Original research - 1 July 2026
Processing-Time Planning Reliability Index 2026
A 2026 processing-time planning reliability index scoring official immigration clocks by published-window availability, window width, percentile disclosure and source freshness.
This is not a claim about actual case outcomes. It measures how transparent and usable each official clock is for planning before appointment queues, biometrics, employer steps or post-decision cards are added.
By Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.
98
Scored route clocks
66.4/100
Average score
14
Strong clocks
8
No central clock
Key findings
- 14 route clocks score as strong, meaning the user gets a current, bounded and relatively narrow official decision window.
- 6 route clocks expose percentile-style disclosure, which is more useful for planning than a bare legal maximum or a broad editorial range.
- 8 tracked routes have no central published decision clock; those pages need guidance and delay triggers rather than a guessed number.
- The index uses the same source records as /api/public/processing-times, so the reliability layer inherits every source URL and last-checked date.
Strongest planning clocks
Australia: Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
2 weeks – 8 weeks
90/100
Published percentile available
United Arab Emirates: UAE Employment (Standard Residence) visa
3 days – 10 days
85/100
Official window only
Singapore: Employment Pass (EP)
10 days – 2 weeks
85/100
Official window with caveat
United Arab Emirates: UAE Virtual Working Programme
5 days – 2 weeks
85/100
Official window only
United Arab Emirates: UAE Green Visa
5 days – 2 weeks
85/100
Official window only
Weakest or most opaque clocks
Austria: Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte)
Not centrally published
15/100
No central processing clock
France: Talent Passport — Salaried Employee (Passeport Talent Salarié)
Not centrally published
15/100
No central processing clock
Ireland: Stamp 4 permission
Not centrally published
15/100
No central processing clock
Ireland: Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP — closed)
Not centrally published
15/100
No central processing clock
Italy: EU Blue Card (Carta Blu UE)
Not centrally published
15/100
No central processing clock
Methodology
A source-linked index measuring how usable each published immigration processing-time clock is for planning: official clock availability, window width, percentile disclosure and source freshness.
| Component | Max | What it rewards |
|---|---|---|
| officialClock | 40 | Full points where the authority publishes a usable decision window or percentile clock; zero where no central clock is published. |
| windowWidth | 30 | Narrow published windows score higher because users can plan around them more safely. |
| percentileDisclosure | 15 | Authorities that publish p80 or p90-style percentile figures get extra disclosure credit. |
| freshness | 15 | Source records checked within 45 days of the index version receive full freshness credit. |
Full index
Scores are sorted from most usable planning clock to most opaque. Each row links to the route processing-time page and the official source.
| Route | Clock | Grade | Score | Delay trigger |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia: Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) | 2 weeks – 8 weeks | Strong planning clock Published percentile available | 90 | After 7 weeks (published percentile) |
| United Arab Emirates: UAE Employment (Standard Residence) visa | 3 days – 10 days | Strong planning clock Official window only | 85 | After 10 days |
| Singapore: Employment Pass (EP) | 10 days – 2 weeks | Strong planning clock Official window with caveat | 85 | After 2 weeks |
| United Arab Emirates: UAE Virtual Working Programme | 5 days – 2 weeks | Strong planning clock Official window only | 85 | After 2 weeks |
| United Arab Emirates: UAE Green Visa | 5 days – 2 weeks | Strong planning clock Official window only | 85 | After 15 days |
| United Arab Emirates: UAE freelance permit with residence | 5 days – 2 weeks | Strong planning clock Official window only | 85 | After 15 days |
| United Kingdom: Skilled Worker visa | 2 weeks – 3 weeks | Strong planning clock Official window with caveat | 85 | After 3 weeks |
| United Kingdom: Health and Care Worker visa | 2 weeks – 3 weeks | Strong planning clock Official window with caveat | 85 | After 3 weeks |
| United Kingdom: Youth Mobility Scheme visa | 2 weeks – 3 weeks | Strong planning clock Official window with caveat | 85 | After 3 weeks |
| United Kingdom: Student visa Source: GOV.UK — Student visa | 2 weeks – 3 weeks | Strong planning clock Official window only | 85 | After 3 weeks |
| United Kingdom: Standard Visitor visa Source: GOV.UK — Standard Visitor visa | 2 weeks – 3 weeks | Strong planning clock Official window only | 85 | After 3 weeks |
| Hong Kong: General Employment Policy (GEP) Source: Hong Kong Immigration Department - General Employment Policy | 4 weeks – 4 weeks | Strong planning clock Official window with caveat | 85 | After 4 weeks |
| United Kingdom: High Potential Individual visa | 3 weeks – 4 weeks | Strong planning clock Official window only | 85 | After 4 weeks |
| United Kingdom: Graduate visa Source: GOV.UK — Graduate visa | 6 weeks – 8 weeks | Strong planning clock Official window only | 85 | After 8 weeks |
| United Arab Emirates: UAE Golden Visa Source: UAE Government Portal — Long-term residence visa (Golden Visa) | 2 weeks – 4 weeks | Usable planning clock Official window only | 80 | After 30 days |
| United Arab Emirates: UAE Investor / Partner residence visa | 10 days – 4 weeks | Usable planning clock Official window only | 80 | After 30 days |
| United States: TN USMCA Professionals (Canada & Mexico) Source: USCIS - TN USMCA Professionals | 1 days – 4 weeks | Usable planning clock Official window only | 80 | After 30 days |
| Ireland: Critical Skills Employment Permit | 3 weeks – 6 weeks | Usable planning clock Official window only | 80 | After 6 weeks |
| Spain: Digital Nomad Visa (Spain) Source: UGE-CE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas) — Teletrabajadores | 3 weeks – 6 weeks | Usable planning clock Official window only | 80 | After 45 days |
| Spain: Highly Qualified Professional (HQP) permit | 3 weeks – 6 weeks | Usable planning clock Official window only | 80 | After 45 days |
| Ireland: Irish Student visa (Stamp 2) | 4 weeks – 8 weeks | Usable planning clock Official window only | 80 | After 8 weeks |
| Spain: Spanish Student Visa | 4 weeks – 2 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 80 | After 2 months |
| Portugal: Portuguese Student visa | 2 months – 3 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 80 | After 3 months |
| United Kingdom: Global Talent visa Source: GOV.UK — Global Talent visa | 3 weeks – 8 weeks | Usable planning clock Official window with caveat | 75 | After 8 weeks |
| United Kingdom: Innovator Founder visa Source: GOV.UK — Innovator Founder visa | 3 weeks – 8 weeks | Usable planning clock Official window only | 75 | After 8 weeks |
| United Kingdom: Scale-up visa Source: GOV.UK — Scale-up visa | 3 weeks – 8 weeks | Usable planning clock Official window only | 75 | After 8 weeks |
| Australia: Working Holiday Maker visa (subclass 417/462) | 7 days – 2 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 75 | After 2 months |
| Netherlands: Dutch Student residence permit Source: IND — Study permit | 2 weeks – 2 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 75 | After 2 months |
| Spain: Entrepreneur Visa (Ley 14/2013) Source: UGE-CE — Entrepreneur residence | 3 weeks – 2 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 75 | After 2 months |
| Ireland: Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) Source: Irish Immigration Service — STEP | 6 weeks – 3 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 75 | After 84 days |
| Denmark: Pay Limit Scheme (Beloebsordningen) | 4 weeks – 3 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 75 | After 3 months |
| Germany: EU Blue Card (Germany) | 4 weeks – 3 months | Usable planning clock Official window with caveat | 75 | After 3 months |
| Germany: Chancenkarte (Germany Opportunity Card) | 4 weeks – 3 months | Usable planning clock Official window with caveat | 75 | After 3 months |
| Germany: Skilled Worker residence permit (§18a/§18b AufenthG) | 4 weeks – 3 months | Usable planning clock Official window with caveat | 75 | After 3 months |
| Germany: Job Seeker visa (§20 AufenthG) | 4 weeks – 3 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 75 | After 3 months |
| Germany: German Student residence permit Source: Make it in Germany - Studying | 4 weeks – 3 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 75 | After 3 months |
| Netherlands: Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur | 4 weeks – 3 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 75 | After 3 months |
| Netherlands: Startup Visa (Netherlands) Source: IND — Startup residence permit | 4 weeks – 3 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 75 | After 3 months |
| Spain: Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) | 4 weeks – 3 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 75 | After 3 months |
| Sweden: Work Permit (Arbetstillstånd) | 4 weeks – 3 months | Usable planning clock Official window with caveat | 75 | After 3 months |
| Ireland: General Employment Permit | 6 weeks – 3 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 75 | After 91 days |
| Germany: Recognition Partnership (Anerkennungspartnerschaft) | 2 months – 4 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 75 | After 4 months |
| Germany: Freelance / Self-employment residence permit (§21 AufenthG) | 2 months – 4 months | Usable planning clock Official window with caveat | 75 | After 4 months |
| Portugal: D8 visa (digital nomad / remote work) | 2 months – 4 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 75 | After 4 months |
| Portugal: D3 visa (highly qualified activity) | 2 months – 4 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 75 | After 4 months |
| Canada: Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Source: IRCC — Check processing times | 5 months – 7 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 75 | After 7 months |
| Netherlands: Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) Source: IND — Decision periods | 2 weeks – 3 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 67 | After 3 months |
| Netherlands: Orientation year (Zoekjaar) Source: IND — Orientation year | 2 weeks – 3 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 67 | After 3 months |
| Netherlands: EU Blue Card (Netherlands) Source: IND — EU Blue Card | 2 weeks – 3 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 67 | After 3 months |
| United States: J-1 Exchange Visitor Source: DOS — Exchange Visitor (J-1) | 2 weeks – 3 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 67 | After 3 months |
| Australia: Australian Student visa (subclass 500) Source: Home Affairs — Student visa | 4 weeks – 4 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 67 | After 112 days |
| United Kingdom: Family visa (partner/spouse) Source: GOV.UK — Family visas | 3 months – 6 months | Usable planning clock Official window with caveat | 67 | After 168 days |
| Spain: Family reunification (Spain) | 3 months – 6 months | Usable planning clock Official window with caveat | 67 | After 6 months |
| Canada: Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Source: IRCC — Check processing times | 5 months – 8 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 67 | After 8 months |
| Canada: Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST) Source: IRCC — Check processing times | 5 months – 8 months | Usable planning clock Official window only | 67 | After 8 months |
| New Zealand: Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa | Immigration New Zealand's resident-visa wait times page currently reports 80% of Skilled Migrant Category applications completed within 4 months, with an 11-week average wait. | Watch closely Published percentile available | 62 | After 4 months (published percentile) |
| New Zealand: Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa Source: Immigration New Zealand - Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa | Immigration New Zealand lists the Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa at 80% within 7 months; the resident-visa wait times page currently shows a 5.5-month average. | Watch closely Published percentile available | 62 | After 7 months (published percentile) |
| New Zealand: Working Holiday Visa Source: Immigration New Zealand - United Kingdom Working Holiday Visa | INZ working holiday country pages, including the United Kingdom scheme, currently list 80% of applications processed within about 2.5 weeks. | Watch closely Published percentile available | 62 | After 18 days (published percentile) |
| New Zealand: Student Visa | Immigration New Zealand lists the Fee Paying Student Visa at 80% within 9.5 weeks. | Watch closely Published percentile available | 62 | After 67 days (published percentile) |
| New Zealand: Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) Source: Immigration New Zealand - Accredited Employer Work Visa | Immigration New Zealand lists Accredited Employer Work Visa worker applications at 80% within 7 weeks. | Watch closely Published percentile available | 62 | After 7 weeks (published percentile) |
| Canada: Canadian Study Permit | 3 weeks – 4 months | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 112 days |
| United States: E-2 Treaty Investor Source: DOS — E-2 Treaty Investor | 2 weeks – 4 months | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 4 months |
| United States: F-1 Student Visa (with OPT and STEM OPT) Source: DOS — Student visa (F-1) | 2 weeks – 4 months | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 4 months |
| Canada: Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Source: IRCC — PGWP processing times | 2 months – 6 months | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 6 months |
| Netherlands: Partner residence (Dutch national or resident sponsor) Source: IND — Family reunification | 2 months – 6 months | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 6 months |
| Portugal: D7 visa (passive income / retirement) | 2 months – 6 months | Watch closely Official window with caveat | 61 | After 6 months |
| Portugal: D2 visa (entrepreneur / self-employment) | 2 months – 6 months | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 6 months |
| United States: O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement Source: USCIS — Case Processing Times | 2 months – 6 months | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 6 months |
| United States: H-1B Specialty Occupation Source: USCIS — Case Processing Times | 2 months – 8 months | Watch closely Official window with caveat | 61 | After 8 months |
| United States: L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager) Source: USCIS — Case Processing Times | 2 months – 8 months | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 8 months |
| United States: L-1B Intracompany Transferee (Specialised Knowledge) Source: USCIS — Case Processing Times | 2 months – 9 months | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 9 months |
| Australia: Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) | 6 months – 12 months | Watch closely Official window with caveat | 61 | After 365 days |
| Australia: Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) | 6 months – 12 months | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 365 days |
| Australia: Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) | 6 months – 12 months | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 365 days |
| Australia: National Innovation visa (formerly Global Talent) | 3 months – 12 months | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 365 days |
| Germany: Family reunion residence permit | 3 months – 12 months | Watch closely Official window with caveat | 61 | After 365 days |
| Ireland: Join Family (Irish national or EEA national) | 6 months – 12 months | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 365 days |
| Portugal: Family reunification (residence) Source: AIMA — Family reunification | 3 months – 12 months | Watch closely Official window with caveat | 61 | After 365 days |
| Australia: Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) | 6 months – 14 months | Watch closely Official window with caveat | 61 | After 14 months |
| Canada: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Source: IRCC — Check processing times | 11 months – 18 months | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 18 months |
| Portugal: Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment) | 6 months – 18 months | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 18 months |
| United States: EB-1A Extraordinary Ability (Immigrant) Source: USCIS — Case Processing Times | 6 months – 18 months | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 18 months |
| United States: K-1 Fiancé(e) of US Citizen Source: USCIS — Fiancé(e) Visas | 6 months – 18 months | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 18 months |
| Canada: Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada) Source: IRCC — Sponsor your spouse | 15 months – 1.7 years | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 1.7 years |
| Australia: Partner visa (subclass 820/801, 309/100) Source: Home Affairs — Partner visa | 15 months – 2.5 years | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 2.5 years |
| United States: EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) Source: USCIS — Case Processing Times | 6 months – 2.5 years | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 2.5 years |
| United States: Spouse of US Citizen or Green Card Holder (IR1/CR1 & F2A) Source: USCIS — Green Card for Family Members of U.S. Citizens | 7 months – 2.5 years | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 2.5 years |
| United States: EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers Source: USCIS — Case Processing Times | 12 months – 3.3 years | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 3.3 years |
| Canada: Start-Up Visa (Canada) Source: IRCC — Start-up Visa | 3.3 years – 4.3 years | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 4.3 years |
| United States: EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program Source: USCIS — Case Processing Times | 18 months – 4.9 years | Watch closely Official window only | 61 | After 4.9 years |
| Austria: Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte) Source: Migration.gv.at - Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations | Not centrally published | Opaque or no central clock No central processing clock | 15 | No fixed delay point - use route guidance |
| France: Talent Passport — Salaried Employee (Passeport Talent Salarié) | Not centrally published | Opaque or no central clock No central processing clock | 15 | No fixed delay point - use route guidance |
| Ireland: Stamp 4 permission | Not centrally published | Opaque or no central clock No central processing clock | 15 | No fixed delay point - use route guidance |
| Ireland: Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP — closed) | Not centrally published | Opaque or no central clock No central processing clock | 15 | No fixed delay point - use route guidance |
| Italy: EU Blue Card (Carta Blu UE) Source: MAECI - The entry visa | Not centrally published | Opaque or no central clock No central processing clock | 15 | No fixed delay point - use route guidance |
| Norway: Skilled Worker Residence Permit (Oppholdstillatelse som faglaert) Source: UDI - Skilled workers | Not centrally published | Opaque or no central clock No central processing clock | 15 | No fixed delay point - use route guidance |
| Spain: Spain Golden Visa (ending April 2025) Source: BOE — Ley Orgánica 1/2025 | Not centrally published | Opaque or no central clock No central processing clock | 15 | No fixed delay point - use route guidance |
| Switzerland: B Permit — Third-Country National (Aufenthaltsbewilligung) Source: SEM - Non-EU/EFTA nationals | Not centrally published | Opaque or no central clock No central processing clock | 15 | No fixed delay point - use route guidance |
Limits
- This is a planning-transparency index, not a prediction of individual case outcome or deadline.
- Appointment queues, biometrics, skills assessment, employer steps and post-decision residence-card issuance can sit outside the published decision clock.
- A low score can mean the government does not publish a central clock; it does not mean the route is bad or impossible.
Cite or reuse this dataset
This index is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0. Cite this report for the scoring methodology, the JSON endpoint for the derived rows, and the listed authorities for the underlying processing clocks.
Suggested citation
Visa Atlas, "Visa Atlas processing-time planning reliability index", https://visaatlas.org/research/processing-time-reliability-index-2026. Last verified 1 July 2026.