Working abroad: an overview of tech work visas

Immigration rules change often and depend on your circumstances. Use this as orientation only and always confirm with official government sources or a qualified immigration adviser.

United States

Common routes include the H-1B (employer-sponsored, annual lottery), L-1 (intra-company transfer) and O-1 (extraordinary ability). Many US employers sponsor only for senior or hard-to-fill roles.

United Kingdom

The Skilled Worker visa requires a job offer from a licensed sponsor meeting salary thresholds. The Global Talent visa is an option for recognized leaders in digital technology.

European Union

The EU Blue Card covers highly qualified workers across most EU states; Germany, the Netherlands and others also have national skilled-worker and tech-specific routes.

Canada

Express Entry and the Global Talent Stream are popular routes for tech professionals.

UAE

Employment visas are employer-sponsored; the Golden Visa offers long-term residence for qualifying skilled professionals.

Australia

The Skills in Demand and skilled-independent visas cover many ICT occupations.

Tips

• Search remote roles — many companies hire internationally through employer-of-record services without relocation.
• Look for "visa sponsorship" in job descriptions using our keyword search.