Remitly, a leading digital financial services provider for immigrants and their families, has delved into Google searches worldwide to find which country’s visas people are searching for the most. To find out the destinations with the most in-demand visas, searches for keywords such as ‘visa in {country}’ and ‘how to apply for {country} visa’ were analysed in 193 countries around the world. The global search volume of the two keywords was totalled for each country to provide an overall annual search volume. The countries with the highest combined annual search volume were ranked as the countries with the most in-demand visas.
According to the study, France tops the list of the countries with the most in-demand visas, with nearly 2.5 million average yearly combined visa searches. France is one of the most popular places in Europe to travel to1 welcoming nearly 80 million visitors in 2022 and home to almost seven million migrants2. Its stable economy and excellent public services combined with its natural beauty, temperate climate and revered gastronomy make securing a visa to stay here for an extended length of time a priority for many.
Canada ranks as the country with the second most desirable visa with just over two million average yearly combined visa searches. Canada is consistently ranked as one of the most desirable places to live and work in3 , as the country is not only famed for its natural wonders, jaw-dropping beauty, top notch education and a thriving economy – but it has also set itself a target of welcoming 500,000 immigrants a year by 20254.
Japan was third on the list and the most searched for Asian visa, followed by Australia which has a range of work visas designed to attract and retain highly skilled workers.
The top 20 countries with the most in-demand visas
| Rank | Country | Average yearly combined visa searches |
| 1 | France | 2,431,200 |
| 2 | Canada | 2,098,800 |
| 3 | Japan | 940,800 |
| 4 | Australia | 892,680 |
| 5 | India | 760,800 |
| 6 | Turkey | 754,800 |
| 7 | Singapore | 646,800 |
| 8 | New Zealand | 613,200 |
| 9 | Malaysia | 609,600 |
| 10 | Pakistan | 604,560 |
| 11 | Sri Lanka | 491,760 |
| 12 | United Kingdom | 416,400 |
| 13 | Ireland | 412,800 |
| 14 | Qatar | 409,200 |
| 15 | Bahrain | 333,840 |
| 16 | Indonesia | 332,280 |
| 17 | Egypt | 329,880 |
| 18 | Bangladesh | 273,480 |
| 19 | Kuwait | 273,480 |
| 20 | Greece | 271,080 |
Jago McKenzie, Business Management Director at Remitly commented: “The sheer number of annual searches from people beginning their research into different countries’ visas shows the enduring popularity of moving from one country to another. Visas are powerful and sought-after because of the opportunities they unlock for a new way of life in a different country – whether that’s to be with a loved one, start an exciting career opportunity or secure a qualification for the next stage of your life.
Wherever you’re looking to move to, it pays to do plentiful research in advance as to how you can secure the right visa for your needs. As requirements differ from country to country, checking and understanding the requirements for your intended stay is an absolute must!”
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