Compare work permits across 9 countries side-by-side
EU Blue Card vs UK Skilled Worker vs H-1B — which visa is right for you? Sort, filter, and compare processing times, salary thresholds, spouse work rights, and paths to permanent residence.
The Netherlands HSM visa is often considered the easiest for tech workers — fast processing (2-4 weeks), no language requirement, no labor market test, and no lottery. The EU Blue Card (Germany) and Canada Global Talent Stream are also relatively straightforward if you meet the salary threshold.
The Canada Global Talent Stream targets 2-week processing. The Netherlands HSM visa (2-4 weeks) and France Passeport Talent (2-6 weeks) are also very fast. The US H-1B offers 15-day premium processing for an additional fee, but the lottery adds months of uncertainty.
The EU Blue Card (Germany) offers the fastest path — just 21 months with B1 German language skills. Ireland's Critical Skills Permit leads to unrestricted Stamp 4 in 2 years. Canada's Express Entry can grant PR in 6-12 months after obtaining a work permit.
Most modern work visas grant full spouse work rights — EU Blue Card, UK Skilled Worker, Netherlands HSM, and Australia TSS all do. The US H-1B is the notable exception: spouses on H-4 visas can only work if the H-1B holder has an approved I-140 petition, which typically takes years.
The US H-1B is the only major work visa with a lottery (roughly 25% selection rate, 85,000 annual cap). All other major work visas are deterministic — if you meet the requirements, you get the visa. This is one of the main reasons many tech workers choose Europe, Canada, or Australia over the US.