Global labor shortages over the past few years have pushed several governments to create a special immigration route: the job seeker visa. Unlike a standard work visa, this permit doesn’t require a job offer in hand – it simply lets you enter a country, look for work in person, and network with employers for a set number of months. Once you land a job, you then switch to a work permit to stay long-term.

Below is an up-to-date breakdown of the five countries currently offering a job seeker visa, their eligibility rules, how long each visa lasts, and how to apply.

Countries With a Job Seeker Visa

Country	Visa Length	Best For
Germany	6 months	Degree holders with 5+ years’ experience
Austria	6 months	High scorers on the points-based system
Sweden	3–9 months	Graduates and aspiring entrepreneurs
UAE	60–120 days	Skilled professionals and recent top-university grads
Portugal	120 days (+60-day extension)	Younger workers and underrepresented groups

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1. Germany Job Seeker Visa

Germany pioneered this visa category back in 2012, and it remains the most established job seeker route in the world. It’s technically a national long-stay visa that gives qualified professionals up to six months to search for employment on the ground.

Official website: auswaertiges-amt.de — Federal Foreign Office visa portal

Who qualifies:

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from a German university, or a foreign degree recognized as equivalent
• A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience
• Proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay
• Valid travel or medical insurance covering the full visa period (or until you secure a work permit)

How to apply:

1. Collect all required supporting documents.
2. Complete the online application form.
3. Book an appointment at your nearest German embassy or consulate.
4. Attend in person to submit your documents.
5. Complete an interview at the embassy/consulate.

Check the German Federal Foreign Office’s list of missions abroad to locate the correct embassy for your country of residence.

2. Austria Job Seeker Visa (Category D)

Austria uses a points-based system for its job seeker visa (Category D), aimed at highly qualified workers. Applicants need at least 70 out of 100 points, and the visa is valid for six months.

Official website: migration.gv.at – Austria’s official migration portal (also see bmeia.gv.at for embassy/consulate contacts)

Points are awarded across five categories:

Qualifications and skills (up to 40 points)

• Degree from a program of 4+ years: 20 points
• Degree in math, IT, natural sciences, or technology: 30 points
• PhD or postdoctoral qualification: 40 points
• Research/innovation activity: 20 points
• Recognized awards: 20 points

Work experience (up to 40 points)

• 2 points per year of experience
• 10 points for six months of experience gained in Austria

Language skills (up to 10 points)

• German or English at A1 level: 5 points
• German or English at A2 level: 10 points

Age (up to 20 points)

• Under 35: 20 points
• Under 40: 15 points
• Under 45: 10 points

Studies in Austria (up to 10 points)

• Half of a diploma program completed: 5 points
• Full diploma, Bachelor’s, or Master’s completed: 10 points

How to apply:

1. Gather all required documents (originals plus copies).
2. Get non-German/English documents officially translated.
3. Collect the application form from the Austrian representative authority.
4. Submit everything in person at the relevant Austrian embassy or consulate.

3. Sweden Job Seeker Visa

Sweden’s job seeker visa is one of the newer additions to this list. It’s issued for 3 months by default but can be extended up to 9 months, giving applicants a genuinely long runway to find work or launch a business.

Official website: migrationsverket.se — Swedish Migration Agency

Who qualifies:

• A Bachelor’s, Master’s, or other advanced degree
• Proof you can financially support yourself throughout the stay
• A concrete plan to either search for a job or start a business
• Comprehensive health insurance
• A passport valid for your entire intended stay
• Current residence outside of Sweden

How to apply:

1. Gather your documents, including a signed consent letter authorizing the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) to verify your academic credentials directly with your home institution.
2. Download the required forms from Sweden’s official immigration website.
3. Complete the application online.
4. Submit the application, supporting documents, and consent letter at a Swedish embassy or consulate in your home country.

4. UAE Job Seeker Visa

With its labor market expanding rapidly, the UAE introduced a job seeker visa to attract skilled talent from abroad. It’s a single-entry visa valid for 60, 90, or 120 days, depending on the option granted.

Official website: u.ae – Official UAE Government Portal (jobseeker visit visa page). Applications go through ICP Smart Services (all emirates) or GDRFA Dubai (Dubai specifically).

Who qualifies:

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree
• Sufficient funds for self-support during the stay
• Classification under skill level 1, 2, or 3 per the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation — or recent graduation from one of the world’s top 500 universities
• A valid passport

How to apply:

1. Create an account at gdrfad.gov.ae if you don’t already have one.
2. Select the job seeker visa service.
3. Upload the required documents.
4. Pay the applicable fee.
5. Submit the application and wait for a decision.

You can also apply in person through a UAE embassy or consulate in your home country.

5. Portugal Job Seeker Visa

Portugal launched its job seeker visa to help ease labor shortages and boost employment among young people and underrepresented groups, making it one of the few EU countries with this type of visa. It’s single-entry, valid for 120 days, and renewable once for an additional 60 days.

Official website: vistos.mne.gov.pt – Portugal’s National Visa Portal (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

⚠️ Status update: As of October 23, 2025, Portugal stopped accepting applications for the original job seeker visa. It’s being replaced by a new Skilled Job Seeker Visa, but as of this writing the portal still lists it as “not yet available,” pending implementing regulations. Check the official website above before making any plans around this visa.

Who qualifies:

• A passport valid for the entire stay
• Health insurance
• A round-trip ticket showing both arrival and departure dates
• Sufficient funds for self-support while job hunting

Because the visa is relatively new, Portugal hasn’t published detailed qualification criteria beyond these basics yet.

How to apply:

1. Visit the Portuguese embassy or consulate in your home country.
2. Check Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs website to confirm which mission handles applications for your country.

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Quick Takeaways

• Germany and Austria offer the longest validity (6 months) but have the strictest eligibility bars.
• Sweden offers the most flexible duration (up to 9 months) and is entrepreneur-friendly.
• The UAE and Portugal have shorter windows (60 – 120 days), suited to faster job searches.
• In every case, finding a job doesn’t automatically extend your stay – you must convert to a work permit before your job seeker visa expires.

This guide reflects publicly available immigration policy information and may change as governments update their rules. Always confirm current requirements with the relevant embassy or consulate before applying.