How Long Does Skilled Migration Actually Take? Processing Times in 2026

Key findings

• The fastest dominant skilled route is Singapore's Employment Pass (EP) at 10 days – 2 weeks; the slowest is Canada's Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) at 7 months — a 21× spread on the same kind of decision.
• Across every published route, the quickest typical floor is 10 days (Singapore's Employment Pass (EP)) and the longest ceiling is 13 months (Sweden's Self-Employment Permit (Eget företag)).
• The median published ceiling sits at about 8 weeks — a useful rule of thumb for the upper end you should plan around.
• 66 tracked routes have no centrally published decision time at all — the timeline is granted on arrival, the route has closed, or the government simply does not commit to one.

The skilled routes, fastest to slowest

Each country's most-used skilled-migration route, ranked by the midpoint of its typical published decision window.

The extremes, across every route

Not just skilled work — the five quickest and five longest of all 20 published windows we track.

Where there is no published clock

A decision window you can't see is itself a finding. These routes carry no central processing time — plan around the constraint, not a number.

• Ireland Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP): Irish Immigration Service — STEP does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Ireland Stamp 4 permission: Irish Immigration Service — Registration Office does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Ireland Irish Student visa (Stamp 2): Irish Immigration Service — Visa Decisions does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Ireland Join Family (Irish national or EEA national): Irish Immigration Service — Join Family does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP — closed): Department of Justice — IIP closure FAQ does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Germany EU Blue Card (Germany): Make it in Germany - EU Blue Card does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Germany Chancenkarte (Germany Opportunity Card): There is no single published nationwide end-to-end Opportunity Card processing period. Individual German missions publish their own indications; preliminary review, appointment waiting and qualification checks need separate planning.
• Germany Skilled Worker residence permit (§18a/§18b AufenthG): No single national end-to-end clock is published for Germany’s Skilled Worker visa. The Federal Foreign Office says national visas may take several months; the optional §81a fast-track procedure has separate recognition, appointment and complete-application decision stages.
• Germany Recognition Partnership (Anerkennungspartnerschaft): Make-it-in-Germany — Recognition Partnership does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Germany Freelance / Self-employment residence permit (§21 AufenthG): Make-it-in-Germany — Freelance residence permit does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Germany Job Seeker visa (§20 AufenthG): German Federal Foreign Office - Job Seeker visa does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Germany German Student residence permit: Make it in Germany - Studying does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Germany Family reunion residence permit: Make it in Germany - Family reunification does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Portugal D8 visa (digital nomad / remote work): Portuguese Consulate network — National visas does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Portugal D2 visa (entrepreneur / self-employment): Portuguese Consulate network — D2 does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Portugal Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment): AIMA — Residence for investment activity does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Portugal D3 visa (highly qualified activity): Portuguese Consulate network — National visas does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Portugal Portuguese Student visa: Portuguese Consulate network — Student visas does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Spain Digital Nomad Visa (Spain): UGE-CE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas) — Teletrabajadores does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Spain Highly Qualified Professional (HQP) permit: UGE-CE — Highly Qualified Professional does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Spain Entrepreneur Visa (Ley 14/2013): UGE-CE — Entrepreneur residence does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Spain Spain Golden Visa (ending April 2025): BOE — Ley Orgánica 1/2025 does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Spain Spanish Student Visa: Portal de Inmigración — Student residence does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Spain Family reunification (Spain): The Spanish Ministry publishes separate legal decision stages rather than one reliable end-to-end processing time: up to 2 months for the sponsor’s family-reunification authorisation, followed by up to 1 month for the consular visa decision after approval.
• Netherlands Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant): IND — Decision periods does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Netherlands EU Blue Card (Netherlands): IND — EU Blue Card does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Netherlands Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur: IND — Self-employed residence (DAFT) does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Netherlands Startup Visa (Netherlands): IND — Startup residence permit does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Netherlands Dutch Student residence permit: IND — Study permit does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• United Arab Emirates UAE Golden Visa: ICP - Golden Residency does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• United Arab Emirates UAE Green Visa: UAE Government Portal — Green Visa does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• United Arab Emirates UAE Employment (Standard Residence) visa: UAE Government Portal — Work visas does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• United Arab Emirates UAE Virtual Working Programme: UAE Government Portal — Virtual working programme does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• United Arab Emirates UAE Green Residence — investor / business partner: UAE Government Portal - Residence visa for doing business does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• United Arab Emirates UAE freelance permit with residence: UAE Government Portal — Freelancing does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Canada Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST): IRCC — Check processing times does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Canada Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): IRCC — Check processing times does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Canada Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): IRCC — PGWP processing times does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Canada Start-Up Visa (Canada): IRCC — Start-up Visa does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Canada Canadian Study Permit: IRCC — Study permit processing times does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Canada Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada): IRCC — Sponsor your spouse does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Australia Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482): Home Affairs — Global visa processing times does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Australia Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190): Home Affairs — Global visa processing times does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Australia Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491): Home Affairs — Global visa processing times does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Australia National Innovation visa (formerly Global Talent): Home Affairs — Global Talent visa does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Australia Australian Student visa (subclass 500): Home Affairs — Student visa does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Australia Partner visa (subclass 820/801, 309/100): Home Affairs — Partner visa does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• United States H-1B Specialty Occupation: USCIS — Case Processing Times does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• United States L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager): USCIS — Case Processing Times does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• United States L-1B Intracompany Transferee (Specialised Knowledge): USCIS — Case Processing Times does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• United States O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement: USCIS — Case Processing Times does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• United States EB-1A Extraordinary Ability (Immigrant): USCIS — Case Processing Times does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• United States EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW): USCIS - Case processing times does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• United States EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers: USCIS — Case Processing Times does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• United States EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program: USCIS — Case Processing Times does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• United States E-2 Treaty Investor: DOS — E-2 Treaty Investor does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• United States F-1 Student Visa (with OPT and STEM OPT): DOS — Student visa (F-1) does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• United States J-1 Exchange Visitor: DOS — Exchange Visitor (J-1) does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• United States TN USMCA Professionals (Canada & Mexico): USCIS - TN USMCA Professionals does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• United States K-1 Fiancé(e) of US Citizen: USCIS — Fiancé(e) Visas does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• United States Spouse of US Citizen or Green Card Holder (IR1/CR1 & F2A): USCIS — Green Card for Family Members of U.S. Citizens does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• France Talent Passport — Salaried Employee (Passeport Talent Salarié): Service-Public.fr - Passeport talent does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Switzerland B Permit — Third-Country National (Aufenthaltsbewilligung): SEM - Non-EU/EFTA nationals does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Austria Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte): Migration.gv.at - Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Norway Skilled Worker Residence Permit (Oppholdstillatelse som faglaert): UDI - Skilled workers does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
• Italy EU Blue Card (Carta Blu UE): MAECI - The entry visa does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.

Methodology

• Sample: every processing window in our structured data with both a typical lower and upper bound in days (20 routes across 20 destinations), each mapped to the issuing government's primary source.
• Ranking: the skilled-route table is ordered by the midpoint of each route's typical window; the extremes lists use the same midpoint. “Dominant skilled route” is the single most-used skilled-migration route we record per destination.
• Spread: the 21× figure compares the slowest skilled route's typical ceiling against the fastest skilled route's typical floor.
• As of: windows reflect each authority's published guidance on its stated check date; report computed 31 May 2026.

Limitations

• These are decision windows, not end-to-end timelines. Appointment backlogs, skills-assessment and qualification-recognition steps, lottery or invitation rounds, and post-decision residence-card issuance often dwarf the decision itself.
• Many authorities publish a legal maximum (e.g. 90 days) that complete applications beat comfortably; others publish a percentile or a service standard. The bands are best-effort comparables, not like-for-like statistics.
• Paid priority and premium services, where they exist, can compress these windows sharply.
• 20 destinations only — the set the site covers; not a global census. This is data journalism, not legal advice. Confirm any window on its linked official source before acting.