Work Permit Visas
A visa is an official stamp in your passport authorizing you to travel, work, or study in that country for a specified length of time. All countries, including the US, require a work permit visa for foreign workers; employers will not hire you without one.
For select countries, short-term work permit visas are available by application. In other cases, such as for long-term employment, foreign employers will need to apply for the visa on your behalf. Student work exchange programs can legally assist students in obtaining a short-term work permit visa. Unpaid internships and volunteer positions may or may not require a work permit, depending on the host country's regulations.
It’s always safe to assume that you’ll need a visa, especially if you’ll be traveling for a purpose other than tourism. Check out the visa requirements for specific countries by checking with the embassy or consulate of the country you will be visiting.
For a list of organizations that can help with student work permit visas see Work Permit Programs.
What Else Should I Know?
- A passport is needed to obtain a visa.
- Even if you'll have an unpaid internship or volunteer position, you may still need a work visa.
- Other types of visas exist including: student visas, volunteer visas, intern visas, and research visas.
- Some countries have specific visas for the category of work; check to make sure you apply for the correct one.
- Special permission may be needed for a specific visa.
- It usually takes longer to get a work visa and requires more documentation than for other types of visas.
- If you do not have the proper visa, you could be deported at the border.
- You will nearly always need to provide a letter from your program, your employer or host organization to obtain a special purpose visa.
- Ask the program (if applicable) for advice on obtaining a visa.