Work Visas

Non-immigrant visa for temporary business (B1) or tourism/medical treatment (B2). Typically issued as combined B1/B2. Valid up to 10 years with 6-month stays per entry typical. ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) available for citizens of 41 Visa Waiver Program countries, allowing 90-day stays without visa. No work permitted under any circumstances. Must demonstrate ties to home country and intent to return. Extensions possible but increasingly scrutinized. Note: New visa bond requirement ($5,000-$15,000) for citizens of 32 countries as of January 2026.

Employment-based permanent residence with approximately 140,000 visas annually. EB1: priority workers (extraordinary ability, outstanding professors, multinational executives) - no labor certification needed. EB2: advanced degree professionals or exceptional ability (includes NIW self-petition option). EB3: skilled workers, professionals, other workers. Most categories require PERM labor certification (18-24 months total). Per-country limit of 7% creates severe backlogs: EB2 India priority dates at January 2013 (13+ year wait), EB2 China at December 2020. Concurrent I-485 filing possible when visa numbers current.

Specialty occupation visa for workers in professional roles requiring at minimum a bachelor's degree or equivalent. Subject to annual cap of 85,000 (65,000 regular + 20,000 US master's). MAJOR 2026 CHANGES: New wage-weighted lottery system (effective Feb 27, 2026) favors higher-paid positions - Level 4 wages get 4x selection odds vs Level 1. $100,000 supplemental fee required for new petitions (effective Sept 21, 2025) - exempts extensions, amendments, and change of status from within US. Requires employer sponsorship, LCA, and specialty occupation proof. Valid 3 years initially, extendable to 6 years. Premium processing: $2,965 (as of March 1, 2026). Dual intent visa.

Intracompany transfer visa for executives/managers (L1A) and specialized knowledge workers (L1B). Requires at least 1 year of continuous employment abroad with a qualifying related company within the past 3 years. L1A valid up to 7 years, L1B up to 5 years. No annual cap or lottery required. Individual L1 petitions or Blanket L1 for large companies with frequent transfers. Dual intent visa. L1A provides direct path to EB1C green card without labor certification. Processing time approximately 5 months standard.

Visa for individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement. O1A covers sciences, business, education, athletics; O1B covers arts and entertainment. Must demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim through major awards OR meeting 3+ of 8 criteria (publications, judging, high salary, critical role, etc.). No annual cap or lottery. High approval rate (~94%). Requires advisory opinion for O1B. Initial stay up to 3 years with unlimited extensions. Dual intent visa.

USMCA (formerly NAFTA) professional visa for Canadian and Mexican citizens in 63 designated professional occupations (engineers, accountants, scientists, teachers, etc.). Canadians can apply at port of entry without prior petition; Mexicans require consular processing. No annual cap, 3-year validity, unlimited renewals. Requires job offer letter, proof of qualifying profession and credentials. Does not allow dual intent - pursuing green card may jeopardize TN status.

Primary temporary work visa requiring job offer from an accredited employer. Employer must obtain accreditation (NZD $775-1,280) and job check approval (NZD $735) before worker can apply. Stay duration: 5 years for most jobs (skill levels 1-3), or 3 years for skill levels 4-5. Recent 2024 reforms removed median wage threshold - employers now pay appropriate market rate. Work authorization available 30-40 days after application. Includes seasonal options: Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) and Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV) from December 2025. Path to residence via Skilled Migrant Category after required NZ work experience.

Fast-track residence visa for occupations on the Green List with Straight to Residence pathway. Includes highly skilled roles in healthcare, engineering, ICT, construction, and other priority sectors. Allows direct application for residence without requiring prior work visa or points. Must have job offer or current employment in Green List occupation at required skill level, meet registration requirements, and demonstrate qualification/experience. Partner and children can be included. No work-to-residence period required - residence granted immediately upon approval.

Two-stage pathway for Green List occupations not eligible for Straight to Residence. Stage 1: Work visa for 2 years in Green List occupation. Stage 2: Apply for residence after meeting requirements. More occupations qualify for Work to Residence than Straight to Residence. Includes skilled roles across various sectors. Must maintain employment in approved occupation, meet wage requirements, and demonstrate commitment to NZ. Clear pathway to residence with defined timeframe. Partner and children can be included from initial work visa stage.

Points-based pathway to permanent residence for skilled workers. Current system requires only 6 skilled resident points from occupation, qualification/income, and NZ work experience. MAJOR AUGUST 2026 CHANGES: Two new pathways launching. Skilled Work Experience pathway: 5+ years relevant experience including 2 years in NZ at 1.1x median wage (skill levels 1-3). Trades/Technician pathway: Level 4+ qualification plus 4 years post-qualification experience including 18 months in NZ at median wage. Reduced NZ work experience requirement from maximum 3 years to 2 years. Simplified wage requirements - maintain median wage throughout (no increase needed). Increased points for NZ university qualifications.

Remote work visa launched in 2023 for non-EU citizens working for foreign companies or clients. Requires €3,024/month minimum income (200% of Spanish minimum wage), bachelor's degree or 3+ years professional experience. Initial permit valid 12 months, renewable up to 5 years total. Can be combined with Beckham Law for 24% flat tax rate. Allows up to 20% income from Spanish sources. Provides pathway to permanent residence and citizenship. Family members can be included (add 75% for first dependent, 25% for each additional).

Work and residence permit for highly qualified non-EU professionals. Requires university degree (3+ years) and job offer with salary at least 1.5x average Spanish salary (approximately €36,000-45,000/year depending on sector). Valid throughout EU after 18 months in Spain. Fast-track processing. Family members can work immediately. More flexible than standard work visa for mobility within EU. 2-year initial permit, renewable. Eligible for Beckham Law tax benefits. Faster path to EU long-term residence.

Special visa for highly qualified professionals in training, research, development, or innovation. Requires university degree and specialized professional qualification. Faster processing and more flexible terms than standard work visa. Eligible for Beckham Law tax benefits (24% flat rate). At least 40% of income must come from qualifying high-skill activities. Particularly relevant for tech workers, researchers, and innovation sector professionals. Initial 2-year permit, renewable. Family members included in initial application possible.

Standard employment visa requiring job offer from Spanish company. Employer must demonstrate that no suitable EU candidate available for position unless job is on shortage occupation list. Valid for duration of employment contract (typically 1 year initially). Renewable based on continued employment. Leads to permanent residence after 5 years. Can be combined with Beckham Law for favorable 24% flat tax rate if eligible. Processing times vary by province. Family reunification possible after 1 year of residence.

Most popular residence permit for highly qualified non-EU workers with university degrees. Requires job offer with minimum salary of €50,700 annually (€45,934 for shortage occupations including IT, engineers, scientists). IT professionals can qualify without degree if they have 3+ years university-level experience. Issued for up to 4 years, provides fastest path to permanent residence (21-33 months with B1 German, 33 months with A1). Immediate work authorization for spouse. Valid throughout EU under certain conditions.

Traditional job seeker visa (distinct from new Opportunity Card) for qualified professionals to search for employment in Germany for up to 6 months. Requires recognized university degree or vocational qualification, proof of funds (€6,546 for 6 months), and health insurance. Cannot work during this period (unlike Opportunity Card). Once job found, can convert to work/residence permit. Being largely superseded by the more flexible Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) which allows part-time work and lasts 12 months.

Revolutionary job seeker visa (Chancenkarte) launched June 2024 allowing qualified professionals to live in Germany for 12 months while searching for employment. Two qualification routes: recognized degree/vocational training OR points system (6+ points required based on qualifications, experience, language skills, age, German ties). Can work up to 20 hours/week during job search plus trial employment (max 2 weeks per employer). Requires €1,091/month proof of funds (€13,092 annual blocked account). Game-changer for those who want to job hunt from inside Germany rather than abroad.

Permanent settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) providing unlimited residence rights in Germany. Standard path: 5 years residence with work permit, secured livelihood, adequate pension provision, B1 German, and basic civic knowledge. Fast track for EU Blue Card holders: 21 months with B1 German or 33 months with A1. Skilled workers can qualify after 4 years with B1. Benefits include unrestricted work rights, no renewal required, easier family reunification, and freedom from visa restrictions. No longer tied to specific employer.

The D1 visa is for non-EU/EEA citizens with a job offer from a Portuguese employer. Requires signed employment contract with a registered Portuguese company. Employer may need to demonstrate the position couldn't be filled by Portuguese/EU nationals (labour market test via IEFP). Initial 4-month visa allows entry to apply for 2-year residence permit with AIMA. Full work rights and access to social security. Family reunification possible after permit obtained. Path to permanent residency after 5 years.

The D3 visa targets highly qualified professionals including researchers, academics, engineers, tech workers, and executives. Also includes the Tech Visa program for workers at certified Portuguese tech companies (startups and innovation firms). Can lead to EU Blue Card eligibility after 18 months. Requires higher education degree (3+ years) or 5+ years professional experience. Minimum salary threshold approximately €21,030/year (1.5x average salary). No labour market test required. Green Route processing can fast-track to 20 days for certain sectors.

The EU Blue Card is a work and residence permit for highly qualified non-EU nationals, harmonized across EU member states. In Portugal, requires higher education degree (3+ years) or 5+ years professional experience, plus employment contract for at least 1 year with minimum salary of €21,030/year (2025). No labour market test in Portugal. Initial 2-year permit, renewable for 3 years. After 18 months, can transfer to work in another EU country. Equal treatment with Portuguese nationals for working conditions, social security, healthcare.

Short-term visa for business activities, meetings, conferences, and exploring business opportunities in Ghana. Does not permit employment or earning income in Ghana. Available as single-entry (3 months stay) or multiple-entry (6 months validity with 60 days per visit). Suitable for entrepreneurs scouting opportunities, attending meetings, or establishing business presence before applying for work permit. Can be extended beyond 90 days with proper justification.

Combined work and residence permit for foreign nationals employed in Ghana. Requires employer sponsorship and Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) registration for most private sector positions. Available in two categories: In-Quota (for positions that could be filled by Ghanaians) and Discretionary Quota (for positions requiring specialized skills not available locally). Valid for 1 year initially, renewable annually. Processing typically takes 4-6 weeks but can extend to 3 months if referred for investigation. Requires Non-Citizens Ghana Card (Alien ID) before application.

Citizens of 100+ countries can enter Colombia without a visa for tourism. Initial stay of 90 days, extendable to 180 days per calendar year. NO work permitted under any circumstances - even remote work is technically not allowed without proper visa. Popular first step for those exploring Colombia before committing to longer visa. Extensions available at Migracion Colombia offices. Overstaying results in fines and potential entry bans. Many expats use this to test cities before applying for proper visa.

Migrant (M) category visa for foreigners employed by Colombian companies. Requires job offer from Colombian employer who sponsors the visa. Employer must demonstrate why a foreigner is needed for the position. Valid for up to 3 years, tied to employment. Changing employers requires new visa application. Income should be at least 10 SMMLV monthly for professionals (~$4,000 USD in 2026). Path to permanent residency after 5 years of continuous employment. Employer handles much of the paperwork.

Visitor permit for tourism, business meetings, or exploring Mexico before committing to residency. Valid for up to 180 days but actual duration granted is at the discretion of the immigration officer - some receive 180 days, others only 7-30 days. Cannot be renewed or extended; must leave Mexico and re-enter for a new permit. No work permitted. Cost is approximately $983 MXN (~$55 USD) as of 2026, often included in airline tickets. Popular with digital nomads working remotely for foreign companies, though technically a gray area.

For foreigners employed by Mexican companies. Employer must be registered with INM and sponsor the work permit. Process typically takes 4-6 weeks. Can be issued as temporary resident with work authorization. Mexican labor law requires that at least 90% of a company's workforce be Mexican citizens, with exceptions for technical/specialized positions. USMCA (formerly NAFTA) provides streamlined access for US and Canadian professionals in specific occupations. Work permit tied to specific employer; changing jobs requires new permit.

Most nationalities can visit Vanuatu visa-free or obtain a visa on arrival for tourism, with stays up to 30-120 days depending on nationality. US, UK, EU, Australian, and New Zealand citizens get visa-free entry for 30 days. Non-exempted countries can apply for an eVisa. No commercial work permitted. Extensions not available - must exit before visa expires. Perfect for exploring Vanuatu before committing to longer-term options.

Foreigners seeking employment in Vanuatu must obtain a work permit from the Department of Labour and Employment Services, plus a residence visa. Requires a confirmed job offer from a Vanuatu employer. Various categories exist: Short-Term Employment (4 months), Development Support (5 years for government work), Specialist Skilled (2 weeks for entertainers/athletes), Disaster Recovery (12 months), and Religious Worker (5 years). The employer must demonstrate the position cannot be filled locally.

Panama's most popular residency program for citizens of 50+ "friendly" countries including US, Canada, EU, Australia. Requires minimum $5,000 bank deposit in Panama plus economic ties (employment, business, or $200,000 real estate investment). Grants two-year provisional residency, then eligible for permanent residency. Processing typically 3-6 months. Total costs $8,000-12,000 over two years including legal fees. No age restrictions, can include spouse, children under 25, and parents as dependents. After 5 years of permanent residency, eligible to apply for citizenship. Work rights included from start. Requires licensed Panamanian attorney to file application.

Work visa for non-EU nationals with employment offer from Moldovan employer. Requires work permit from National Agency for Employment and residence permit for stays exceeding 90 days. Employer must demonstrate compliance with labor laws. Since 2023, EU nationals can begin employment without separate work permit but still need residence permit for extended stays. Valid for duration of employment contract, renewable while employment continues. Path to permanent residence after meeting requirements.