Work visa by country
Compare Work visa requirements and application process by destination country. Select a country below.
Work visa at a glance
| Destination | Visa required | Processing | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | 90–180 days (source) | 3,210 AUD (source) |
| Canada | Yes | 30–37 days (source) | 155 CAD (source) |
| India | Yes (source) | Varies — verify officially | Varies — verify officially |
| United Kingdom | Varies — verify officially | 15–21 days (source) | 819 GBP (source) |
| United States | Yes | 30–180 days (source) | 205 USD (source) |
Requirements depend on nationality and can change — verify on the official source.
Countries
Frequently asked questions
-
How long do work visas typically take to process?
Work-visa processing varies widely: United Kingdom Skilled Worker 21–30 days, US H-1B/L-1 with consular interview 30–180 days, Canadian Work Permit 8–14 weeks, Australian Subclass 482 several months. Each regime publishes its own service standard, which is why the structured fields here are recorded as Varies.
-
What is required from the employer?
Most work-visa regimes require an authorization document from the employer side: Certificate of Sponsorship (UK), LMIA-supported job offer (Canada), I-797 approval notice (United States), MOHRE contract (UAE), Subclass 482 nomination (Australia). The offer letter alone is not enough.
-
How much do work visas cost?
Fees combine an applicant-side base (UK 628 GBP, US MRV 205 USD, Canada Work Permit 155 CAD, Australia Subclass 482 several thousand AUD) with employer-side charges that often exceed the base fee. The structured fee field is recorded as Varies because the cost picture differs widely.
-
Can my family come with me on a work visa?
Most work-visa regimes allow dependants — partners and minor children — to apply at the same time as the principal worker, with their own application forms, fees, and supporting documents. Several regimes allow dependant work authorization (Canadian Open Work Permit for spouses, Australian dependant work rights, US H-4 EAD subject to conditions).
-
Do I need professional registration for regulated occupations?
Yes — nurses, teachers, lawyers, engineers, and several other regulated occupations need credential assessment and registration with the destination’s professional body before the work visa can be issued. Recognition timelines run 8 to 16 weeks at most regulators and are typically the bottleneck rather than the visa itself.
-
What happens if I lose my job on a work visa?
Most regimes give a grace period (typically 30 to 60 days) to find a new sponsor, file a new petition, or change status. Outside this grace period the work visa lapses and the holder is expected to leave the country; some regimes (US H-1B portability, Canada bridging open work permits) provide longer transitions.
-
Is permanent residence available through a work visa?
Most work-visa pathways link to a permanent-residence route after a qualifying period of work — UK Skilled Worker to ILR after five years, US H-1B to green card via I-140 (timelines vary by country of birth), Canada Work Permit to PR via Express Entry or PNP, Australian Subclass 482 to Subclass 186. Each route has its own eligibility criteria.