Overseas education gives students international exposure to a cutting-edge curriculum. Mayank Sharma tells you how post-study visas work in different countries

Flying abroad for higher education can give students an amazing academic experience by exposing them to various cultures, life experiences, and education methodologies. Often, numerous students like to continue their career pursuits in the countries where they complete their higher education. Understanding this trend, Governments across the world have been providing post-study visas and study permits to attract and retain the best international talent.

Here is how post-study visas and work permit processes work in different countries:

United States: International students who want to attend universities in the US need to apply for an F1 Visa. However, if they want to gain a few years of work experience after their studies, they have two options they could pursue. The first one is to apply for an OPT extension and another is to get the H1-B visa. OPT extension to the F1 visa allows post-graduation students to work temporarily for a year in their major areas of study; or opt for an H-1B visa, which is a non-immigrant visa provision.

This application is not submitted by the student, but by the sponsoring employer, which provides a guarantee that the applicant will work during the stay. While OPT extension is provided only to those who are studying or who have completed their study, the H-1B visa is for those who are sponsored by their employers, irrespective of their field of study. Even though the US allows students to stay for a year (under OPT extension) after completion of their course on their F1 visa, those who are studying STEM courses (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) are eligible to get a 24-month extension.

United Kingdom: The UK has brought back its Post-Study Work permit visa in 2021 after suspending it in 2012. Under this provision, students with an undergraduate or master’s degree can stay back and work for two years, while those who completed their PhD can work for three years. These provisions are allowed for students who have a valid UK immigration status and are graduating in July 2021 and later. Students who applied online for degree courses from their home countries due to the pandemic restrictions, or who had to go back home, can also apply for a work visa. The Post Study Work permit also allows students to switch to a skilled work visa and provides worker rights for their dependents and access to the UK Labour market.

Canada: A student wishing to study in Canada usually has to apply for a Canada Student Visa, which is similar to a Visitor Visa or Electronic Travel Authorisation, except that it includes a study permit.

Students graduating from Canadian universities can stay for up to three years with a work permit to explore employment opportunities, depending upon the duration of the course. The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program is applicable only if the duration of the course is a minimum of eight months. If the course is between eight months and two years, the permit will be for the duration of the course. However, if the course duration is of  two years or more, the permit will be applicable for three years, which can be an added advantage to students pursuing a two-year master’s degree or equivalent. However, one of the biggest advantages of applying for a work permit is that the experience gained through it may qualify the students to apply for permanent citizenship in the country.

France: In France, a student who has completed a professional bachelor's degree, post-graduate or higher degree course needs to apply for a job search or business creation residence permit, if (s)he wants to stay for an additional 12 months to look for a job. According to an agreement signed with France in 2015, Indian postgraduate students are allowed a benefit of a two-year special residence permit to stay after their studies.

Germany: A student who completes his graduate or higher courses in Germany can apply for a temporary residence permit, which is valid for 18 months, during which the student can search for job opportunities. If a student wants to accept a job role, (s)he can apply for a German residence permit or an EU Blue Card.

The writer is Country Head — India, Prodigy Finance