Dreaming of a job abroad? These are the easiest countries to get a work visa

India Today

19-05-2025

Keen to live and work in another country? You're not alone. Many people are packing their bags for better opportunities overseas. The tricky part is getting a work visa, but some countries make it much easier to get a work visa than others.According to a recent report by Remitly, Latvia is the easiest country to get a skilled worker visa. It scored 7.64 out of 10 for ease of entry. As part of the EU Blue Card scheme, Latvia only asks for a minimum yearly salary of 20,500 pounds. The visa itself costs around 83 pounds and typically gets approved in ten working days.advertisementIreland comes next, with a score of 7.32 out of 10. Known for industries like tech, pharma, and education, the country offers plenty of skilled job opportunities. Workers earn about 45,000 pounds per year on average.
Here, the visa fee is also 83 pounds, and is valid for up to five years. However, the approval process is slower, usually taking around eight weeks.Iceland also ranks well with a score of 6.58. The country offers work visas to people with specialist skills, whether academic, technical, or creative. The salary requirement is low, just under 17,000 pounds per year, which makes it easier for many people to apply. You can stay for up to four years, and the visa fee is about 91. However, you might wait up to three months to hear back on your application.advertisementThe United States offers the longest visa duration, over six years in many cases, but due to its higher costs and slower processing, it stands at sixth place.Italy, on the other hand, has the cheapest visa at just 41 pounds, while Australia tops the list for the highest fee at 1,569 pounds. Australia also has the longest average wait time, with most applications taking up to six months, although half are processed in just over two months.If you're considering the UK, keep in mind it ranks seventh and is one of the costlier options. You'll need a job offer with a salary of at least 38,700, and the visa fee is a hefty 1,420 pounds.Further, according to Remitly, Kazakhstan has the highest success rate at 99.52%, while Pakistan has the lowest among the top 20 countries, at 82.39%. Canada remains one of the top destinations too. The country issued nearly 240,000 work visas in 2023 alone, the most among all developed countries.Meanwhile, in most parts of Europe, including France, Belgium, Hungary, Luxembourg, and Sweden, the average work visa takes about three months to process. Canada and the US are slightly slower, averaging around three and a half months.So, if you're serious about starting a new life abroad, choosing a country with a smooth visa process can make things far less stressful. Whether it's Latvia's speed, Ireland's long stay, or Iceland's low salary requirement, these nations are making it easier than ever to take the leap.Must Watch