Visa & policy updates for Kerala students.

Direct impact on Indian graduates planning to switch from Graduate Route to Skilled Worker. Health and Care Worker visa retains its lower £29,000 threshold, so the NHS pathway is unaffected.

• →New entrants get a discount: £30,960 for those under 26, in training, or in shortage occupations
• →Health and Care Worker visa: £29,000 threshold (NHS roles, care work)
• →Roles on the new Immigration Salary List: 20% discount on the going rate, no discount on the £38,700 floor
• →Graduate Route stays at 18 months, so plan the Skilled Worker switch carefully if salary is borderline

If you are on Graduate Route, target sectors that pay £40k+ for graduates: tech, finance, engineering, healthcare science. Cokonet UK desk has the role-by-role salary benchmarks.

Indian Masters graduates in IT, engineering, and sciences can land Blue Card eligibility with a starting offer of just €43,800. Family visa eligibility comes with the Blue Card.

• →Shortage occupations (Mangelberufe): IT/MINT (mathematics, IT, natural sciences, technology), engineering, doctors
• →Family visa included: spouse can work immediately, no separate work permit needed
• →Permanent residence after 21 months with B1 German (33 months without)
• →Nurses go through the separate Triple Win / Anerkennung pathway, not Blue Card

Cokonet German desk can pre-assess your degree against the Mangelberufe list. We work with hospital groups and IT employers directly, so the salary number is usually known before you accept admission.

Tougher competition for admits, higher proof of funds, mandatory PAL from the province. Quebec, Ontario, and BC have separate caps. Application timelines are tighter.

• →GIC: CAD 22,895 (about ₹14.4 lakh) deposited with a Canadian bank before applying
• →Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) needed before submitting study permit application
• →Master's and PhD applicants are exempt from the PAL requirement
• →PGWP eligibility now linked to program field, focus on fields aligned with labour market needs

Apply 6 to 8 months ahead of intake. Cokonet Canada desk handles the PAL coordination with our partner provinces. Pick programs on the PGWP-eligible field list. We have the current list updated.

Ireland Stay Back visa is 2 years for Masters graduates, with one of the friendliest post-study work routes in the EU. September 2026 intake is the realistic next opportunity for most.

• →Trinity College Dublin: most courses close 1 July 2026, business and law often close earlier
• →UCC: 15 July 2026 for most programs
• →Scholarship deadlines often fall 4 to 6 weeks before application deadlines
• →IELTS requirements: typically 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0). Trinity sometimes accepts 6.0 for STEM

Cokonet Ireland desk has the Trinity and UCC admission committees mapped. We coordinate IELTS, SOP, LORs, and the documentation pack. Best to engage by May for September 2026 intake.

Time to PR runway is more predictable. Regional study still pays off: extra 1 to 2 years of post-study work plus regional PR pathway points.

• →Post-Study Work stream: 2 yrs (Bachelor/Masters coursework), 3 yrs (Masters research), 4 yrs (PhD)
• →Regional extension: +1 yr in Cat 2 cities (Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast), +2 yrs in regional areas
• →English requirement: IELTS 6.0 overall, no band below 5.0
• →Age cap: 35 (some Masters research and PhD graduates eligible up to 50)

Cokonet Australia desk maps your program to the right state and regional pathway. Regional cities are very Kerala-friendly: Hobart, Adelaide, Darwin all have strong Malayali communities.

France becomes one of the most attractive EU destinations for Indian Masters students. 2 years of full work rights post-graduation, with paid internships already built into most programs.

• →APS duration: 2 years for Masters graduates (previously 1 year for many)
• →Paid internships ("stages") of 4 to 6 months are part of most French Masters programs
• →No French language requirement for most English-taught Masters at Grandes Écoles and public universities
• →Tuition at public universities: €243 per year for EU rates, around €3,770 for non-EU (some bilateral schemes lower it)

Cokonet France desk specializes in Grande Ecoles and English-taught Masters. Internship placement is part of the program itself. Start TEF/DELF prep alongside admission to qualify for the French-track internships too.

Malta becomes one of the most cost-friendly EU destinations: half tuition off plus the option to pay tuition only after the visa is approved. EU degree, English-taught, 20-hour-per-week work rights.

• →50% scholarships on select Masters programs (business, IT, finance, healthcare management)
• →Pay-tuition-after-visa option at multiple partner institutions
• →EU degree, English-taught, 20 hours/week work allowed during study
• →Post-study: 6-month job search visa, then standard EU employment pathways

Cokonet Malta desk has the active scholarship deadlines mapped per program. Best for students wanting EU experience without the higher costs of UK or Germany. Connect early for January and September 2026 intakes.