Study Spectra

Post-study work visas compared: Canada, UK, Australia, USA, Germany, Ireland and New Zealand

As published in October 2026: Canada's PGWP can run up to 3 years, the UK Graduate visa is 2 years (18 months for applications from 1 January 2027), Australia's 485 is usually 2 to 3 years, US OPT is 12 months plus a 24-month STEM extension, Germany allows up to 18 months to look for work, Ireland 12 or 24 months, New Zealand up to 3 years.

Which countries let international students stay and work after graduating, and for how long?

The short version

Every country below lets some international graduates remain and work after their course, but the rules are not alike. Duration depends on the qualification you earned (Canada, UK, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand), on a STEM degree (the US), or is a flat job-seeking period (Germany). Each route also has its own application window, and several are tied to a deadline that runs from the end of your course or the expiry of your student visa, so the timing matters as much as the length.

This guide only reports what the official pages said when we read them in October 2026, and it points out where an official page itself looks out of date or unclear. Decisions on every route rest solely with the government that runs it. If you are still choosing a destination, start with our study abroad overview and the student visas hub, then read the country pages for Canada, the UK, the USA, Australia, Germany, Ireland and New Zealand. We did not cover the Netherlands here; see our Netherlands page for what we do have.

Side-by-side comparison (official pages, October 2026)

Read the Duration column as 'as published' and confirm it on the linked page before you plan anything. Fees are left to the cost section below because they change.

Country and route	Duration (as published)	Main eligibility conditions	Application window	Source
Canada: Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)	Depends on programme level and length and on passport expiry. Programme of 2 years or more: may be valid for 3 years. Programme of at least 8 months but under 2 years: up to the length of the programme. Master's of at least 8 months: may get 3 years (rule dated 15 February 2024).	Graduate of a PGWP-eligible programme at a designated learning institution, at least 8 months long (900 hours in Quebec); full-time study each semester (part-time allowed in the final semester); study permit valid at some point in the 180 days after completion; language results (CLB or NCLC 7 for university programmes, 5 for college programmes) for applications from 1 November 2024; field-of-study rule for non-degree programmes if the study permit application was on or after 1 November 2024. One PGWP only.	Up to 180 days after you graduate.	IRCC (canada.ca): About the PGWP, Who can apply, How to apply
UK: Graduate visa	2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026; 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027; 3 years with a PhD or other doctoral qualification. Cannot be extended.	You must be in the UK, hold a Student visa (or Tier 4), have studied an eligible UK course for the minimum required period, and your sponsor must have told the Home Office you completed the course.	Before your Student visa expires and after your provider reports you completed the course; you do not have to wait for the certificate. GOV.UK says a decision usually comes within 8 weeks.	GOV.UK: Graduate visa
Australia: Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)	Post-Higher Education Work stream: usually between 2 and 3 years depending on the qualification. Post-Vocational Education Work stream: up to 18 months. Second Post-Higher Education Work stream: between 1 and 2 years. Home Affairs' changes page lists longer stay periods for Indian nationals under the Australia-India trade agreement (see below).	Aged 35 or under when you apply (exceptions apply, for example some research degrees); hold an eligible visa; held a Student visa in the last 6 months; recent qualification from a CRICOS-registered course; apply for the right stream (you cannot change streams afterwards); health insurance, police check application and English evidence for the higher-education stream.	You must have completed your course within 6 months of applying. Late applications cannot be accepted.	Home Affairs: Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) and Changes page
USA: OPT and the 24-month STEM OPT extension	OPT: ICE says you can apply for 12 months of OPT at each education level. STEM OPT: an additional 24 months for eligible STEM degree holders.	F-1 student; OPT must relate to your major. STEM OPT: valid post-completion OPT, a qualifying STEM degree from an accredited, SEVP-certified school, an E-Verify employer and a signed Form I-983 training plan. USCIS lists limits on unemployment days: up to 90 days on initial OPT, plus 60 days on the extension (150 in total).	For STEM OPT, USCIS says file Form I-765 up to 90 days before your current OPT expires and within 60 days of your school entering the recommendation in SEVIS. The ICE and USCIS pages we read do not state the window for initial OPT.	ICE: Practical Training; USCIS: STEM OPT
Germany: residence permit to look for a job after studies	Valid for up to 18 months. Make it in Germany says this permit is not renewable.	Third-country graduate of a German university; proof of successfully completed studies, health insurance cover, and proof you can secure your livelihood. During the 18 months you may take up any type of job. The foreigners authority is the decision-maker.	Make it in Germany says you must apply for the right residence title before your study permit expires. It does not give a number of days.	Make it in Germany (Federal Government portal): Prospects after graduation
Ireland: Third Level Graduate Programme (Stay Back, Stamp 1G)	Level 8 award: 12 months. Level 9 or above: 12 months initially, renewable for a further 12 months if you show appropriate steps to find graduate-level work (so up to 24 months).	Level 8 or 9 award from a recognised Irish awarding body notified on or after 1 January 2017; current Stamp 2 student permission and registration card; not past the seven-year student permission limit; no more than two separate uses of the programme; evidence of the award.	Within six months of being notified that you achieved the award.	Irish Immigration Service Delivery: Third level graduate programme
New Zealand: Post-Study Work Visa	Up to 3 years, depending on the level of your qualification and how long you studied.	Recent approved New Zealand qualification. Degree level 7 or higher: studied full-time for at least 30 weeks in New Zealand, and open work rights. Non-degree level 7 or lower: must be on the eligible qualification list and the job must relate to your study. Also good health, good character, genuine intentions and at least NZD $5,000 for living expenses. One Post-Study Work Visa only.	No later than 3 months after your student visa expires (6 months for a doctoral degree; 12 months in one stated two-qualification case).	Immigration New Zealand: Post-Study Work Visa

Recent and announced changes, only as the official pages state them

UK: GOV.UK says a Graduate visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026 and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027, with 3 years for doctoral qualifications. The same page's overview still says 'at least 18 months', so read the 'How long you can stay' section.
Canada: IRCC says that as of 1 November 2024 PGWP eligibility changed. Most applicants now give proof of language results, and non-degree graduates may need an eligible field of study depending on their study permit application date. IRCC's page we read was dated 9 March 2026.
Australia: Home Affairs' changes page says the streams were realigned from 1 July 2024, the maximum age was reduced to 35 or under (with exceptions), the 'select degree' 2-year extension ceased and the Replacement stream ceased. The page we read shows a 'last updated' date of 14 December 2024.
Australia (India): that page says stay periods for Indian nationals under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement remain as listed: bachelor degree up to 2 years; bachelor degree with first class honours in STEM including ICT up to 3 years; masters (coursework, extended and research) up to 3 years; doctoral degrees up to 4 years. The general listing page gives 'usually between 2 and 3 years', so confirm which applies to you.
USA: the ICE practical training page carries a notice that on 17 July 2026 DHS published a final rule establishing a fixed time period of admission and an extension-of-stay procedure for F students and J exchange visitors. The page does not say here how that affects OPT, so read the rule and ask your school's designated school official (DSO).
New Zealand: INZ says that from 16 November 2026 paper applications for the Post-Study Work Visa stop, and eligibility extends to a Level 7 graduate diploma studied full-time in New Zealand plus a bachelor's degree. The same announcement (published 29 May 2026) introduces a Short-Term Graduate Work Visa from 16 November 2026: 6 months of open work rights, for holders of a Level 5 to 7 qualification who do not qualify for the Post-Study Work Visa, applied for within 3 months of the student visa expiring.
Ireland: the page we read was last updated on 28 March 2024 and says nothing about changes. Germany: the page we read announces no change.

Step list: how to compare and plan for your own case

Write down the exact qualification you will earn: its level (for example bachelor's, master's, doctorate, diploma), whether it is a STEM degree, its length and the institution type. Almost every route above turns on one of these.
Find the date your course will be completed and the date your student visa or permit expires. Many windows run from one of these dates (180 days in Canada, 6 months in Australia and Ireland, 3 months in New Zealand).
Open the official page for each country on your shortlist and compare the duration for your qualification, not the headline number.
Check whether the route has a rule you cannot meet later: age 35 or under for Australia, a language result for Canada, an E-Verify employer for STEM OPT, a minimum period of study for the UK, 30 weeks of full-time study for New Zealand.
Add the official fees and any health surcharge to your study budget using the figures below and our study abroad costs guide and tools.
Ask your university's international office or designated school official to confirm in writing that your course counts. For the UK the sponsor must report completion; for the US the DSO issues the recommendation.
Apply inside the window, on the official government site, with documents ready. Our document readiness page helps you check your file before you submit.

Documents each route typically asks for

Canada: a valid passport, proof of language results where required, proof of an eligible field of study where required, biometrics within 30 days of the request letter, and a receipt if you restore student status (IRCC How to apply page).
UK: you prove your identity and provide your documents as part of the online application (GOV.UK Graduate visa page). Check the exact list when you start the application.
Australia: adequate health insurance, evidence you applied for an Australian Federal Police check and evidence of the required English level for the higher-education stream (Home Affairs).
USA: STEM OPT needs Form I-765, your employer's E-Verify name and ID, a Form I-20 endorsed by your DSO within the last 60 days and a copy of your STEM degree (USCIS).
Germany: proof of successfully completed studies, proof of health insurance and proof you can secure your livelihood (Make it in Germany).
Ireland: a copy of your award, your passport and medical insurance (Irish Immigration Service Delivery).
New Zealand: passport, a photo, proof of your New Zealand qualification, police certificates if required, and bank statements in your name showing at least NZD $5,000 (INZ).

Costs, only as published on the official pages (October 2026)

Fees move often and these are only the figures we saw; the official page decides. Costs below are not a full budget, because medical exams, police certificates, language tests and agents' or schools' charges come on top.

Route	Cost as published	Source
Canada PGWP	As shown by IRCC in October 2026: PGWP fee $255 (you pay both the open work permit holder fee and the work permit fee); biometrics $85 per person, maximum $170 for families applying together.	IRCC How to apply
UK Graduate visa	As shown by GOV.UK in October 2026: £937 application fee plus the healthcare surcharge, usually £1,035 for each year you will be in the UK.	GOV.UK Graduate visa
Australia 485	As shown by Home Affairs in October 2026: from AUD5,750.00 for the Post-Vocational and Post-Higher Education streams, from AUD2,265.00 for the Second Post-Higher Education stream (concessions apply in limited circumstances).	Home Affairs subclass 485 page
USA OPT and STEM OPT	The USCIS and ICE pages we read refer to a filing fee for Form I-765 but do not state an amount there. Check the current USCIS fee page before filing.	USCIS and ICE
Germany job-seeking permit	The Make it in Germany page we read states no fee. Ask your local foreigners authority.	Make it in Germany
Ireland graduate programme	As shown by Irish Immigration Service Delivery in October 2026 (page dated 28 March 2024): a fee of €300 per person to register.	Irish Immigration Service Delivery
New Zealand Post-Study Work Visa	As shown by INZ in October 2026: from NZD $1670. You must also show at least NZD $5,000 for living expenses.	INZ Post-Study Work Visa

Scams and red flags specific to post-study work visas

Anyone who promises that a particular country's post-study route 'guarantees' a job, permanent residence or a work visa is telling you something no official page says. Each route only gives you the right to apply or to stay and look for work.
Do not pay a person for an 'internal quota', 'fast-track' or a 'sponsor' for a graduate route. Of the routes above, only STEM OPT requires a specific employer arrangement, and that goes through your school and Form I-983, not through a paid middleman.
Be careful with recruiters offering overseas jobs for a fee to students about to graduate. Real government applications are made on the official site named in the sources below, not through a private link or a chat message.
Treat blog or agency tables, including ours, as a starting point. The same visa is often shown with different durations or fees on different sites; third-party comparison pages quoted in search results gave different UK and Australian fees from the ones GOV.UK (£937) and Home Affairs (from AUD5,750.00) showed when we read them. Always trust the date on the official page.
Australia's Home Affairs page tells you to read its guidance on who can help with your visa before you pay someone. That advice is useful for every country.

What the official pages do not say

None of the pages we read promises that you will be approved, will find a job, or will be able to move on to permanent residence. A post-study route is permission, not an outcome.
IRCC's PGWP landing page did not give the details; they sit on the 'About' and 'Who can apply' subpages, which we read, and the page was dated 9 March 2026. The Canadian pages do not state a processing time.
The ICE and USCIS pages we read do not state the filing window for initial OPT or the Form I-765 fee amount, and the ICE notice about the 17 July 2026 rule does not explain its effect on OPT.
Make it in Germany gives no application deadline in days and no fee, and sends you to your local foreigners authority.
The Irish page lists the duration and the conditions but was last updated on 28 March 2024; its introduction says 'level 8 or level 9' while its duration section covers 'level 9 or above'. Ask your institution and the Irish immigration service what applies now.
The Home Affairs listing page shows 'usually between 2 and 3 years' while its changes page, last updated December 2024, lists qualification-specific periods and separate periods for Indian nationals. Confirm which applies to you on the live page.
We did not cover the Netherlands, Canada's provincial pathways, the Canadian or Australian permanent residence routes, or work visas for those with a job offer. Those are separate topics.

A note from Study Spectra

Study Spectra is a trading name of Spectravault Group LLP. We provide information and document-preparation support; immigration, visa and admission decisions rest solely with the relevant authorities and institutions. We do not currently hold an eMigrate recruiting-agent registration and we do not place people into overseas jobs. See our trust page for how we work, our services for what we can help with, and the prep page for test preparation. If you have a question about your own file, contact us. Remember that every figure above comes from an official page as read in October 2026 and should be confirmed there before you apply.

Official sources

Last reviewed 2026-10-21. Information only, not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

What is a post-study work visa?

It is a general name for a permission that lets an international graduate stay and work after finishing a course. The official names differ: Canada calls it the Post-Graduation Work Permit, the UK the Graduate visa, Australia the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), the US uses Optional Practical Training, Germany a residence permit to look for a job after studies, Ireland the Third Level Graduate Programme and New Zealand the Post-Study Work Visa.

How long is the PGWP in Canada?

IRCC says validity depends on the level and length of your programme and your passport expiry date. A programme of 2 years or more may give 3 years, a programme of at least 8 months but under 2 years may give up to the length of the programme, and a master's of at least 8 months may give 3 years. You have up to 180 days after you graduate to apply. Confirm on the IRCC pages.

Is the UK Graduate visa changing?

GOV.UK currently says it lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026 and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027, with 3 years for a PhD or other doctoral qualification. It cannot be extended, but you may be able to switch to another visa such as a Skilled Worker visa. Read the 'How long you can stay' section on the GOV.UK page.

How long does the Australia 485 visa last and who can apply?

Home Affairs says the Post-Higher Education Work stream usually lasts between 2 and 3 years and the Post-Vocational Education Work stream up to 18 months. You must be 35 or under when you apply (exceptions apply), have held a Student visa in the last 6 months and have completed your course within 6 months of applying. Its changes page lists separate stay periods for Indian nationals; check the live page.

How long is OPT and STEM OPT in the USA?

ICE says you can apply for 12 months of OPT at each education level, and eligible STEM degree holders can get an additional 24 months through the STEM OPT extension. STEM OPT needs an E-Verify employer and a signed Form I-983. USCIS lists unemployment limits of 90 days on initial OPT and 60 more days on the extension. Talk to your designated school official before filing.

Can I stay in Germany after studying to look for a job?

Make it in Germany says graduates from third countries can get a residence permit valid for up to 18 months to look for a job, with any type of job allowed during that period, and that it is not renewable. You need proof of completed studies, health insurance and proof you can secure your livelihood. Ask your local foreigners authority what documents it wants and apply before your study permit expires.

How long is the Ireland stay back option?

The Irish immigration service says a Level 8 award gives a 12-month permission. A Level 9 or above award gives 12 months, renewable for a further 12 months if you show you have taken appropriate steps to find graduate-level work. You must apply within six months of being notified of your award and hold current Stamp 2 permission. The page we read was last updated on 28 March 2024.

What are New Zealand's post-study options from November 2026?

INZ says that from 16 November 2026 the Post-Study Work Visa is extended to Level 7 graduate diplomas where the person also holds a bachelor's degree, paper applications stop, and a new Short-Term Graduate Work Visa starts with 6 months of open work rights for eligible Level 5 to 7 graduates. Apply within 3 months of your student visa expiring.

Which country's route is the easiest or best?

The official pages do not rank the routes and we do not either. The right comparison depends on your qualification, age, field of study, language results, budget and plans. Use the table above and the country pages to compare, and confirm every condition on the official site.

Does Study Spectra guarantee a job, a visa or permanent residence after graduation?

No. Study Spectra is a trading name of Spectravault Group LLP. We provide information and document-preparation support; immigration, visa and admission decisions rest solely with the relevant authorities and institutions. We do not currently hold an eMigrate recruiting-agent registration and we do not place people into overseas jobs.