Traveling Overseas for Education & Work? Know Recent Changes in Visa

Recently, many nations have taken significant strides in easing their immigration regulations, creating a more welcoming environment for individuals seeking to study and work abroad. This shift towards greater openness is rooted in various factors, including the need to bridge skilled labor gaps and the desire to facilitate improved work-hour arrangements that enable students to concentrate on their education while effectively managing their cost of living. Here, we present a selection of countries that have implemented noteworthy updates to their visa policies, reflecting their commitment to fostering globalization and cross-border opportunities.

Australia

In the visa rules modifications, Australia has allowed Australian university graduates to work for up to 8 years post-study. Under this new rule, the capping for university graduates to work has also increased from 40 hours to 48 hours. Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES) is a key feature of the bilateral agreement signed between India and Australia that allows young professionals to spend two years in the country without visa sponsorship.

Indians aiming for research studies in Australia can avail of an S-5 visa that grants them a stay for up to 3 years.

United Kingdom

One of the countries that students and work professionals look forward to after the USA is the United Kingdom. The UK has introduced new visa categories to attract globally skilled workers, including the Innovator Founder Visa, Permitted Paid Engagement Visit, UK Expansion Worker, and Global Talent Visa.  These visas open up various avenues for entrepreneurs, professionals, and experts.

UK Innovator Founder Visa

UK Innovator Founder Visa has a granted permission of three-year duration, after which applicants can apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK. Dependents of those who benefitted from it can also accompany them to the UK. The application fee for the UK Innovator Founder Visa route is £1036. 

The PPE Visit Visa

PPE Visit Visa is dedicated to professionals seeking to visit the UK for temporary engagements in their field of expertise. Professions such as artists, entertainers, musicians, sportspersons, examiners, lecturers, and lawyers are benefitted from it. The visa grants access for up to a month, and the application fee for a PPE visa is £100.

The UK Expansion Worker Visa 

The UK Expansion worker visa is a part of the Global Business Mobility (GBM) visa program, replacing the Sole Representative Visa. It invites the employees of established overseas businesses to come to the UK and establish their first branch. 

Duration: An individual can stay in the UK on a UK Expansion Worker visa for a maximum period of 2 years.

The Global Talent Visa 

It allows all those individuals who are established or at their early stages of the career spectrum in different fields, such as science, engineering, technology, medicine, art, and humanities, to come to the UK without a job offer.

Canada

Canada has announced new measures set to further attract top global talent. The measures announced as part of the recently unveiled Tech Talent Strategy target drawing H1B visa holders, digital nomads, and entrepreneurs to the country. The policy was announced by Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship (IRCC) Sean Fraser at North America’s top tech conference, Collision.

The new strategy includes the following measures:

• Open work permit channel for H-1B visa holders based in the US and study or work permit options for their family members.
• New Innovation Stream under International Mobility Program (IMP).
• Improvements to the existing programs like Global Skills Strategy and the Start-up Visa.
• Promoting Canada as the destination for digital nomads.

The current scenario of countries relaxing visa norms brings forth a new era of opportunities and possibilities for individuals around the world. As borders gradually open and visa restrictions ease, it signals a renewed commitment to international cooperation, cultural exchange, and global mobility.

This shift in visa policies has the potential to reshape various aspects of society, including education, tourism, business, and cultural exchange. Students can now explore a wider range of educational opportunities abroad, professionals can expand their horizons and contribute their expertise globally, and tourists can immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of diverse cultures.