Key takeaway: Four routes that do not need a job offer, with main conditions from each official page: Canada's Federal Skilled Worker (minimum requirements, then a 67-point grid), Australia's subclass 189 (an invitation, age under 45 when invited, at least 65 points, competent English, an eligible occupation and a skills assessment), Germany's Opportunity Card (secured means, and either skilled-worker status or enough points plus a recognised degree or vocational qualification and basic German or B2 English) and Portugal's remote-work residence visa (evidence of the remote work link and average income of at least four minimum monthly salaries). Portugal's skilled job-seeker visa is not yet available at consular offices.

Canada: Federal Skilled Worker through Express Entry

The Federal Skilled Worker Program does not need a job offer, but it has minimum requirements that come first. IRCC lists skilled work experience of at least 1 year of continuous paid work, or 1,560 hours in total, in TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3, obtained within the last 10 years. It also lists approved English or French test results with the minimum score in all four abilities and, if your education is foreign, a completed credential with an Educational Credential Assessment for immigration purposes. Only if you meet these minimum requirements (work experience, language and education) does IRCC apply its selection-factor grid, where you need 67 points or higher; the grid does not allow a first-language result below CLB level 7. A job offer can add points on that grid but is not a minimum requirement. You must show enough money to settle in Canada unless an exemption applies: the exemption on IRCC’s page covers people who can already legally work in Canada and have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada. You must also be admissible to Canada and plan to live outside Quebec. Reaching 67 points only lets you submit a profile to the Express Entry pool. IRCC then invites candidates in rounds, choosing them by Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, and as of 25 March 2025 IRCC removed job-offer points from the CRS.

IRCC: Federal Skilled Worker Program eligibility IRCC: Express Entry rounds of invitations IRCC: Express Entry — Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) criteria

Australia: Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)

The points-tested subclass 189 visa lets invited workers live and work permanently anywhere in Australia. You must be invited, be under 45 when invited and score at least 65 points; an invitation can require a higher score. At the time of invitation you must have at least competent English. Your occupation must be on the relevant skilled occupation list, and you must declare that you have a suitable skills assessment at the time of invitation.

Home Affairs: Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), points-tested stream

Not sure which of these routes fits you? The free quiz matches your citizenship, job and plans to the visa programmes we have recorded and shows your first match free. The PDF guide (€10, one-time) adds up to 50 matching programmes in order — requirements, how to apply and official links for each.Start the free quiz

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 either as a skilled worker (Fachkraft) or through the points table. The points route also requires at least basic German or B2 English and a foreign university degree, or a foreign vocational qualification that took at least two years of training, recognised by the state where it was obtained and confirmed by a competent German body; certain vocational qualifications issued by a German chamber of commerce abroad are a further option.

Residence Act section 20a (Opportunity Card)

Portugal: remote income, not job search

For remote work, Portugal’s residence visa asks for evidence of the work link. For employed work, that is a work contract or a declaration by the employer confirming the labour link. For independent work, it is a society contract, a contract of services provision or a document attesting the services provided. It also asks for proof of average monthly income for the last three months of at least four monthly minimum guaranteed remunerations (the consular portal gives the 2026 minimum as €920), and a document attesting fiscal residence. The consular post may request additional documents. Portugal’s skilled job-seeker visa is not yet available at Portuguese consular offices, pending regulation.

Portugal consular portal: residency visa documents Portugal consular portal: means of subsistence Portugal consular portal: skilled job seeker visa

See the routes that match you. 10 short steps, free, no signup. Want them all in one place? The PDF guide (€10) covers up to 50 matching programmes with requirements, how to apply and official links — see an example guide.Start the free quiz

Questions before acting

Can I move without any job offer?

These routes do not require a job offer from an employer in the destination country, but each has conditions such as points, funds, income, documents or an invitation; Portugal’s remote-work visa needs existing remote work or services income.

Does a job offer raise my Express Entry rank?

IRCC says that as of 25 March 2025 it removed job-offer points from the Comprehensive Ranking System. A valid job offer can still add points on the 67-point Federal Skilled Worker grid, and it can exempt you from proof of funds if you can already legally work in Canada.

Is Portugal’s job-seeker visa available?

Portugal’s consular portal says the skilled job-seeker visa is not yet available at consular offices, pending regulation.

Corrections in this revision

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See recorded sources

These primary references have the jurisdiction, product and scope stated above. A source link is not proof of personalised 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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