Student Visa Comparison Chart for Six Destinations: US, UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of student visa application fees, financial requirements, English language requirements, processing times, work rights during studies, and post-graduation work options across the six destinations. It also lists changing policies: US fixed-duration stay rules paused by the court, UK Graduate visa reduced to 18 months starting in 2027, and Canada financial requirements increased. All figures are sourced from official government websites.
Students considering multiple countries and regions often ask: Which visa is easier to get? How much money do I need to prepare? Can I work while studying? Can I stay and work after graduation? This article compares the key student visa rules across six destinations: the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong. All figures are sourced from official government websites and have been verified item by item in our country-specific articles, with links provided at the end.
1. Application Fees
| Country/Region | Main Official Fees |
|---|---|
| US | SEVIS fee $350 (plus visa application fee, subject to US Embassy and Consulates in China announcements) |
| UK | Visa fee £558 + Immigration Health Surcharge £776 per year |
| Canada | Study permit $150 CAD + Biometrics $85 CAD |
| Australia | Visa fee $2,500 AUD (from July 1, 2026) |
| Singapore | Student's Pass processing fee $45 SGD; issuance fee $60 SGD upon approval |
| Hong Kong | Subject to Hong Kong Immigration Department announcements; upon approval, an Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao and an endorsement are also required |
The UK's Immigration Health Surcharge is calculated based on visa duration, making it a significant expense for a three-year undergraduate degree; Australia's visa fee was just increased in 2026. Do not look only at the visa fee itself when budgeting.
2. Financial Requirements
| Country/Region | Living Cost Standards and Requirements |
|---|---|
| UK | £1,529 per month in London, £1,171 per month outside London, calculated for up to 9 months; plus one year of tuition; funds must be held for 28 consecutive days |
| Canada | $23,448 CAD per year outside Quebec (for applications submitted from September 1, 2026), excluding tuition and transportation |
| Australia | First year's tuition, living costs, and travel expenses; living cost standards are based on the Australian Department of Home Affairs document checklist tool |
| US | Specific financial proof requirements are subject to the school and the US Embassy and Consulates in China |
| Singapore, Hong Kong | Subject to school and immigration department requirements; for Hong Kong, if sponsored by the institution, no financial proof from the sponsor is required |
A common requirement across all destinations: the source of funds must be clear and logical. Sudden large deposits or unexplained funds are common risk factors.
3. English Requirements
- UK: Degree programs require CEFR B2 level; universities may conduct their own assessments;
- Australia: Minimum IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) for the student visa; at-home online tests are not accepted;
- Other regions: Primarily based on the school's admission requirements.
Note: The English requirement for the visa is usually lower than the school's admission requirement. Meet the school's requirement first, and you will generally meet the visa requirement. Additionally, post-graduation work visas may have higher English requirements: Australia's Subclass 485 requires IELTS 6.5, and Canada's Post-Graduation Work Permit for degree graduates requires Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7.
4. When to Apply and Processing Times
| Country/Region | Application Timing and Processing |
|---|---|
| UK | Earliest application is 6 months before the course starts; overseas applications generally take 3 weeks |
| US | F-1 visas can be issued up to 365 days before the course starts; you must first obtain the I-20 and pay the SEVIS fee |
| Australia | Processing priority is determined by the school's quota allocation; the earlier you apply, the faster the processing |
| Canada | Undergraduate and other programs require a Provincial Attestation Letter first; Master's and PhD programs at public institutions are exempt from 2026 |
| Singapore | Apply 2–3 months before the course starts; results are generally available within a week |
| Hong Kong | Generally takes about six weeks after all documents are received |
5. Working While Studying
- US: On-campus work is limited to 20 hours per week during the semester; off-campus internships rely mainly on CPT, which must be an integral part of the curriculum and approved by the school first.
- Canada: Off-campus work is limited to 24 hours per week during the semester, with no limit during scheduled breaks; from April 2026, post-secondary students doing required internships no longer need a co-op work permit.
- Australia: Up to 48 hours per fortnight during the semester.
- Hong Kong: Students in local degree programs can work part-time on campus for up to 20 hours per week during the term and full-time during the summer vacation; work restrictions are currently temporarily relaxed, subject to the Immigration Department's notification.
- UK: Work hour limits depend on the course level and whether it is during the term, subject to the conditions stated on the visa.
6. Working After Graduation
| Country/Region | Post-Graduation Work Arrangements |
|---|---|
| US | OPT for 12 months; eligible STEM majors can extend for an additional 24 months |
| UK | Graduate visa: 2 years for applications by the end of 2026, 18 months for applications from January 1, 2027; 3 years for PhDs; cannot be extended |
| Canada | Post-Graduation Work Permit: 3 years for programs of 2 years or more, or Master's degrees; only once in a lifetime |
| Australia | Subclass 485 Graduate visa: generally 2–3 years for bachelor's degree and above |
| Hong Kong | IANG: No employment offer required if applied within 6 months of graduation; initial 24 months |
| Singapore | Those receiving tuition grants must work in Singapore for 3 years after graduation (this is an obligation, not a visa) |
7. Changing Policies to Watch Out For
- US: The Department of Homeland Security issued new regulations in July 2026 to change student visas to a fixed duration of stay of up to 4 years and shorten the post-completion grace period to 30 days, but this was blocked by a nationwide injunction from a federal court on September 14; current regulations remain in effect.
- UK: The Graduate visa will be reduced to 18 months from 2027; taught Master's students will no longer be able to bring dependents.
- Canada: There is a cap on the total number of study permits; financial requirements will increase from September 2026.
- Australia: Visa fees have increased; the national planning allocation is 295,000 for both 2026 and 2027.
Visa policies have been changing rapidly in recent years. Always refer to the official website for the most up-to-date information before applying.
Detailed Articles by Country
- US F-1 Student Visa: Current Process, OPT Rules, and Blocked New Regulations
- UK Student Visa and Graduate Visa
- Canada Study Permit 2026
- Australia Student Visa 2026–2027
- Undergraduate Studies in Singapore: Tuition Grants and 3-Year Service Obligation
- Studying in Hong Kong: Student Visa, Working While Studying, and IANG
- University Application Timeline: Counting Back from the Enrollment Date
Final Thoughts
When choosing a country, the visa is not just about "whether you can get it." It also determines how much money you need to prepare, whether you can work while studying, and how much time you have to find a job after graduation. Comparing all these factors together will help you make the right choice for yourself much better than just looking at school rankings.
If you are unsure how to prepare visa documents for a specific country, or if you want to compare university application plans across several countries, feel free to chat with our visa advisors.
Verification note: All figures in this article were verified in September 2026, sourced from the official websites of the US Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, UK Government GOV.UK, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Australian Government Study Australia, Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and Ministry of Education, and Hong Kong Immigration Department. See country-specific articles for details. The US Department of State, US Embassy and Consulates in China, and Australian Department of Home Affairs websites have CAPTCHA verification; please refer to their official websites for relevant fees and standards.