Due to labour shortage in certain countries, they introduced the job seeker visa. A job seeker visa is a visa type which allows foreign nationals to enter a country with the purpose of searching for jobs within a specified time period which differs from country to country and once the individual has secured a job, he or she can now obtain a work permit which allows them to remain in the country. This means that you do not need to have a job offer from the country before you are allowed to enter and search for jobs. A work permit must be obtained once the individual has found a job in order to remain in the country:
Bear in mind that you can make application for these visa by yourself and be successful with your application and do not need an agent to do it for you, it is okay to seek for help if you do not have the time to make the applications yourself but bear in mind that it makes no difference in the outcome, what is most important is the strength of your application and submitting all the documents the country’s embassy requires of you.
Germany: This type of visa allows qualified persons to enter and stay in Germany for six months to find a job. After the individual secures a job, they can now convert their visa to a work permit. For more information about application process and eligibility, click here.
Austria: Austria has a Red-White-Red Card program for highly qualified job seekers to come to Austria for 6 months and search for employment in the country. If they secure a job offer, then they can convert it to a work visa. For more information and application process, click here.
Sweden: Sweden has opened its doors to highly qualified persons to enter Sweden for a period of 3 to 9 months to look for work or start a business. If it goes successfully, the person is granted a work permit and residence permit and eventually, citizenship. For more information and application process, click here.
Singapore: This island country is offering the Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate (EPEC) to eligible foreign professionals to stay in Singapore for up to 12 months to search for employment. For more information and application process, click here.
South Korea: The D-10-1 Job Seeker Visa lets foreign nationals to stay in South Korea for up to six months to find employment. If you secure a job offer, you can then switch it to a work visa. For more information and application procedure, click here.
UAE: The United Arab Emirates (UAE), a modern and dynamic country located in the southeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, its economy is largely driven by tourism, real estate and finance. It has a thriving and diverse expatriate community. Arabic is their official language but English is widely spoken especially in business settings.
There are 3 categories of job seeker visa offered by the UAE, and here they are:
- Jobseeker visit visa: This grants a foreigner a visit visa to search for new job opportunities without requiring a host/sponsor within the country for one trip. You can apply for a job-seeker visa with a validity of either 60, 90, or 120 days.
Eligibility for a jobseeker visa, he/she must be either:
- The Golden visa: This is a long-term residence visa which enables foreign talents to live, work or study in the UAE while enjoying exclusive benefits. Investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, outstanding students and graduates, humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes are among those eligible for the Golden visa.
Link for more information and application process on the official website
As at the time of publishing this blog, this information is accurate but laws are bound to change, so always check on the official homepage of the country. Please keep in mind that immigration policies and visa programs can change, and it’s important to consult official government sources or consulate websites for the most up-to-date information before making any decisions or plans.
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