Job seeker visas: where you can move before you have a job offer

Most work visas start with a job offer. A few countries reverse the order: you arrive first, then look for work. Below are programmes we checked on official government pages on 6 October 2026. It is a selection, not a complete list of the world's job seeker routes.

The programmes at a glance

Germany: the Opportunity Card

Germany's Opportunity Card is for people from outside the EU and EFTA. There are two ways in. If your vocational or academic qualification is fully recognised in Germany, you qualify directly. If not, you need a qualification recognised where you obtained it, German at level A1 or English at level B2, and at least 6 points for things such as work experience, language skills and age.

You must show that you can fund the search: a blocked bank account with at least €1,091 net per month, the amount that applies in 2026, or a declaration of commitment.

The card is issued for a maximum of one year. During that time you may hold one or more part-time jobs totalling 20 hours a week, and do trial work of up to two weeks per employer. Once you find a job or apprenticeship, you apply locally for the matching residence permit. If the job counts as qualified employment but you do not meet the conditions of any other permit, the card can be extended for up to two years.

Austria: a visa for very highly qualified workers

Austria's job-seeker visa is part of its Red-White-Red Card system. To get it you need at least 70 of 100 points. Points come from qualifications (a four-year university degree gives 20, a degree in mathematics, informatics, natural sciences or technology 30, a PhD 40), work experience, languages, age and other criteria. The Public Employment Service checks the points before the visa is granted.

The visa is valid for six months. You must show accommodation, health insurance and adequate means of subsistence; the official page gives no fixed amount and does not say whether you may work. If you receive a job offer that matches your qualifications while the visa is valid, you apply for a Red-White-Red Card in Austria.

Sweden: a permit to look for work or start a business

Sweden's permit is for people who have completed second-cycle studies, such as a 60 or 120 credit master's degree, a professional degree or a PhD. You must apply from outside Sweden, have comprehensive health insurance and show bank assets of at least SEK 13,000 for each month you apply for, plus money for the journey home.

The permit lasts up to nine months. The Swedish Migration Agency states that you are not allowed to start working before you have applied for a new permit. If you find a job, you apply for a work permit from inside Sweden and can work while it is processed, for that employer and in that profession. If you decide to start a business, you can apply for a permit as a self-employed person.

United Kingdom: the High Potential Individual visa

The UK route is for graduates of universities on an official list based on world rankings. Your qualification must be at bachelor's level or above and awarded in the last 5 years, and UK universities are not eligible. There is a yearly cap on applications, with the application year running from 1 November to 31 October.

The visa lasts two years, or three with a PhD, and you must show at least £1,270 held in your bank account for 28 days in a row. It is the most open of these programmes: you can work in most jobs, look for work or be self-employed. It cannot be extended, and the time does not count towards settlement, but you may switch to another visa, such as the Skilled Worker visa, before it expires.

Portugal: in law, not yet available

Portugal's consular portal lists a Skilled Job Seeker Visa for people with specialised technical skills. On 6 October 2026 it stated that it is not yet available at Portuguese consular offices, pending the regulation of Article 57-A of the Foreigners' Law. Until then, there are no published requirements to compare.

What to check before you apply

1. Your degree. Sweden and the UK require a set level; Austria scores it; Germany looks at recognition.
2. How the money is proven. A blocked account, a balance held for 28 days and a monthly amount are different tests.
3. Whether you can earn while searching. Not in Sweden, part-time in Germany, most jobs in the UK.
4. The next permit. Each route ends in a different one. Read its conditions before you move.

For what is left of a salary once you have an offer, see our article on how much of your salary you keep and the country profiles for Germany, Austria, Sweden, United Kingdom and Portugal.