Canada: Federal Skilled Worker through Express Entry
A Federal Skilled Worker candidate needs at least 67 points on the IRCC eligibility grid and language results of at least CLB 7; a job offer can add points but is not required. Candidates must also show enough money to settle in Canada unless an exemption applies. Eligibility only places you in the Express Entry pool: IRCC invites candidates in rounds, choosing them by Comprehensive Ranking System points.
IRCC: Federal Skilled Worker Program eligibility IRCC: Express Entry rounds of invitations
United Kingdom: Skilled Worker visa
The Skilled Worker visa requires a job with an employer approved by the Home Office and usually a salary of at least £41,700 a year or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher. The minimum can be lower in listed cases, such as some extensions. Check whether your occupation is eligible and whether the employer can sponsor it before you apply.
Germany: Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)
Under section 20a of the Residence Act, the Opportunity Card is a residence permit to look for work or for measures to recognise foreign qualifications. It allows employment averaging up to 20 hours a week and trial work of up to two weeks, and requires secured means of living. Applicants qualify as skilled workers or through the points table with a state-recognised qualification and at least basic German or B2 English.
Japan, Portugal and the United States
Japan’s Immigration Services Agency lists a Specified Skilled Worker cooperation memorandum with Pakistan and notes that Pakistani nationals coming to Japan under it must register with the Protectorate of Emigrants office of the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BE&OE). Portugal’s consular portal states that its skilled job-seeker visa is not yet available at Portuguese consular offices. Natives of Pakistan were not eligible for the US DV-2026 diversity visa.
Immigration Services Agency of Japan: SSW bilateral memoranda of cooperation Portugal consular portal: skilled job seeker visa U.S. Embassy: DV-2026 instructions
Questions before acting
Is Portugal’s job-seeker visa open now?
Portugal’s consular portal says the skilled job-seeker visa is not yet available at consular offices, pending regulation.
Do I need a job offer for Canada?
Not for Federal Skilled Worker eligibility, but you need 67 grid points, CLB 7 and settlement funds unless exempt, and then an invitation.
Corrections in this revision
The previous version included statements without sufficient direct support. This revision removes or corrects:
- Portugal’s job-seeker visa described as available for 120 days plus 60, with about €5,000 of funds
- Country ranking, diaspora figures, costs and processing ranges without dated official sources
- Turkey, Malaysia, Gulf, Australian and New Zealand statements not verified in this review
Review scope: legal and financial statements in this revised article. Recheck on a provider, professional, immigration or tax-rule change; reuse of dated figures requires a new check.
See recorded sources
- IRCC: Federal Skilled Worker Program eligibility — Canada — federal. Date modified 2026-09-24; read 28 September 2026 via rendered-page readback (the former /eligibility/ URL redirects here)
- IRCC: Express Entry rounds of invitations — Canada — federal. Date modified 2026-07-10; read 28 September 2026 via rendered-page readback
- GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa — your job — United Kingdom. Current guidance read 28 September 2026; lower rates apply in listed cases
- Residence Act section 20a (Opportunity Card) — Germany — federal. Current consolidated text read 28 September 2026
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan: SSW bilateral memoranda of cooperation — Japan. Published page read 28 September 2026; Japanese-language procedures
- Portugal consular portal: skilled job seeker visa — Portugal. Published notice read 28 September 2026
- U.S. Embassy: DV-2026 instructions — United States — federal. DV-2026 program year; later program years must be checked separately
These primary references have the jurisdiction, product and scope stated above. A source link is not proof of personalised eligibility.
Compare the routes that match your plans
Follow the route-specific checks in this article before deciding which destination to explore. The country pages give you a place to continue; the questionnaire adds your personal context.
How we record our sources. The questionnaire presents recorded programme information; it does not decide eligibility.
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About the author
António Mira is the founder of whereTOemigrate. For over a decade he has worked at the intersection of Portuguese real estate and overseas business, helping international clients navigate the cross-border decisions that come with relocating. He sits on the board of CCIAP (Portuguese-Arab Chamber of Commerce), the Portuguese-Saudi Business Council, and the Portugal-Hong Kong Business Association — always with one focus: enabling overseas business and human mobility into and out of Portugal.
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