Job search visas
Meet employers where the jobs are
Most work visas need a job offer first. A job seeker visa reverses that order. You arrive, attend interviews and meet employers in person, and once you find a suitable job, you switch to the work or residence permit that matches it.
Only a few countries run this kind of route, and each one sets its own bar. Some look at points, some at the level of your degree, and some at your skill level or university.
What a job seeker visa does not do
- It does not guarantee a job or a work permit
- It usually does not let you take full-time work while you search
- It does not lead to permanent residence by itself
Planning Canada or Australia? Canada and Australia do not offer the general job-search routes compared here. Suitable alternatives depend on your profile, and our Canada PR and Australia PR pages explain two of them.
Countries
Job seeker visa countries we help with
Germany Opportunity Card
The Chancenkarte gives you up to one year in Germany to look for work, with part-time work of up to 20 hours a week allowed. You qualify through a fully recognised qualification or by scoring at least 6 points for your qualification, experience, languages and age.
Explore the Germany Opportunity Card →Austria Job Seeker Visa
Austria offers a six-month job seeker visa to very highly qualified workers who score at least 70 points. Points come from your degree, work experience, language skills, age and any time spent studying or working in Austria. You also need proof of accommodation. If you find a job that matches your qualification, you apply for the Red-White-Red Card in Austria.
Sweden Permit to Look for Work
Sweden grants a residence permit of up to nine months to people with a qualification equivalent to Swedish second-cycle studies, so they can look for work or explore starting a business. That covers master's degrees and certain professional and postgraduate qualifications. You need comprehensive health insurance, funds for every month of the permit and money for your return journey. If you get a job offer, you can apply for a work permit from inside Sweden, and eligible applicants can start working once that application is submitted, subject to the rules on the employer and the occupation.
UAE Job Seeker Visa
The UAE job seeker visa is a single-entry visit visa for 60, 90 or 120 days, with no local sponsor needed. You need a bachelor's degree and either a role at MOHRE skill level 1, 2 or 3, or a degree from one of the world's top 500 universities completed in the last two years.
Portugal: Not Available Yet
Portugal replaced its earlier job seeker visa with a skilled job seeker visa in October 2025. Portugal's official visa portal currently states that the new visa is not yet available at Portuguese consular offices while its regulations are pending. We will update this page when applications open.
Compare
Job seeker visas at a glance
Eligibility
Job seeker visa requirements: what most countries ask for
The details differ, but most applications come down to the same areas.
- Qualification
- A degree that the country accepts. Germany also accepts vocational qualifications of at least two years, and checks Indian degrees through anabin or a Statement of Comparability.
- Experience
- Work experience related to your qualification. Germany and Austria award points for it.
- Language
- Germany asks for A1 German or B2 English on its points route. Austria awards points for language skills.
- Funds
- Proof that you can support yourself while you search, such as Germany's blocked account or Sweden's monthly amount.
- Insurance and accommodation
- Health insurance is required for Germany and Sweden, and Austria asks for proof of accommodation.
How our job seeker assessment works
- Profile review. We look at your degree, experience, languages, age and budget.
- Country match. We check which job seeker routes you currently meet.
- Points estimate. For Germany and Austria, we calculate your likely score.
- Gap review. You see what would improve your position, such as a language level.
- Funds plan. We explain the funds and insurance each country expects.
- Your shortlist. You receive the routes that fit, in order of suitability.
The process
How the job seeker visa process works
- Assessment. We review your profile and shortlist suitable countries.
- Qualification checks. You obtain any recognition, attestation or comparability documents.
- Language and funds. You complete language tests and arrange funds and insurance.
- Application. You apply to the embassy, consulate or immigration portal for your chosen country.
- Decision. The authorities review your application and decide on the visa.
- Job search. You arrive, apply for jobs and attend interviews.
- Work permit. Once you have a suitable offer, you apply for the matching work or residence permit.
Costs and timelines
Plan your job seeker visa costs
Government fees differ by country. Germany currently charges EUR 75 for the national visa, and Sweden charges SEK 2,200. Budget also for your living costs during the search: Germany's blocked account needs EUR 1,091 for each month, and Sweden asks for SEK 13,000 for each month of the permit, plus the cost of your return journey.
Recognition documents, language tests, insurance and travel are paid to the providers. Our professional fees come to you in writing after your assessment.
Why KINBRIDGE
Why professionals choose KINBRIDGE for job seeker visas
Choosing the wrong country can cost you months of savings, so the first decision matters most.
Countries Compared Honestly
You see which routes you meet today and which you do not, before you pay any fees.
Points Proved, Not Assumed
Each point we count for Germany or Austria is matched to the document that proves it.
Degree Recognition Guidance
We explain recognition, comparability and attestation for Indian degrees in plain words.
Realistic Job Market View
You hear honestly how your field, experience and languages are likely to fare in each country.
Up-to-Date Country Status
We check each country's official site at your assessment, which is why Portugal is shown here as not yet available.
Separate Fee Breakdown
Our fees come to you in writing, kept apart from government and third-party costs.
FAQs
Your job seeker visa questions, answered
Which job seeker visa is easiest for Indians?
There is no single easiest route. Germany's Opportunity Card suits many graduates because it uses points, while Sweden needs a qualification equivalent to Swedish second-cycle studies and Austria needs 70 points. Your profile decides which one fits.
Can I work on a job seeker visa?
It depends on the country. Germany allows part-time work of up to 20 hours a week. In Austria, you apply for a Red-White-Red Card once you have an offer. In Sweden, eligible applicants can start working after submitting a work permit application, subject to the employer and occupation rules.
Is there a Schengen job seeker visa?
There is no single Schengen job seeker visa. Germany, Austria and Sweden each run their own national route, and each sets its own requirements.