Visa processing times

Name: Global visa processing times dataset
Creator: Global Visa Routes
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The window between application submission and a decision, per visa, as published by the issuing government portal. Every entry shows the primary source and the date we last verified it. Priority / premium services and consular-specific variance are called out where they exist.

Reviewed 2026-04-20. Processing times are indicative and change without notice — always confirm on the linked government portal before acting.

By destination

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
11 routes · source: UK Home Office
Republic of Ireland
7 routes · source: Department of Justice (Ireland)
Federal Republic of Germany
8 routes · source: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)
Portuguese Republic
7 routes · source: AIMA (Portugal)
Kingdom of Spain
7 routes · source: Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations (Spain)
Kingdom of the Netherlands
7 routes · source: Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst (IND)
United Arab Emirates
6 routes · source: Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP)
Canada
8 routes · source: IRCC
Commonwealth of Australia
9 routes · source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia)
United States of America
14 routes · source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

All routes, fastest first

Destination	Route	Typical window	Source
United States	TN USMCA Professionals (Canada & Mexico)	1 days – 4 weeks	USCIS — TN NAFTA Professionals
United Arab Emirates	UAE Employment (Standard Residence) visa	3 days – 10 days	UAE Government Portal — Work visas
United Arab Emirates	UAE Green Visa	5 days – 2 weeks	UAE Government Portal — Green Visa
United Arab Emirates	UAE Virtual Working Programme	5 days – 2 weeks	UAE Government Portal — Virtual working programme
United Arab Emirates	UAE freelance permit with residence	5 days – 2 weeks	UAE Government Portal — Freelancing
Australia	Working Holiday Maker visa (subclass 417/462)	7 days – 2 months	Home Affairs — Working Holiday Maker
United Arab Emirates	UAE Investor / Partner residence visa	10 days – 4 weeks	UAE Government Portal — Investor residence
Netherlands	Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)	2 weeks – 3 months	IND — Decision periods
Netherlands	Orientation year (Zoekjaar)	2 weeks – 3 months	IND — Orientation year
Netherlands	EU Blue Card (Netherlands)	2 weeks – 3 months	IND — EU Blue Card
Netherlands	Dutch Student residence permit	2 weeks – 2 months	IND — Study permit
Australia	Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)	2 weeks – 8 weeks	Home Affairs — Global visa processing times
United States	E-2 Treaty Investor	2 weeks – 4 months	DOS — E-2 Treaty Investor
United States	F-1 Student Visa (with OPT and STEM OPT)	2 weeks – 4 months	DOS — Student visa (F-1)
United States	J-1 Exchange Visitor	2 weeks – 3 months	DOS — Exchange Visitor (J-1)
United Kingdom	Skilled Worker visa	2 weeks – 3 weeks	GOV.UK — Visa decision waiting times
United Kingdom	Health and Care Worker visa	2 weeks – 3 weeks	GOV.UK — Health and Care Worker visa
United Kingdom	Youth Mobility Scheme visa	2 weeks – 3 weeks	GOV.UK — Youth Mobility Scheme visa
United Kingdom	Student visa	2 weeks – 3 weeks	GOV.UK — Student visa
United Kingdom	Standard Visitor visa	2 weeks – 3 weeks	GOV.UK — Standard Visitor visa
United Arab Emirates	UAE Golden Visa	2 weeks – 4 weeks	UAE Government Portal — Long-term residence visa (Golden Visa)
Spain	Digital Nomad Visa (Spain)	3 weeks – 6 weeks	UGE-CE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas) — Startup Law visas
Spain	Highly Qualified Professional (HQP) permit	3 weeks – 6 weeks	UGE-CE — Highly Qualified Professional
Spain	Entrepreneur Visa (Ley 14/2013)	3 weeks – 2 months	UGE-CE — Entrepreneur residence
United Kingdom	Global Talent visa	3 weeks – 8 weeks	GOV.UK — Global Talent visa
United Kingdom	High Potential Individual visa	3 weeks – 4 weeks	GOV.UK — High Potential Individual visa
United Kingdom	Innovator Founder visa	3 weeks – 8 weeks	GOV.UK — Innovator Founder visa
United Kingdom	Scale-up visa	3 weeks – 8 weeks	GOV.UK — Scale-up visa
Ireland	Critical Skills Employment Permit	3 weeks – 6 weeks	DETE — Employment permits current processing dates
Canada	Canadian Study Permit	3 weeks – 4 months	IRCC — Study permit processing times
Ireland	Irish Student visa (Stamp 2)	4 weeks – 8 weeks	Irish Immigration Service — Visa Decisions
Australia	Australian Student visa (subclass 500)	4 weeks – 4 months	Home Affairs — Student visa
Germany	EU Blue Card (Germany)	4 weeks – 3 months	Make-it-in-Germany — EU Blue Card
Germany	Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card)	4 weeks – 3 months	Make-it-in-Germany — Opportunity Card
Germany	Skilled Worker residence permit (§18a/§18b AufenthG)	4 weeks – 3 months	Make-it-in-Germany — Skilled Worker visa
Germany	Job Seeker visa (§20 AufenthG)	4 weeks – 3 months	Make-it-in-Germany — Job-seeker visa
Germany	German Student residence permit	4 weeks – 3 months	DAAD — Student visa information
Spain	Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)	4 weeks – 3 months	Portal de Inmigración — Non-lucrative residence
Spain	Spanish Student Visa	4 weeks – 2 months	Portal de Inmigración — Student residence
Netherlands	Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur	4 weeks – 3 months	IND — Self-employed residence (DAFT)
Netherlands	Startup Visa (Netherlands)	4 weeks – 3 months	IND — Startup residence permit
United Kingdom	Graduate visa	6 weeks – 8 weeks	GOV.UK — Graduate visa
Ireland	General Employment Permit	6 weeks – 3 months	DETE — Employment permits current processing dates
Ireland	Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)	6 weeks – 3 months	Irish Immigration Service — STEP
Germany	Recognition Partnership (Anerkennungspartnerschaft)	2 months – 4 months	Make-it-in-Germany — Recognition Partnership
Germany	Freelance / Self-employment residence permit (§21 AufenthG)	2 months – 4 months	Make-it-in-Germany — Freelance residence permit
Portugal	D7 visa (passive income / retirement)	2 months – 6 months	Portuguese Consulate network — D7
Portugal	D8 visa (digital nomad / remote work)	2 months – 4 months	Portuguese Consulate network — National visas
Portugal	D2 visa (entrepreneur / self-employment)	2 months – 6 months	Portuguese Consulate network — D2
Portugal	D3 visa (highly qualified activity)	2 months – 4 months	Portuguese Consulate network — National visas
Portugal	Portuguese Student visa	2 months – 3 months	Portuguese Consulate network — Student visas
Netherlands	Partner residence (Dutch national or resident sponsor)	2 months – 6 months	IND — Family reunification
Canada	Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)	2 months – 6 months	IRCC — PGWP processing times
United States	H-1B Specialty Occupation	2 months – 8 months	USCIS — Case Processing Times
United States	L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager)	2 months – 8 months	USCIS — Case Processing Times
United States	L-1B Intracompany Transferee (Specialised Knowledge)	2 months – 9 months	USCIS — Case Processing Times
United States	O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement	2 months – 6 months	USCIS — Case Processing Times
United Kingdom	Family visa (partner/spouse)	3 months – 6 months	GOV.UK — Family visas
Germany	Family reunion residence permit	3 months – 1.0 years	Auswärtiges Amt — Family reunion
Portugal	Family reunification (residence)	3 months – 1.0 years	AIMA — Family reunification
Spain	Family reunification (Spain)	3 months – 6 months	Portal de Inmigración — Family reunification
Australia	National Innovation visa (formerly Global Talent)	3 months – 1.0 years	Home Affairs — Global Talent visa
Canada	Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class (CEC)	5 months – 6 months	IRCC — Check processing times
Canada	Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)	5 months – 8 months	IRCC — Check processing times
Canada	Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST)	5 months – 8 months	IRCC — Check processing times
Ireland	Join Family (Irish national or EEA national)	6 months – 1.0 years	Irish Immigration Service — Join Family
Portugal	Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment)	6 months – 1.5 years	AIMA — Residence for investment activity
Australia	Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)	6 months – 1.0 years	Home Affairs — Global visa processing times
Australia	Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)	6 months – 1.0 years	Home Affairs — Global visa processing times
Australia	Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)	6 months – 1.0 years	Home Affairs — Global visa processing times
Australia	Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)	6 months – 1.2 years	Home Affairs — Global visa processing times
United States	EB-1A Extraordinary Ability (Immigrant)	6 months – 1.5 years	USCIS — Case Processing Times
United States	EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW)	6 months – 2.5 years	USCIS — Case Processing Times
United States	K-1 Fiancé(e) of US Citizen	6 months – 1.5 years	USCIS — Fiancé(e) Visas
United States	Spouse of US Citizen or Green Card Holder (IR1/CR1 & F2A)	7 months – 2.5 years	USCIS — Green Card for Family Members of U.S. Citizens
Canada	Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada)	10 months – 1.1 years	IRCC — Sponsor your spouse
Canada	Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)	11 months – 1.5 years	IRCC — Check processing times
United States	EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers	1.0 years – 3.3 years	USCIS — Case Processing Times
Australia	Partner visa (subclass 820/801, 309/100)	1.2 years – 2.5 years	Home Affairs — Partner visa
United States	EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program	1.5 years – 4.9 years	USCIS — Case Processing Times
Canada	Start-Up Visa (Canada)	2.5 years – 3.3 years	IRCC — Start-up Visa
Ireland	Stamp 4 permission	Not centrally published	Irish Immigration Service — Registration Office
Ireland	Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP — closed)	Not centrally published	Department of Justice — IIP
Spain	Spain Golden Visa (ending April 2025)	Not centrally published	BOE — Ley Orgánica 1/2025