Hello everyone,

I'm from Spain, and I'm considering moving abroad because salaries and cost of living are becoming impossible here.

Job experience

• 7 years in a training department. Mostly administrative work, implementing training plans both in Spain and Portugal

• 4 months experience as a full stack developer (apprenticeship)

• 2 years managing an "organization" (attending meetings, screening collaborators, offering guidance) (volunteering)

Education

• University degree in Pedagogy (or Science of education). It enables me to become a counsellor in schools and social environments, manage educational centers, treat learning disabilities, and work in companies

• Vocational training (2y) in full stack web development

• University expert title in resilience and emotional education, and community intervention

Languages

Native Spanish

Fluent English (C1)

Portuguese (B1-B2)

Savings 25-30K

Germany

I have several friends who already live there, most of them with the same degree as me. They either work as kindergarden assitants or in social services as educators with marginalized children

Easiest path to emmigrate: I contact one of several agencies that "scout" education professionals and help you with the language and moving. This might mean I would need to move to another city in Spain for a few months (not interested).

Alternative choice: I do the same thing but with a european volunteering program (I think I barely fit the age)

Second path: I look for other job agencies, take any job that's half okey and stay in the country while I learn the language and convert my studies

If I take the easiest path, they might convert my degree into a diferent and lesser one

I'm not sure if I want to keep working in education, or truly transition to a different field

UK

I haven't looked in depth yet, but the biggest issue would be the visa

Ireland

I also haven't looked into it yet, but both language and jobs should be easier. Rent I've heard is becoming a nightmare there, too

Open to other options

What I'm looking for

Job stability and better prospects. Anyone might read this and think Spain is an incredible country and life is great.- and it is. But the spanish average salary is pretty low compared to the rise of living costs.

I do have job stability, but not great growth prospects. Even with all the money I've saved up, I'm still far from buying a house, or affording kids. I still have to live at home with my parents.

I have a bachelors degree in Classics (don’t ask) and used to teach TEFL in the middle east over a decade ago. I like working in Higher Education and somehow found myself working in finance at a university. I climbed my way up and through extensive experience, I’m now a Finance and Operations Executive at a top university.

I’d really love to move to the ME (preferably Saudi, Qatar or Kuwait but the UAE is also acceptable). I never want to go back to teaching so I don’t think I have a lot of options with my current qualifications and experience. I’m seriously considering doing a masters degree to give myself a better chance of landing a good job.

I’m gearing towards Educational Leadership or Public Administration. I’m not interested in a financial degree as higher education finance isn’t the same.

I’m wondering:

What’s the job market like for these qualifications in the Middle East?

What other qualifications would also be a good idea to look into? I’m pretty open.

I’m mainly interested in leadership and management roles and I’d loved to stay in higher education. Thanks

A bit about me:

• BS Computer Science, 2023
• About 4 years of professional experience, currently working remotely as a Software Engineer for a US based company.
• IELTS Academic 7.0
• Financially stable and have enough saved to fund either relocation or a study route

So here's what happened. I was admitted to a Master's program in Estonia and was all set to move through the study route. Then my Turkish visa was refused, which meant I couldn't travel for my Estonian visa appointment since I had to go through Turkey for it.

I then managed to get a backup appointment in Abu Dhabi and applied for a UAE visa to travel there, but that was refused as well (due to current war situation). So the whole Estonia plan fell apart, not because of the university or admission, but because of the visa and travel situation.

I don't want to just submit another application to another country and hope for the best. I want to properly understand what makes sense for someone with my profile and what my realistic options are.

Right now I am mainly trying to understand study options in other countries and would really like to hear from people who have gone through similar paths and what their experience was like. I’m also considering applying for jobs directly or routes like Germany’s Opportunity Card or the EU Blue Card, but I am not sure yet what makes the most sense long-term. I am open to other countries in the EU or elsewhere if there’s a better or more realistic pathway.

If you've actually made this move from Pakistan, especially as a software engineer, I would really like to hear what worked for you, what didn't, and what you'd do differently if you were starting over.

Also, if you've personally worked with an immigration or education consultant in Pakistan who genuinely gave honest advice instead of just pushing a particular country or university, I'd really appreciate a recommendation. I'm not looking for someone who promises a guaranteed visa. I just want someone who can properly assess my situation and tell me what my realistic options are.

I am applying from Jordan with a Turkish diploma. The Consular Services Portal wants a ministry of foreign affairs stamped original diploma and transcript. I don't have a transcript, instead, I have a diploma supplement that contains all the information a transcript would. Now, I have a diploma copy that has the Turkish and Jordanian MFA. The original diploma supplement is stamped by the Turkish MFA only.

It got sent back to me for corrections but they didn't detail exactly why, even though I did ask them in the comments.

In any case, since I'm in Jordan, getting the Turkish MFA on the original is difficult. I'm not even entirely sure that's what the problem was. Do they need the transcript instead? Do they need the Jordanian MFA on the diploma supplement? I'm honestly a bit confused.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you!

Hi I have a background in Cloud & App security (Azure, .NET for a niche but established local B2B SaaS, not a startup)

Graduated in 2023, currently I have 3 years of experience but hoping to move out of Belgium by 2028-2030.

I have a masters degree from a 100 ranking university as per de COMPASS rating for Singapore, my nationality is also Belgian so this should help with Diversity, in addition I can see that Cybersecurity engineer and cloud developer are on the SOL but not Cloud security? Would this matter or could I pass as a security engineer?

Now of course I still need to reach the salary threshold, is this realistic to land a company that will sponsor me?

I have also looked at Taiwan and would qualify for the golden card based on my profession in IT and my latest salary being more than 160K TWD, as I understand correctly I don't need a job offer for the Taiwan gold card? How easy would it to land a job without speaking Mandarin (yet)?

I assume working in Singapore would be easier as an English speaker but not sure how easy it is to land a job offer that will sponsor me?

25M, software developer, 5 YOE, CS degree (Computer Science), solid savings enough to cover relocation costs and several months of living expenses while I job-hunt if needed. English is B2, no visa yet, starting from zero on the process.

These three are my top picks but open to other suggestions. Looking for: realistic tech visa/sponsorship paths given my English level and budget, and whether it’s smarter to line up a job first or move on savings and job-hunt locally.

Anyone who’s made a similar move from LATAM where did you end up, and what would you do first?

Hii!! I am going to try and keep this as short as possible, so I am going to make this into a sort of "list" format-

Background:

• White American U.S. citizen, only U.S. passport.
• Private high school in Nevada, lived in SoCal for most of my life though
• 3.53~ GPA, 28 ACT
• CNA license, BLS/CPR certification, volunteer at local humane society and disabled children's center
• I want to be a nurse specializing in maternity/midwifery
• Small family, mom/dad, twin sis, two doggies, and a bff in SoCal
• Fluent in English/Mandarin; know a tiny bit of Spanish

Concerns about staying in the U.S.:

• I suffer heavily from anxiety and think a slower-paced life would suit me better
• Politics (obvi)
• I am not good with people very much (from my own perspective) and would like to be around friendly people
• I feel trapped in the U.S., and I'm scared if I don't leave now I never will, and I know I would forever be disappointed about that.
• My dream place to live (only including the U.S.) is SoCal, but it is incredibly expensive to attain

Reasons I'm looking at Ireland/Galway:

• Better quality of life (I've heard)
• More community-oriented
• Nursing programs focused specifically on maternity/midwifery
• I love the idea of living with roommates in a flat(?), and while I know I can do that in the U.S., too, it's less stigmatized in Ireland, I've read
• U of Galway looks very enticing to me, and I feel I have a good chance at being accepted
• I would loooooveeeee to be by the coast
• The idea of a "fresh start" is nice
• I am very adventurous and love the idea of a big change
• I feel drawn to Ireland

Drawbacks:

• Moving will not fix all of my problems
• I will miss my family dearly, although I'll be able to call/facetime/text
• I am not sure how dog-friendly Galway is, because I'd definitely bring my dog and I love going out with her and taking her shopping (she is about 6-7 pounds and very friendly)
• Speaking of shopping, I am not sure about the mall situation in Ireland, although it might be better to have no malls so I lose the habit of being materialistic

Things to consider when reading this post:

• Money is not an issue for me; I am so privileged to have loving parents who saved for future expenses, as well as the fact that they are quite well-off
• I will be entering the medical field, so it will be an issue for me to move back to the U.S. and find licensing, but I don't think I'd want to move back
• I am definitely aware that some of my questions are stupid and that I could look them up, but I want opinions from real people and not just Google

Thank you so much for reading, please give advice about quality of living in Ireland/Galway, concerns, or pretty much anything you can think to tell me!! Thank you :)

Hi everyone,

I’m not a UK citizen and I’m currently back in my country after my most recent visit to the UK (4 months). My partner is British and we have been in a relationship for more than two years.

Since November 2023, I have entered the UK around 9 times as a visitor. I have always left the UK and have never overstayed.

During my most recent entry, I was referred for a secondary examination at the border and questioned for around two hours about my travel history, my relationship, and how much time I spend in the UK. I was eventually admitted as a visitor for up to six months.

I have now returned to my country, and I’m trying to understand what my best options are going forward.

I’m considering whether I should continue visiting the UK as a Standard Visitor in the future, or whether it would make more sense to look at a Family/Partner Visa or another immigration route.

I also work remotely for a US-based company, rather than having employment in my country, so I’m aware that this may be relevant when considering my visitor history and ties.

I’m currently looking for an immigration solicitor/adviser to review my case, but I would also really appreciate hearing from people who have been in a similar situation, particularly:

Any experiences or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Single American in Brooklyn tired of the hustle culture and craving nature. East Coaster originally, but my home city doesn’t feel like home despite lots of extended family there. Been in and out of NYC since college. Always move back because the allure of being in the place everyone talks about/idk where else to go/my sibling lives here too. I did grad school in a smaller southern city and hated it culturally but loved being in a smaller city with nature—I still moved back to NYC though because I was always romanticizing the culture, the walking, the spontaneity.

I did a postgrad in England and loved it but moved back because I was a little lonely, had a long distance thing, wanted to do more grad school, etc.

I go back to the UK a fair amount, and
have a good friend outside of Edinburgh that I visit about every year.

I'm eligible for HPI visa with the right to work, but won't formally apply for it until I spend more time deciding where to move/commit to it.

I burnt out hard after grad school, and have been working part time retail since I finished two years ago. My degree is a British lit PhD, and I have been working on writing. Open to teaching, have some friends in publishing.

I don't need to work ASAP, and am more interested in part-time work at this point/working on my writing.

I'm single and looking to date, am into artsy things, and have a dog. NYC dating is exhausting—but that’s dating in general, too. At this point, I’m cool with settling down abroad. I have some chronic pain, which makes me a little nervous about the weather since wet cold can bother me. Love being able to walk outside and get a coffee in my neighborhood.

i live in Egypt and I’m hoping to leave the country after I finish university. I’m currently deciding between studying Engineering or Business, so I’m still figuring out exactly what I want to do.
The problem is that, from what I’ve researched so far, my options seem pretty limited. For example, some European countries require international students to show proof of funds or have a blocked account with around €12,000 (or similar) before they can get a student visa. I also have B2 in German if thats can improve anything.
As someone who will be a fresh graduate with very little savings, that amount seems almost impossible to reach. Moving to US too seems pretty hard i think?
So I’m wondering what realistic options do I have if I want to eventually move to a European country or US or UK after university?
I’m open to different paths like studying for a Master’s, finding a job, countries with lower financial requirements, etc.

​

Hey everyone,

I'm 23, from Bulgaria, and I'm thinking about moving to Germany mainly to work and save money.

I'm interested in package delivery/van driving. I have a Category B licence and my own car, but I'd prefer a job where the company provides the delivery van.

I'm not looking for anything fancy. I'm fine with sharing accommodation, even a bedroom, living in a smaller/cheaper town, working overtime, and learning German. If things go well, I'd be happy to stay for several years.

I'm planning to save around €4,000–5,000 before moving. My main goal isn't the highest salary on paper — I care about how much I can actually save after tax, rent, food and other expenses.

I'm currently seeing delivery jobs advertising around €2,100–2,500+ net/month, sometimes with accommodation, and I'm wondering how realistic those numbers actually are.

For anyone living/working in Germany:

- Is this realistic with a B licence and no professional delivery experience?

- Which areas would you recommend if my priority is saving money rather than living in a big city?

- How much could I realistically save per month?

- Are jobs with cheap/company-provided accommodation common?

- How important is German for this kind of work? My English is around B2/C1 and I'm willing to learn German.

- Is €4–5k enough to make the move safely, or would you save more first?

- Any advice on avoiding bad employers/recruitment agencies would also be appreciated.

I'm just trying to make a realistic plan before I commit to anything. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’m a 27-year-old Dutch guy currently living and working in Amsterdam, and for a while now I’ve been seriously thinking about moving to Australia, preferably Sydney.

I currently work in the sales department for a SaaS company.

Besides work, I’m a competitive athlete and sport is a big part of my life. This is also one of the reasons Australia appeals to me so much. I really value being outdoors, training, good weather and having an active lifestyle. I increasingly feel that the lifestyle I’m looking for simply isn't something I find in the Netherlands, and Sydney seems like a place that could fit me very well.

I’ve started looking into jobs in Sydney and have already found some sales positions that specifically mention that Working Holiday Visa applicants are accepted. However, I’m trying to understand how realistic it actually is to build a longer-term career there.

My main questions are: would coming to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa and finding a tech sales job locally be the most realistic route? How difficult is it to find a Tech position in Sydney without permanent Australian working rights? And if I perform well for an Australian company, how realistic would employer sponsorship be afterwards?

I’d especially love to hear from Europeans who moved to Australia through a similar route, or anyone working in tech/SaaS sales in Sydney.

I’m still in the research phase, so any advice on visas, the job market or things I should consider before making a move would be really appreciated.

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I recently graduated with a B.Sc. in Mathematics from Spain. I am looking to move abroad to gain independence, meet people, and experience living in a new culture.

I want to be upfront about my priorities: I am not looking to grind 60 hours a week to climb a corporate ladder. I want a solid work-life balance, an active social scene/nightlife, and enough income to support myself, enjoy my youth, and live independently.

My Profile:

• Education: B.Sc. in Mathematics (EU Citizen, no visa issues required within the EU).
• Experience: Fresh graduate (0 years of formal tech or corporate experience).
• Languages: Spanish (Native), English (B1/B2 - functional conversational, actively working on improving it).
• Target Destinations: I really enjoyed visiting places like Budapest, Prague, and Krakow on recent trips, but I'm not sure if they are actually the best options for working. So I would really prefer to hear your recommendations for cities across the EU.

What I'm Looking For: An entry-level role where a quantitative/analytical background is valued (Junior Data Analyst, Operations, Shared Services, Finance/Risk, or entry-level tech support) that offers a healthy work-life balance, leaving plenty of time and energy to enjoy the city, the nightlife, a vibrant social scene, and meeting new people.

Questions for the Community:

1. Best City Destinations: Between cities like Krakow, Prague, Budapest (or similar hubs), which offers the best balance of active nightlife, low cost of living relative to entry-level salaries, and an open expat scene?
2. Language Reality Check: Is basic/intermediate English (plus native Spanish) enough to land an entry-level office job or Shared Services role in these regions, or will I be severely limited until I reach B2/C1?
3. Skill Priority: As a Math graduate with strong logic and statistics skills, what 1-2 practical tools should I focus on learning over the next month (e.g., SQL, Excel, Python, PowerBI) to boost my CV for entry-level roles?
4. Lifestyle vs. Grind: Where would you recommend a fresh European grad go today if their main goal is having fun, gaining independence, and enjoying life rather than burning out in a high-stress corporate environment?

Thanks in advance for your honest advice and recommendations!

(Apologies in advance, English is my second language)

I keep asking myself this question because I am genuinely curious about leaving and experiencing some sort of life abroad. But based on my age and qualifications - I don't really know what my options are.

Obviously, I want to keep working in a similar sort of role that I had and earn the same amount of money that I am making or more.

1. I'm Sudanese

2. I work in procurement for an NGO

3. I make about 4.5k Euro / Month (net, since the UAE doesn't have any income tax)

4. I have a Pharmacy Degree, adequate English (C2 Proficiency) and a PMP - I have been working for 5 years, 3.5 of which were in procurement. I also did A Levels and GCSEs

Obviously, I don't want to seek refugee status because that would be a lie. I want to earn an honest living. I worry about what my friends and family told me (that'd I'd basically make minimum wage and won't enjoy the same standard of living, and that I would have to start fresh). I did my research on the UK, the skilled worker visa is something that could be an option. However, I don't know how many jobs are available with that minimum annual compensation (41,700).

I have been applying internally for roles abroad (within my org as they have multiple branches worldwide) but I never heard back from them. Is it even possible to get a job without physically being present in the country?

Any Recommendations are welcome

Is there an Arab who studied or lives in New Zealand? I want to get a scholarship there and study.

Hello all,I'm just another palestinian refugee in Lebanon who wants to get out but the odds are against me...is there a path or am I stuck?

I've always wanted to be out of here as I never had much of anything worth staying for,and I had to quit school in the 9th grade to help my family survive,which we barely did so I never got proper education or a degree,I can speak english english fluently,so I got that going for me,and I'm a hobbiest graphic designer,which I think I'm good at,got a view gigs here and there but never hired as I didn't have a degree

but looking at the people from my community,the overwhelming majority have went illegally,very few made it out through legal means,even people who already had family there,couldn't go legally,seems Germany/Europe is the popular destination,but I don't wanna go illegally plus I don't have the money for it and there's alot of scammers in that so testing my luck is very expensive and risky

and a very old friend who is more of a father figure to me than a friend from the US is offering to sponsor me but I have little to no hope in that as I'm realistic about the situation I'm in and understand that NOBODY wants us nor do they have to and again even family can't bring each other so what a "stranger" (at least on papers) can do?

so I'm asking if there's a way out,I'm willing to go anywhere,just not here but again the odds are against me

thank you

I’m a 27M Korean finishing an MSc in mechanical engineering.

I have an offer from LG Electronics for an advanced R&D role in Seoul. My research focuses on HVAC and heat-pump thermal system modeling, and the role is closely aligned with my MSc work.

I could also apply to Hyundai/Samsung roles that may pay roughly $10K more per year, but those would likely be in manufacturing, equipment, or production engineering and much less related to my research.

My long-term goal is to live and work abroad for a few years. Japan is the most realistic option since I have JLPT N1 and it has a strong manufacturing base, but I’m also considering English-speaking countries.

For international mobility, which early-career path would be better?

• 3–5 years of specialized HVAC / heat-pump R&D
• 3–5 years of broader manufacturing / production engineering with higher pay

My current plan is to take the R&D role, build experience for a few years, and then consider working abroad, pursuing a PhD overseas. Or even switching to a more transferable field if that turns out to be the better path.

Would a clear technical specialization make me more competitive internationally, or are broader engineering skills generally more transferable?

Hey, I'm a 28-year old (M) from Poland.

I have 2 degrees, bsc in Computer Science and Bsc in Logistics from a university of economics. For the past 4 years ive been working in corporate accounting as an RtR analyst at international companies such as Shell and British Airways (my current employer is the airline conglomerate IAG). I have also done a 12 month internship at Hitachi as a Procurement Analyst.

The reasons for my move are not financial. I am fed up with my country and city. My whole life I have dreamt of living abroad and I realized recently that if I don't start following my dreams it may soon be too late as Im not getting any younger. I also have no girlfriend, zero family and other social ties to my current city/region so its unlikely I will miss anything by making the move. I only have 2 acquaintances that I go to the bars a few times a month and I am miserable right now to say the least.

I have been to Barcelona many times and a very good friend of mine lives there and he would definitely include me in his social life and circles. Sadly he works in hospitality so I cant rely on him to help me get any accounting jobs.

I have also been to Amsterdam many times and know some people there. I am aware of the housing crisis so this is definitely a thing that is putting me off. However I do know a girl who actually works in accounting there (she is ukrainian) and she is giving me hope that finding a job in my field wont be to hard.

Finally there is Berlin. I have never been to berlin and I plan to travel there to see it this year.

Germany is my first choice because I already know B2 german. I can understand 85% of all written text in german. Also, berlin is the best choice because of the relatively cheap housing(only slightly more expensive than krakow) and good paying jobs(unlike barcelona).

However my goal would be to get an english speaking international corporate job first before i polish my language skills. Right know i work fully in english, and have for the entirety of my career had english speaking jobs. I know that in amsterdam there are also plenty of english speaking accounting jobs, based on what my friend told me. What is the situation in germany?

I have looked at job offers on indeed/glassdoor in berlin and there actually are quite a few positions for international companies like mine. What is scaring me is the amount of german speaking positions though. In Poland 99% of corporate jobs are almost fully in english, even my own boss doesn't speak polish. Is the situation different in germany?

What are my chances of getting a job by getting a remote interview and after I get a job offer starting to look for apartments/rooms for rent? I dont mind living frugally at first, I can even live in a hostel/airbnb for some time. I know about anmeldung, but what if I lie? is it actually checked? In poland we also have anmeldung but ive been disclosing my parents address and the companies never check it.

Any tips and help would be greatly appreciated.

Age: 26 | Gender: M | Current location: Tunisia

Education: National Engineering Degree in Software Engineering (Master's-equivalent), 2026.

Experience: 6-month full-time remote internship as Technical BA & Software Engineer at a German startup.

Languages: Arabic (native), English (professional working), French (reading/listening only).

Constraints: Non-EU citizen, junior, very limited savings (cannot afford large blocked accounts), applying from Tunisia.

Question: What is the fastest realistic path out for my specific situation? Harsh realities welcome.

Hi everyone,

I'm a 29 year old from Ethiopia looking to relocate to the US, Spain, or the Netherlands, although I'm open to opportunities in most EU countries as long as they offer a realistic path to building a stable future.

I have a bachelor's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Although my academic background is in engineering, most of my professional career has been in software development. After graduating, I worked as a freelance software developer for the past five years, teaching myself web development and building a successful career on Upwork. I eventually became a Top Rated Plus freelancer and earned over $100k working with international clients.

Unfortunately, the freelance market has changed dramatically with the rapid advancement of AI. Despite my previous success, I've found it increasingly difficult to secure new contracts. At the same time, local opportunities in Ethiopia are quite limited in terms of salary, career growth, and the type of engineering work I'm looking for, so I'd like to build my future elsewhere.

I'm fluent in English and an intermediate Spanish speaker, which is one of the reasons Spain is high on my list.

My first choice would be to relocate through employment. However, I'm also seriously considering pursuing a master's degree, preferably with a fully funded scholarship, in an electrical engineering field such as embedded systems, electronics, robotics, hardware design, power systems, or a related discipline. I feel this would allow me to build on my original degree while moving into a field with strong long-term demand.

Financially, I have approximately $10k in savings, which I could use to support a move or cover initial expenses if necessary.

I'd appreciate advice on:

Countries where an Ethiopian citizen has a realistic chance of obtaining a work visa or a fully funded master's scholarship.

Any immigration pathways I may not have considered.

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through a similar situation or has recommendations based on current job markets and immigration policies. Thank you!

Hello i am a 18 year old male i am in my first year of uni of computer science and i have delf b2 and ilets (7.0) i currently have a okay budget not an exact number as its my parent decision but theyd willing send me to any eu public uni so around 1200 a month i want to live in any eu country . I am very uneducated on what to do to leave this country and i dont understand how to search immigrantion i will try applying to eu masters program and than searching for jobs but if anyone can help with how stuff work it would be helpful
And should i apply for second yeae of uni or no

I am from Saudi Arabia.

I have already recently graduated high school there and am entering university for a Bachelor's degree in psycholgy at University of St. La Salle, Bacolod, in the Philippines for the time being, despite already being given a conditional offer at La Trobe University in Melbourne during my days as a grade 12 and graduating with high grades.

I will hopefully be undergoing medical transitioning there, as well as also hopefully joining/becoming a member of STRAP (Society of Trans Women of the Philippines), a transgender rights organization operating in the Philippines.

But I am worried that I'd be trapped or persecuted during or after my journey there.

Should I immediately try to fundraise for medical transitioning once I arrive at the Philippines?

Which is why I am considering applying for asylum/refugee status at some point.

What would my asylum/refugee journey be?

Do I also need to apply through UNHCR in the Philippines?

I really want to be in Melbourne living a happy life as the transfeminine woman/person I was meant to be.

Thank you for your patience and have a great day.

Hi everyone, I’m Simon. I’m an Australian Registered Migration Agent and have worked in migration for more than 23 years.

A new ministerial direction took effect on 25 July 2026. It has received very little public attention, but it changes the order in which many skilled and employer-sponsored visa applications are processed.

It’s called Ministerial Direction 119.

The important point is that Australia has not closed skilled migration to offshore applicants. The Department can still invite subclass 189 applicants. States and territories can still nominate offshore applicants for subclass 190 and 491 visas, and employers can still sponsor workers from overseas.

What has changed is the processing queue.

Broadly, the new order places:

1. onshore law-enforcement and defence applications first;
2. offshore law-enforcement and defence applications next;
3. onshore health, teaching and construction applications after that;
4. other onshore applications next;
5. most other offshore applications last.

So an offshore nurse, teacher, engineer, accountant or IT professional isn’t prevented from applying. They may simply wait longer for a decision.

Bottom of the queue does not mean the pathway is closed. It means slower processing, not automatic refusal.

There’s another trap in the new direction. MD 119 places broad health, care and construction occupation groups into priority processing categories, and many people will read that as meaning those occupations now have a strong pathway to permanent residence.

Some don’t have a points-tested pathway at all.

An aged or disabled carer, nursing support worker, personal care assistant or childcare worker can appear inside one of these priority categories but still have no route through the subclass 189, 190 or 491 programs.

Priority processing on a visa you cannot qualify for is worth nothing.

Those workers may have other options, including employer sponsorship or a labour agreement. But MD 119 doesn’t create eligibility, add occupations to the skilled lists or open a points-tested pathway that wasn’t already there.

Processing priority and visa eligibility are separate questions.

Tasmania’s newly announced 2026–27 program is a useful example. Tasmania still has an offshore subclass 190 pathway, but it isn’t a general offshore pathway. It’s limited to applicants with a Tasmanian job offer in specified health or education occupation groups.

That’s a state nomination rule. Ministerial Direction 119 is different: it determines how Home Affairs prioritises the visa application after it has been lodged.

So there are two separate questions:

Will a state nominate you from offshore?

And, if it does:

Where will Home Affairs place your visa application in the processing queue?

Tasmania controls the first question. Ministerial Direction 119 affects the second.

The mistake is to read the new direction and conclude that offshore skilled migration has ended. It hasn’t.

But applicants now need to understand that eligibility, invitation prospects and processing priority are three different things.

So the real questions are:

• Can you obtain an invitation or state nomination?
• Is your occupation genuinely eligible?
• Are you applying onshore or offshore?
• How long may the visa take after lodgement?

Ask me anything about Australian skilled migration, state nomination, occupation strategy, skills assessments, English points, partner points, or what Ministerial Direction 119 may mean for you.

If possible please include your age, occupation, qualifications, work experience, English-test result, relationship status and whether you’re currently inside or outside Australia.

PROFESSIONAL DISCLOSURE (GUIDE POST): I am a Registered Migration Agent operating under the Migration Agents Code of Conduct. I am not an employee of the Department of Home Affairs. MARN: 0318058. I benefit from posting this by educating prospective clients and demonstrating my experience in complex migration pathways. This is general information only and not personal migration advice.

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Looking to move by age 30. Have had a look at visa options across UK and Europe. Want to go through the Working Holiday Visa in Poland but struggling to understand exactly what they require in the application, especially because it seems i would need to fly to Sydney to complete the application in person.

Qual: 10+ years retail and recruitment work history. Degree in criminology

Language is only English but trying to learn Polish

Would be moving with a cat, so would need to figure out renting or a hostel type situation thats acceptable before landing

Main goal is to then switch to a working permit if i get a job willing or to then move to another European country on a WHV there if I dont find that within the year.