What Is a Work Visa?

A work visa is a permit that gives you the right to work and live in a country other than your country of residence. You have to meet several qualifying conditions to qualify for a work visa, which change based on which country you want to work in.

• You can’t switch employers without notifying the immigration authorities.
• If you do switch employers, you have to work in the same industry as when you initially applied for the work visa.
• You must continue to be employed to have a valid work visa.
• If you are unemployed, you have a few months to find a new job and re-apply for your work visa.

A work visa is usually processed in three to six months. However, the processing time varies depending on the country, your visa type, and the embassy or consulate.

Usually, you can’t apply for a work visa without having an employer. However, if you want to work abroad but do not have a job offer yet, one option is obtaining a job-seeker visa, which some countries (like Germany) offer. Another option is a freelancer or a digital nomad visa since many countries offer special work permits if you are self-employed.

A work visa lasts anywhere from five to ten years. The validity of your work permit depends on your host country and the type of work you have. Most work visas are issued for the same duration as your work contract.