Level Graduate Scheme | 1–2 years | €60 | ~$69 |
| New Zealand | Post-Study Work visa | Up to 3 years | NZD 850 | ~$486 |
| France | APS (Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour) | 1 year | Check Campus France | Check Campus France |
| Netherlands | Orientation Year permit (Zoekjaar) | 1 year | Check IND.nl | Check IND.nl |
Note on France and Netherlands: Government fees and processing times for the APS and the Orientation Year permit were not available in our verified dataset at the time of writing. Check Campus France and the Dutch IND directly for current figures before applying.
United Kingdom: Graduate Route
The UK Graduate Route is an unsponsored visa that lets you live and work — or look for work — freely in the UK after graduating from a licensed institution.
Key facts - Government fee: £558 (verified September 2026, source) - Duration: 2 years for bachelor's and master's graduates; 3 years for doctoral graduates - No job offer required at point of application - Processing: approximately 3 weeks (15 working days) - You must have completed your course in the UK on a Student visa
How to apply 1. Confirm your degree is awarded and your Student visa has at least a short period of validity remaining. 2. Apply online via UKVI; pay the £558 fee plus the Immigration Health Surcharge. 3. Submit biometrics if required. 4. Await decision — 15 working days is the standard target.
The Graduate Route does not lead directly to settlement; most graduates transition to the Skilled Worker visa if they secure a sponsored role. See our UK Skilled Worker Visa guide for how to bridge the two routes.
Canada: Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP)
The PGWP is open-market — no employer sponsorship needed — and is one of the longest post-study permits available.
Key facts - Government fee: CAD 150 (~USD 107, source) - Duration: tied to programme length; programmes of 2 years or more attract a 3-year PGWP - Must apply within 180 days of receiving your final marks - Your study permit must have been valid when you graduated - Only graduates of Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) qualify
How to apply 1. Receive official confirmation of programme completion. 2. Apply online through IRCC within 180 days. 3. Pay CAD 150; submit supporting documents (transcripts, study permit, passport). 4. Processing times vary by country of residence — check the IRCC portal for current estimates.
The PGWP feeds naturally into Express Entry. Read our Canada Express Entry guide to understand how Canadian work experience converts to CRS points.
Australia: Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)
Australia's subclass 485 is one of the pricier post-study options but offers substantial stay rights, particularly for regional graduates.
Key facts - Government fee: AUD 2,500 (~USD 1,780, source) - Two streams: Graduate Work (18 months) and Post-Study Work (2–4 years depending on qualification and institution location) - Must apply within 6 months of notification of results - You must have studied in Australia on a student visa for at least 2 years - English requirement: check the Department of Home Affairs for current thresholds
How to apply 1. Confirm your qualification and course duration meet stream eligibility. 2. Lodge online via ImmiAccount before the 6-month deadline. 3. Pay AUD 2,500; provide skills assessment if applying under Graduate Work stream. 4. Processing: 75% of visitor (600) applications process within roughly 30 days — subclass 485 times vary; check ImmiAccount for current data.
For a detailed breakdown of how Australian points interact with post-study work, see our Australia Skilled Migration Points Test guide.
Germany: Post-Study Job-Seeker Visa
Germany allows international graduates of German universities — or foreign graduates of equivalent programmes — to stay for up to 18 months to find a job matching their qualification.
Key facts - Government (national visa) fee: €75 (~USD 86, source) - Duration: 18 months - You must have sufficient funds to support yourself during the search period (check the German Federal Foreign Office for the current monthly requirement) - Once a qualified job is found, you switch to an EU Blue Card or work permit - Processing: approximately 15 days for the national visa
Germany is part of the Schengen Area. If you are considering travel across Europe alongside your job search, our Schengen Area visa guide explains freedom-of-movement rules.
Ireland: Third Level Graduate Scheme
Ireland's Third Level Graduate Programme permits graduates of Irish higher education institutions to remain and seek graduate-level employment.
Key facts - Government fee: €60 (~USD 69, source) - Duration: 12 months (NFQ Level 8 degree); 24 months (NFQ Level 9 or above — master's, PhD) - You must register with your local Immigration Registration Office within 90 days of your student permission expiring - Permission is stamp 1G; no job offer required at registration
For naturalisation timelines from Irish residency, see our Naturalisation Absence Limits guide.
New Zealand: Post-Study Work Visa
New Zealand offers one of the more straightforward post-study pathways, with up to 3 years available for graduates of certain programmes.
Key facts - Government fee: NZD 850 (~USD 486, source) - Duration: up to 3 years depending on qualification level and study location - Must apply before your student visa expires - Open-market work rights — no employer sponsorship needed - Processing: 20 to 25 days
Check Immigration New Zealand for the current qualification and location requirements, as regional study can attract longer permit durations.
France: Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour (APS)
France issues a 1-year APS to graduates of French higher education institutions (master's level or above), allowing open-market job search or entrepreneurial activity.
What to check: The government fee and processing time for the APS were not in our verified dataset. Contact your university's international office or visit Campus France and the French Ministry of Interior for current figures before applying.
France is a Schengen member; see our Schengen Area visa guide for travel implications.
Netherlands: Orientation Year Permit (Zoekjaar)
The Dutch Orientation Year (Zoekjaar Hoogopgeleiden) is a 1-year permit for highly educated graduates — both recent Dutch graduates and those who graduated abroad within the past 3 years — to find skilled employment or start a business.
What to check: The government fee and processing time for the Zoekjaar were not in our verified dataset. Check the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) for current fees, income requirements and application procedures.
Which destination gives the best post-study work rights for Indian passport holders?
There is no single answer — it depends on your degree level, career sector, and long-term immigration goals.
- Longest permit, lowest fee: Canada (PGWP up to 3 years, CAD 150)
- Most flexible, no job offer ever needed: UK Graduate Route (2–3 years, £558)
- Best regional incentives: Australia subclass 485 (regional graduates can get 4 years)
- Cheapest EU option: Ireland (€60) or Germany (€75)
- Fastest processing in our dataset: Germany (~15 days), New Zealand (20–25 days)
Before choosing a study destination, also review the proof-of-funds requirements — our Student Visa Proof of Funds guide covers UK, Canada, Australia and Germany in detail.
Use the Vistolane eligibility checker to confirm which post-study permit you qualify for, and the processing times tool to track current government turnaround figures.