Temporary visas that do not lead to permanent residence: 11 countries

23 routes in this comparison.

Temporary on grant — not a settlement route on its own

Australia student visa (subclass 500)
Australia
Job offer
Not published on the page we read
Application fee
No amount stored
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Source: Department of Home Affairs · verified 2026-08-14
Canada student visa: Study Permit → PGWP
Canada
Job offer
Not published on the page we read
Application fee
CAD 150
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · verified 2026-08-15
Canada work visa: LMIA-based Work Permit (TFWP)
Canada
Job offer
Required
Application fee
CAD 155
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Source: Employment and Social Development Canada · verified 2026-09-24
Canada skilled migration: Quebec — Skilled Worker Selection (PSTQ)
Canada
Job offer
Not published on the page we read
Application fee
No amount stored
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Source: ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration · verified 2026-09-24
Canada skilled migration: Quebec — Quebec Experience Program (PEQ)
Canada
Job offer
Not published on the page we read
Application fee
No amount stored
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Source: ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration · verified 2026-09-24
Canada investor visa: Quebec — Investor Program
Canada
Job offer
Not published on the page we read
Application fee
CAD 18,241
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Source: ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration · verified 2026-09-24
Canada entrepreneur visa: Quebec — Entrepreneur Program
Canada
Job offer
Not published on the page we read
Application fee
CAD 1,272
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Source: ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration · verified 2026-09-24
Canada self-employed visa: Quebec — Self-employed Worker Program
Canada
Job offer
Not published on the page we read
Application fee
CAD 1,272
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Source: ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration · verified 2026-09-24
Germany student visa: Student residence permit
Germany
Job offer
Not published on the page we read
Application fee
EUR 75
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Source: Federal Government (Make it in Germany) · verified 2026-08-15
Germany job search visa: Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)
Germany
Job offer
Not required
Application fee
EUR 75
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Source: Federal Government (Make it in Germany) · verified 2026-08-15
Ireland work visa: Critical Skills Employment Permit
Ireland
Job offer
Required
Application fee
EUR 1,000
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Source: Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Employment Permits Section; pages still branded DETE) · verified 2026-08-15
Ireland post-study work visa: Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G)
Ireland
Job offer
Not required
Application fee
EUR 300
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Source: Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration · verified 2026-08-15
Netherlands post-study work visa: Orientation year for highly educated persons
Netherlands
Job offer
Not required
Application fee
EUR 254
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Source: Immigration and Naturalisation Service · verified 2026-08-15
Netherlands student visa: Student residence permit for university or higher professional education
Netherlands
Job offer
Not published on the page we read
Application fee
EUR 254
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Source: Immigration and Naturalisation Service · verified 2026-08-15
New Zealand student visa: Fee Paying Student Visa
New Zealand
Job offer
Not published on the page we read
Application fee
From NZD 850
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Source: Immigration New Zealand · verified 2026-08-15
Portugal student visa: study, exchange, internship or volunteering
Portugal
Job offer
Not required
Application fee
EUR 90
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Source: Governo de Portugal (gov.pt) · verified 2026-09-24
Spain digital nomad visa: remote work
Spain
Job offer
Not required
Application fee
No amount stored
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Source: Boletín Oficial del Estado · verified 2026-09-24
Sweden student visa: Residence permit for studies at higher education
Sweden
Job offer
Not published on the page we read
Application fee
SEK 1,500
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Source: Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · verified 2026-08-15
UAE work visa: Golden Residence — specialised / skilled workers
United Arab Emirates
Job offer
Required
Application fee
AED 1,100
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Source: General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai · verified 2026-09-24
UAE work visa: Private-sector employment residence
United Arab Emirates
Job offer
Required
Application fee
AED 200
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Source: General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai · verified 2026-09-24
UAE student visa: Residence permit for study
United Arab Emirates
Job offer
Not required
Application fee
AED 200
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Source: Official Platform of the UAE Government (u.ae) · verified 2026-09-24
UK student visa
United Kingdom
Job offer
Not published on the page we read
Application fee
GBP 558
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Source: UK Visas and Immigration · verified 2026-09-24
UK visa without a job offer: High Potential Individual Visa
United Kingdom
Job offer
Not required
Application fee
GBP 880
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Source: UK Visas and Immigration · verified 2026-09-24

Route	Job offer	Application fee	Processing time
Australia student visa (subclass 500) Australia	Not published on the page we read	No amount stored	No commitment to a processing time
Source: Department of Home Affairs · verified 2026-08-14
Canada student visa: Study Permit → PGWP Canada	Not published on the page we read	CAD 150	No commitment to a processing time
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · verified 2026-08-15
Canada work visa: LMIA-based Work Permit (TFWP) Canada	Required	CAD 155	No commitment to a processing time
Source: Employment and Social Development Canada · verified 2026-09-24
Canada skilled migration: Quebec — Skilled Worker Selection (PSTQ) Canada	Not published on the page we read	No amount stored	No commitment to a processing time
Source: ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration · verified 2026-09-24
Canada skilled migration: Quebec — Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) Canada	Not published on the page we read	No amount stored	No commitment to a processing time
Source: ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration · verified 2026-09-24
Canada investor visa: Quebec — Investor Program Canada	Not published on the page we read	CAD 18,241	No commitment to a processing time
Source: ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration · verified 2026-09-24
Canada entrepreneur visa: Quebec — Entrepreneur Program Canada	Not published on the page we read	CAD 1,272	No commitment to a processing time
Source: ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration · verified 2026-09-24
Canada self-employed visa: Quebec — Self-employed Worker Program Canada	Not published on the page we read	CAD 1,272	No commitment to a processing time
Source: ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration · verified 2026-09-24
Germany student visa: Student residence permit Germany	Not published on the page we read	EUR 75	No commitment to a processing time
Source: Federal Government (Make it in Germany) · verified 2026-08-15
Germany job search visa: Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) Germany	Not required	EUR 75	No commitment to a processing time
Source: Federal Government (Make it in Germany) · verified 2026-08-15
Ireland work visa: Critical Skills Employment Permit Ireland	Required	EUR 1,000	No commitment to a processing time
Source: Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Employment Permits Section; pages still branded DETE) · verified 2026-08-15
Ireland post-study work visa: Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G) Ireland	Not required	EUR 300	No commitment to a processing time
Source: Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration · verified 2026-08-15
Netherlands post-study work visa: Orientation year for highly educated persons Netherlands	Not required	EUR 254	No commitment to a processing time
Source: Immigration and Naturalisation Service · verified 2026-08-15
Netherlands student visa: Student residence permit for university or higher professional education Netherlands	Not published on the page we read	EUR 254	No commitment to a processing time
Source: Immigration and Naturalisation Service · verified 2026-08-15
New Zealand student visa: Fee Paying Student Visa New Zealand	Not published on the page we read	From NZD 850	No commitment to a processing time
Source: Immigration New Zealand · verified 2026-08-15
Portugal student visa: study, exchange, internship or volunteering Portugal	Not required	EUR 90	No commitment to a processing time
Source: Governo de Portugal (gov.pt) · verified 2026-09-24
Spain digital nomad visa: remote work Spain	Not required	No amount stored	No commitment to a processing time
Source: Boletín Oficial del Estado · verified 2026-09-24
Sweden student visa: Residence permit for studies at higher education Sweden	Not published on the page we read	SEK 1,500	No commitment to a processing time
Source: Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · verified 2026-08-15
UAE work visa: Golden Residence — specialised / skilled workers United Arab Emirates	Required	AED 1,100	No commitment to a processing time
Source: General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai · verified 2026-09-24
UAE work visa: Private-sector employment residence United Arab Emirates	Required	AED 200	No commitment to a processing time
Source: General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai · verified 2026-09-24
UAE student visa: Residence permit for study United Arab Emirates	Not required	AED 200	No commitment to a processing time
Source: Official Platform of the UAE Government (u.ae) · verified 2026-09-24
UK student visa United Kingdom	Not published on the page we read	GBP 558	No commitment to a processing time
Source: UK Visas and Immigration · verified 2026-09-24
UK visa without a job offer: High Potential Individual Visa United Kingdom	Not required	GBP 880	No commitment to a processing time
Source: UK Visas and Immigration · verified 2026-09-24

These routes are temporary on grant. Several carry an explicit statement from the authority that the route does not lead to settlement; those statements are on each route page.

Other comparisons: Why no one commits to a processing time · Permanent residence on arrival · Years to permanent residence · Immigrate without a job offer · Points tests compared · Application fees by country · Proof of funds by country · Work visa salary minimums · Age limits by country · Language requirements by country · Student visas and permanent residence

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