Study Abroad Visa Trends: Which Countries Are Opening And Which Are Tightening
"Education is getting expensive. Global mobility through immigration is getting tighter."
On the Accompany Akki podcast, Saurabh Arora, founder of University Living, explained how visa policies are shaping study abroad decisions, and how students should choose a destination.
Why some countries want international students
Countries like Germany, France and Japan have ageing populations and low birth rates. They need young talent across industries, including nursing, medicine and tech.
They're addressing this in two ways:
- Immediate needs: Golden visas and global talent visas.
- Three to five year needs: International students, who arrive filtered and contribute to the economy.
Countries that are relatively open
According to Saurabh:
- Germany
- France
- Japan
- Dubai
- Malaysia and Indonesia
Countries that are more cautious
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Canada
- Australia
International student numbers, by Saurabh's estimate
- US: around 1 to 1.1 million
- UK: around 6 lakh
- Australia: around 4.5 lakh
- Germany: around 4.5 lakh, with much of that from within Europe
The seesaw effect
Major destinations often move in opposite directions. When Australia tightens, the UK may become more liberal. When the UK tightens, Canada may open up. As Saurabh puts it, someone's gain is someone's loss.
What is structured immigration?
Immigration won't stop, but it is becoming more structured. Countries have learned they can't switch it on and off:
- Australia has been through several cycles.
- The UK has learned the same lesson.
- Canada opened widely in 2015 and is now tightening significantly.
Newer destinations like Dubai and Japan still have capacity. Saurabh expects Germany to remain open for roughly another two or three years.
Should you go to Germany?
Saurabh advises caution, not because of the country, but because many families choose it simply because others are going. Your aspirations and finances are unique.
Is studying abroad the student's dream or the parents'?
It depends:
- In some communities and business families, studying abroad is a status marker, and parents often drive the decision.
- In regions like Punjab and Hyderabad, many students choose to work hard abroad, taking jobs they might avoid in India, partly because dignity of labour is still a concern.
- Communities and ecosystems form as people follow family and friends to the same places.
How to choose the right country
This section is general guidance, not from the conversation.
- Define your goal: degree, work experience, residency or returning to India.
- Research labour shortages in your field in target countries.
- Check post-study work options.
- Calculate the full cost, including living expenses.
- Verify visa rules on official government websites, since they change often.
- Avoid choosing a country only because others did.
Key takeaways
- Immigration is becoming structured, not ending.
- Germany, France, Japan, Dubai and parts of Southeast Asia are relatively open.
- The US, UK, Canada and Australia are more cautious.
- Major destinations often tighten and loosen in turn.
- Choose based on your goals, not the trend.
Watch the full episode: [Full episode link]
Join the Accompany Akki WhatsApp channel: https://wa.openinapp.co/a46ji
Which country is at the top of your study abroad list?
A few things to know before publishing:
- Student numbers. The figures are Saurabh's estimates, so they're attributed to him. Official counts, especially for the UK, may differ.
- Community references. In the clip he names a "Jain sahab" family and Calcutta. I generalised that to "some communities and business families" to avoid singling out a group.
- Visa policies. These move quickly. The blog and LinkedIn article tell readers to check official sources.
