XIA · Work Permit Intelligenceذكاء تصاريح العمل
The world's work routes,read like an editorial.
Employer-led sponsorship and points-based work pathways across eight destinations — North America, Europe, the Gulf and Oceania. XIA maps your profile to the right permit category, surfaces the evidence each route demands, and flags where an advisor's eye changes the plan.
01North America
Canada
Employer support, NOC fit, wage evidence, LMIA/LMIA-exempt logic, and family work/study planning.
- Sponsor basis
- Employer-led
- Most routes need a Canadian employer or LMIA-exempt category.
- Profile fit
- NOC + wage
- Role duties, wage level, and experience must align.
- Family planning
- Often possible
- Spouse/dependent options depend on job category and status.
01North America
02North America02North America
United States
Specialty occupation fit, employer sponsorship, profile strength, petition category, and evidence gaps.
- Sponsor basis
- Required
- H-1B/L-1/J-1 routes require a sponsor or qualifying host structure.
- Profile fit
- Evidence-heavy
- Degree, specialty role, prior employment, or exceptional profile must be documented.
- Timing risk
- Category-led
- Lottery, petition timing, premium processing, and consular slots vary by route.
03Europe
United Kingdom
Sponsor readiness, occupation code, salary threshold, endorsement route, and dependent planning.
- Sponsor basis
- Usually required
- Skilled Worker depends on a licensed sponsor and eligible occupation.
- Profile fit
- Salary + code
- Occupation code, salary threshold, and English ability must be checked.
- Talent route
- Endorsement
- Global Talent depends on endorsement or recognised evidence.
03Europe
04Oceania04Oceania
Australia
Skills assessment, occupation list, English score, points position, employer nomination, and regional strategy.
- Route basis
- Points or employer
- 189/190/491 are points-led; 186 and 494 need employer nomination.
- Profile fit
- Occupation list
- Skills assessment and occupation list fit drive route viability.
- State strategy
- Important
- Nomination and regional options can change the best pathway.
05Europe
Germany
Degree recognition, salary threshold, occupation shortage, German/English profile, and job-search readiness.
- Route basis
- Offer or points
- EU Blue Card needs salary/job fit; Opportunity Card is points-based.
- Profile fit
- Recognition
- Degree and professional recognition are major review points.
- Readiness
- Funds + language
- Funds, insurance, and language evidence can affect file quality.
05Europe
06Middle East06Middle East
UAE
Employment sponsor, freezone/mainland structure, medical/Emirates ID steps, family sponsorship, and compliance timing.
- Sponsor basis
- Employer/company
- Mainland/freezone employment depends on sponsor or company setup.
- Profile fit
- Role + salary
- Role classification, salary, and company status affect process flow.
- Family planning
- Structured
- Family sponsorship depends on salary, tenancy, and document readiness.
07Europe
Portugal
Employment or business basis, consular file readiness, funds, accommodation, and route timing.
- Route basis
- Activity-led
- Work, business, or highly qualified activity must be clearly supported.
- Profile fit
- Consular file
- Funds, accommodation, insurance, and purpose need clean documentation.
- Timing
- Appointment-led
- Embassy/consular timing often controls the practical calendar.
07Europe
08Europe08Europe
Spain
Remote income evidence, employer/client structure, social security/tax exposure, and family file readiness.
- Route basis
- Remote/professional
- Digital nomad and highly qualified routes need different evidence.
- Profile fit
- Income + contracts
- Income continuity, client/employer terms, and remote work basis are reviewed.
- Compliance
- Tax/social security
- Tax and social-security exposure should be checked before filing.
09Europe
Italy
Remote income continuity, qualification evidence, accommodation, and consular file readiness for the digital nomad route.
- Route basis
- Remote income
- The digital nomad route reviews income level, continuity, and remote basis.
- Profile fit
- Qualification
- Degree or documented professional experience supports the highly qualified test.
- Readiness
- Housing + cover
- Accommodation and health cover are checked at consular stage.
09Europe
10Oceania10Oceania
New Zealand
Green List occupation match, employer accreditation, qualification and registration evidence, and residence sequencing.
- Route basis
- Occupation + offer
- Green List routes need an eligible occupation and an accredited employer offer.
- Profile fit
- Registration
- Some occupations also require New Zealand professional registration.
- Residence path
- Direct or 2 yrs
- Tier 1 goes straight to residence; Tier 2 reaches residence after two years of work.
11Central Europe
Austria
Points scoring, occupation on the annual shortage list, AMS labour market test, and salary evidence against the applicable collective agreement.
- Sponsor basis
- Employer-led
- Every route except the Very Highly Qualified job-seeker visa needs an Austrian employer.
- Salary floor
- €55,678/yr
- EU Blue Card threshold for 2026. Other Key Workers: €3,465 gross per month.
- Family
- Spouse may work
- Family receive a Red-White-Red Card plus, which carries unrestricted labour market access.
11Central Europe
12Southern Europe12Southern Europe
Greece
Quota availability, employer-initiated invitation, contract length, and which of the new Law 5275/2026 categories actually fits the profile.
- Sponsor basis
- Employer-initiated
- Only a Greek employer can start the metaklisi process. An applicant cannot self-apply.
- Salary floor
- 1.6× average
- EU Blue Card is set at 1.6 times the Greek average gross annual salary. Confirm the current amount with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.
- Quota
- Capped annually
- Salaried and seasonal posts are limited by an annual Council of Ministers decision.
13Southern Europe
Malta
Employer eligibility under the 2025 workforce caps, vacancy advertising compliance, salary banding, and realistic family planning.
- Who applies
- Employer only
- Only the Maltese employer can file, through the government single-permit portal. The applicant cannot apply.
- Salary bands
- €30k / €45k
- SEI from €30,000 gross a year; KEI from €45,000. Both require an ISCO Group 1–3 role.
- Spouse work
- Not automatic
- A family residence permit does not carry work rights. Dependants need their own Single Permit.
13Southern Europe
14Eastern Mediterranean14Eastern Mediterranean
Cyprus
Whether the employer qualifies as a Company of Foreign Interests, salary banding, and whether the narrow Blue Card sectors apply.
- Sponsor basis
- Employer-led
- The foreign-interest company route carries no cap on highly skilled hires and no labour market test.
- Salary floor
- €2,500/month
- Highly skilled band. A €2,000 grace rate applies only until 31 December 2026.
- Schengen
- Not included
- Cyprus is not a Schengen member. A Cyprus permit gives no Schengen travel right.
15Southeast Europe
Bulgaria
Employer headcount capacity, the fifteen-day advertising requirement, and whether the Blue Card route avoids the labour market test.
- Sponsor basis
- Employer-led
- The employer must advertise the vacancy for fifteen days. The Blue Card route is exempt from that test.
- Salary floor
- 1.5× average
- EU Blue Card is 1.5 times the national average gross salary. Bulgaria adopted the euro in January 2026, so older figures are stale.
- Employer cap
- 20% / 35%
- Third-country nationals may not exceed 20% of headcount, or 35% at small and medium employers.
15Southeast Europe16Southeast Europe16Southeast Europe
Romania
Employer registration or authorisation on the government platform, annual quota availability, and whether the role sits on the shortage occupations list.
- System changed
- April 2026
- Work permits were abolished. Any agent still selling an employment permit is selling a document that no longer exists.
- Quota
- 90,000 for 2026
- Only the D/AM2 route consumes the quota. The 2025 quota was exhausted in early December.
- Employer duties
- Substantial
- Direct quota hiring requires an authorised employer with trading history, headcount and a financial guarantee per worker.
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Tell us where you want to work, and a XIPHIAS advisor will map the right permit category, the sponsorship basis and the evidence your file needs — for you and your family.
Work Permit Intelligence is an assessment aid only. Route viability, eligibility and timing require advisor review and are subject to each destination's current rules.