Student Visa Guide: What You Need for Each Country

Getting accepted to an international university is step one. Getting a visa is step two, and it's not automatic. Each country has different financial requirements, processing times, and work restrictions. Some countries make it easy to stay after graduation. Others essentially push you out.

Understanding visa rules before you apply can save you from committing to a university in a country where you can't meet the financial requirements or where post-graduation options are bleak.

United States: F-1 Student Visa (For Incoming Students)[1]U.S. Department of State

If you're an international student coming to the US:

Requirement	Details
Visa type	F-1 (academic) or J-1 (exchange)
Required document	I-20 from your university
Financial proof	Funds to cover first year (varies by school, often $50,000+)
SEVIS fee	$350
Visa application fee	$185
Processing	3–8 weeks (varies by embassy)
Work allowed	On-campus only, 20 hrs/wk; CPT/OPT
Post-grad work	OPT: 12 mo (36 mo for STEM)

Post-Graduation Reality

OPTOptional Practical Training: allows F-1 students to work in the US after graduation (Optional Practical Training): 12 months of work authorization, extended to 36 months for STEM graduates
H-1B visa: Requires employer sponsorship and lottery selection (~25-30% chance in recent years)
Green card: Employer-sponsored, can take 5-15+ years depending on country of birth
The US has one of the most difficult student-to-permanent-resident pathways among developed nations

United Kingdom: Student Visa[3]UK Visas and Immigration, 2024-2025

Requirement	Details
Visa type	Student visa (replaced Tier 4 in 2020)
Required document	CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) from university
Financial proof	Tuition + £1,529/mo (London) or £1,171/mo for 9 mo
Application fee	£490
Health surcharge	£776/yr
Processing	3–6 wks (standard); 5 days (priority)
Work allowed	20 hrs/wk (term); full-time (breaks)
Post-grad work	Graduate Route: 2 yrs (3 for PhD)

Financial Proof Breakdown

For a London-based student on a 3-year program:

Tuition deposit: varies (often £1,000–£3,000)
Living costs proof: £1,529 × 9 = £13,761
Total in bank account: tuition + £13,761 minimum, held for 28+ consecutive days

Post-Graduation: The Graduate Route

The UK's Graduate Route visa (introduced 2021) is a game-changer:

2 years of unrestricted work authorization (no employer sponsorship needed)
Can work in any field, any employer
Can then switch to a Skilled Worker visa if you find qualifying employment
Skilled Worker visa can lead to settlement (permanent residency) after 5 years[4]UK Home Office, 2024

Canada: Study Permit[5]IRCC, 2024-2025

Requirement	Details
Visa type	Study permit + visitor visa/eTA
Required doc	Acceptance letter from DLI
Financial proof	Tuition + CAD $20,635/yr living
Application fee	CAD $150
Biometrics fee	CAD $85
Processing	4–16 wks (varies by country)
Work allowed	20 hrs/wk off-campus
Post-grad work	PGWP: up to 3 yrs

The PGWP Advantage

Canada's Post-Graduation Work Permit is the most generous in the English-speaking world:

Program Length	PGWP Duration
8 months – 2 years	Same as program length
2+ years	3 years

Open work permit (any employer, any field)
No job offer required
Canadian work experience earned during PGWP feeds directly into Express Entry permanent residency applications
Many graduates obtain PR within 1-2 years of starting work

Recent Changes to Watch

Canada tightened international student policies in 2024:

Study permit caps introduced (limiting total new permits)
Stricter DLI requirements
PGWP eligibility changes for some programs
Check IRCC.gc.ca for the latest rules[5]IRCC, 2024-2025

Schengen Area / EU Countries

The Schengen area (27 European countries) shares a common visa framework, but student permits are issued nationally.

Germany

Requirement	Details
Visa type	National visa (Type D) → residence permit
Financial proof	€11,904/year in blocked account (Sperrkonto), €992/month as of Jan 2025
Application fee	€75
Health insurance	Required (~€110/mo public)
Processing time	4-12 weeks
Work allowed	120 full days or 240 half days/yr
Post-grad	18-mo job-seeking visa

Netherlands

Requirement	Details
Visa type	MVV (entry visa) + residence permit (university sponsors)
Financial proof	University handles visa admin
Fee	€210 (residence permit)
Processing	4–8 wks
Work allowed	16 hrs/wk or full-time Jun–Aug
Post-grad	Zoekjaar: 1 yr job-seeking

France

Requirement	Details
Visa type	VLS-TS (long-stay student visa)
Financial proof	~€615/month minimum
Fee	€50 (Campus France) + €99 (visa)
Processing time	4-8 weeks
Work allowed	964 hrs/yr (~20 hrs/wk)
Post-grad	APS: 1 yr job-seeking

Schengen Bonus

With a valid student residence permit in any Schengen country, you can travel freely across all 27 Schengen states without additional visas. Study in Germany, weekend in Paris, summer in Barcelona.

Australia: Student Visa (Subclass 500)[6]Australian Department of Home Affairs, 2024-2025

Requirement	Details
Visa type	Subclass 500
Financial proof	AUD $24,505/yr + tuition + travel
Application fee	AUD $710
Health insurance	~AUD $500–600/yr
Processing time	4-6 weeks (can be longer)
Work allowed	48 hrs/fortnight (term); unlimited (breaks)
Post-grad	Temp Graduate visa: 2–4 yrs

Comparison: Post-Graduation Work Rights[7]Compiled from national immigration authorities cited above, 2024-2025

This is often the most important factor for students planning international careers:

Country	Work Permit	Duration	PR Path?	Difficulty
Canada	PGWP	Up to 3 yrs	Yes	Moderate
UK	Graduate	2 yrs (3 PhD)	Via Skilled Worker	Moderate
Australia	Temp Grad	2–4 yrs	Via skilled migration	Moderate-Hard
Germany	Job-seeking	18 mo	Via Blue Card	Moderate
Netherlands	Zoekjaar	1 yr	Via work permit	Moderate
France	APS	1 yr	Via work permit	Hard
US	OPT	1–3 yrs	Via H-1B → green card	Very Hard

Financial Requirements Summary[7]Compiled from national immigration authorities cited above, 2024-2025

Total funds you need to show when applying for a visa. USD amounts are approximate conversions and vary with exchange rates and specific program costs. Always check current requirements on the relevant immigration authority's website.

Country	Annual Proof (USD)
US (F-1)	$50K–$80K
UK	$40K–$65K
Canada	$35K–$60K
Germany	$13,000 (living only. No tuition at most public unis)
Netherlands	$20K–$35K
France	$10K–$15K
Australia	$35K–$55K

Practical Tips

Start early: Begin visa applications as soon as you receive your acceptance letter. Some embassies have 2-3 month waits for appointments.
Financial documentation: Most countries require funds to be held in your account for a minimum period (28 days for UK, varies elsewhere). Don't move money at the last minute.
Health insurance: Required for virtually every country. Some include it in student fees; others require separate purchase.
Work restrictions matter: If you need to work to fund your education, check the hourly limits carefully. Violating work restrictions can result in visa revocation.
Keep your visa valid: Maintain full-time enrollment, meet academic progress requirements, and renew on time. A visa lapse is extremely difficult to recover from.

The Bottom Line

Canada and the UK currently offer the best combination of accessible student visas and post-graduation work pathways. Germany wins on affordability. The US remains the hardest country for international students to transition from studying to permanent residency. Factor visa and immigration realities into your decision, where you can stay matters as much as where you can study.