FAQ
Common questions.
Which countries have a student visa?
42 countries in our list: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States.
Which student visa needs the least money?
In our list, at European Central Bank rates on 9 Oct 2026: Poland (PLN 1,010 a month, about USD 260 a month), Czechia (CZK 115,810 a year, about USD 440 a month) and Spain (EUR 600 a month, about USD 670 a month). Poland counts money after rent, so rent comes on top there. China, Croatia, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Hungary, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and United States set no figure, so they are not in this ranking. Tuition comes on top.
Where can international students work the most hours?
Finland, Hungary and Spain: up to 30 hours a week in term time. Estonia sets no weekly limit. Most countries allow more hours in the holidays. Each country page shows the rule.
Which countries let you stay after you graduate?
38 of the 42 in our list. The longest: Canada and New Zealand, up to 3 years to look for work or work.
Do EU citizens need a student visa in Europe?
No. Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland can study in each other's countries under free movement rules. They may need to register after 3 months. The EU and EEA permits here (25 in our list) are for everyone else.
Is this every student visa?
It is every country we could check on an official government page. If we cannot find the facts on an official page, we leave the country out. Rules and amounts change, so check the official page before you apply.
Sources
Every fact comes from the host country's official government page. Exchange rates come from the European Central Bank.
- Australia: Student visa (subclass 500) (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)
- Austria: Residence permit - Student (Aufenthaltsbewilligung - Student) (oesterreich.gv.at)
- Belgium: Long-stay visa (D) and stay as a student in higher education (dofi.ibz.be)
- Canada: Study permit (ircc.canada.ca)
- China: X1 study visa and residence permit for study (en.nia.gov.cn)
- Croatia: Temporary stay for the purpose of university studies (mup.gov.hr)
- Cyprus: Entry permit and temporary residence permit for students (gov.cy)
- Czechia: Long-term residence permit for the purpose of studies (ipc.gov.cz)
- Denmark: Residence and work permit as a student (higher education) (nyidanmark.dk)
- Estonia: Residence permit for study (politsei.ee)
- Finland: Residence permit for studies (studyinfinland.fi)
- France: Long-stay visa as residence permit, student (VLS-TS étudiant) (service-public.gouv.fr)
- Germany: Residence permit for study (section 16b Residence Act) (gesetze-im-internet.de)
- Greece: Residence permit for studies (type H.1), after a national (type D) study visa (migration.gov.gr)
- Hong Kong: Visa / entry permit for study (non-local students) (immd.gov.hk)
- Hungary: Residence permit for the purpose of studies (oif.gov.hu)
- Ireland: Long stay (D) study visa and Stamp 2 student permission (irishimmigration.ie)
- Italy: Study visa (type D, university enrolment) and residence permit for study (permesso di soggiorno per studio) (universitaly-private.cineca.it)
- Japan: Student status of residence (Ryugaku) and student visa (moj.go.jp)
- Latvia: Temporary residence permit for full-time studies (likumi.lv)
- Malaysia: Student Pass (educationmalaysia.gov.my)
- Malta: Residence permit for studies (Subsidiary Legislation 217.22) (identita.gov.mt)
- Mexico: Temporary resident student visa (Visa de residente temporal estudiante) (consulmex.sre.gob.mx)
- Netherlands: Residence permit for study (university or higher professional education) (ind.nl)
- New Zealand: Fee Paying Student Visa (immigration.govt.nz)
- Norway: Residence permit for studies (study permit) (studyinnorway.no)
- Poland: Temporary residence permit for the purpose of studies (mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl)
- Portugal: Residence visa for study, then residence permit for higher education students (article 91) (aima.gov.pt)
- Singapore: Student's Pass (ica.gov.sg)
- Slovakia: Temporary residence for the purpose of study (minv.sk)
- Slovenia: Temporary residence permit for the purpose of study (infotujci.si)
- South Africa: Study visa (dha.gov.za)
- South Korea: Study visa (D-2) (studyinkorea.go.kr)
- Spain: Long-stay authorisation for studies (study visa) (ciudadaniaexterior.inclusion.gob.es)
- Sweden: Residence permit for studies in higher education (migrationsverket.se)
- Switzerland: Residence permit for education and training (study) (zh.ch)
- Taiwan: Resident visa for study and Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) (boca.gov.tw)
- Thailand: Non-Immigrant ED visa (ED Plus for bachelor's degree and higher) (washingtondc.thaiembassy.org)
- Turkey: Student residence permit (Öğrenci İkamet İzni) (goc.gov.tr)
- United Arab Emirates: Student residence visa (residence permit for a student) (icp.gov.ae)
- United Kingdom: Student visa (gov.uk)
- United States: F-1 student visa (academic and language students) (studyinthestates.dhs.gov)
General information, not legal advice. Last checked 11 Oct 2026.