Your Guide to Staying in Europe After Earning Your Degree Abroad
Lots of Americans who study their degree in Europe are looking for high-quality, debt-free education opportunities that will help them get ahead in their career in the United States. However, many other students see studying in Europe as an opportunity to start their lives outside of America. But after graduation, how can you turn your student visa into a more long-term residency in Europe?
Student Visas as a Gateway to Long-Term Residency
This is a question I’ve heard over and over again as more Americans are looking for options to leave the United States due to the recent changing political and social climate. A student visa can be a great option to establish yourself in a European country. In most cases, the process to apply for and receive a student visa can be fairly straightforward, and generally accessible for students with some savings and a university acceptance letter.
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Even still, for some, this process can come along with new bureaucracies and unfamiliar processes. If this is something you are struggling with, our expert consultants can help you navigate through the student visa and residence permit process from application to arrival! With firsthand experience across Europe, we will help you understand the requirements for American students who need a visa to study at a European university.
What’s less straightforward for many students is how to make the transition from being a student and living on a student visa/residence permit to becoming a long-term resident or possibly beginning a pathway to citizenship. Although the process is similar across Europe, there are some key differences depending on each person’s specific circumstances. So rather than explaining each of the processes, I’ll highlight some options and recommendations on how to set yourself up for success in order to ensure a smooth transition from temporary student visa to long-term European residence.
Understanding Post-Study Work Visas (Graduate vs. Orientation vs. Search Year)
What are the common (and a few not so common) ways that American students can stay in Europe after getting their degree? The most obvious and common way to get a visa after studying is to find a job that will sponsor a work visa. Easier said than done–I know–but in many European countries, graduates can stay in the same country in Europe for a year after their studies. This is called a graduate visa, orientation visa, or ‘search’ year visa, as it's called in the Netherlands where students can stay in or return to the Netherlands for 12 consecutive months within 3 years of graduating from a Dutch university.
This period after graduation is key to getting your next visa! It’s your opportunity to dedicate yourself entirely to work opportunities, internships, networking, and career development that would otherwise not qualify you for a working visa. Remember–to qualify for a working visa, there are often income requirements that can be difficult to meet for recent graduates without much experience. This also means that during your studies you may want to pursue extra opportunities for skills and career development.
Some countries allow students from globally top-ranked universities to move to their country without any job prospects lined-up. Like in the UK where if you graduated from a top 50 university you can receive what’s called a High Potential Individual Visa.
Can Studying in Europe Get you a European Passport?
The answer to this question is–not directly, but it will help! The timeline varies from country to country, but generally it’s possible to get a European passport with 5-10 years of living in Europe. I have friends who got a job directly after graduation which qualified them for a permanent resident visa and within a year they were able to apply for citizenship. This is because in many European countries, your years studying count towards the required minimum years to apply for citizenship.
Citizenship by Descent: Are You Eligible for a European Passport?
Another option may be to explore your recent ancestry to discover if you may qualify for citizenship by descent in a European country. This is exactly what I did. During my bachelor’s degree, Spain passed a new law which, for a limited time, extended the option of citizenship by descent to people with Spanish grandparents who left during the dictatorship in the 20th century. Italy, Poland, Ireland, and more EU countries have options for the grandchildren, and in some cases even great-grandchildren of citizens of their countries. The bureaucracy for these programs can be tricky so the earlier you start researching your options and gathering your documents, the better! For example, it took nearly three years from the time I started to receive my Spanish passport.
Unique Visa Options for Americans After Graduation
Finally, there are a few options that are a bit more… creative! From digital nomad visas to the Dutch-American friendship treaty which allows American entrepreneurs to gain residency after starting a business in the Netherlands, there are different options for immigrants from the United States who own their own business and are looking to stay in Europe long-term after graduation.
Having a timeline and game plan both before and after graduation is important and will set you up for success to stay in Europe long-term. However, immigration law can sometimes change quickly so it’s important to remain flexible and be resilient. Knowing your options and being willing to change course quickly will be important in order to ensure that you don’t miss out on any opportunities.
After all, once you’ve gotten a taste of life in Europe, why go back?
