In this article
Most programme brochures still promise a few months. Real timelines depend on backlogs, due diligence and how complete an application is. Below, official targets are marked as such; averages come from published industry data.
Fastest: days or weeks
Mauritius aims to process complete Golden Visa applications in five working days. In Dubai, the Land Department's service time for the property Golden Visa is 7 to 10 business days. The UK usually decides Innovator Founder visas in 3 weeks from outside the UK and 8 weeks from inside.
A few months
Nauru's official standard is three to four months. Türkiye's citizenship by investment typically takes about 3 to 6 months, Greece's golden visa about 4 to 6 months and New Zealand's Active Investor Plus about four months, according to published industry sources.
The Caribbean in practice
Late-2025 data shows averages of about 5 months for St Kitts and Nevis, 7 months for Grenada, 9 months for Dominica, 14 months for Antigua and Barbuda and 18 months for Saint Lucia, even though programmes still advertise three to six months.
The slowest: backlogs
Portugal's golden visa had a backlog of about 39.6 months reported in March 2026. Saudi Arabia's official service lists 90 working days for Premium Residency.
When the clock starts
Official targets usually count from the moment an application is complete and accepted. Mauritius counts its five working days from that date, and St Kitts and Nevis counts about four to six months from the Citizenship Unit's acknowledgment of the application. Gathering, translating and certifying documents before that point is not included.
Due diligence on family members
Background and source-of-funds checks cover the main applicant and, in most programmes, every dependant above a set age. St Kitts and Nevis interviews the main applicant and may also interview dependants aged 16 and over. Each additional adult adds to what has to be checked.
Steps after approval
Approval is often not the end. In Saint Lucia the qualifying investment is made only after the application has been approved, and Türkiye requires a visit to give biometrics. Build these steps into your timetable.
Processing times we track
Generated from our programme records: how long each programme takes.
| Programme | Type | Processing time |
|---|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment | Citizenship | About 14 months on average (10 to 18 months), based on late-2025 data. |
| Dominica Citizenship by Investment | Citizenship | Typically 3–6 months from submission to approval (official estimate); interviews for applicants 16+. |
| Egypt Citizenship by Investment | Citizenship | Initial decision three to six months after a complete file; six months' temporary residence to complete the investment; final decision within three months; passport about six to twelve months overall. |
| Grenada Citizenship by Investment | Citizenship | About 7 months on average (4 to 9 months), based on late-2025 data. |
| Jordan Citizenship Through Investment | Citizenship | Business routes: residence during a four-month hiring period, then a three-year temporary passport; citizenship is recommended after three years of compliance. No interim stage is described for the share and direct-employment routes. |
| Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship | Citizenship | Standard processing is three to four months from submission, if all documents are in order. |
| Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment | Citizenship | About 18 months on average to approval (12 to 26 months), based on late-2025 data. |
| São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship by Investment | Citizenship | About six weeks, as reported at launch. |
| St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment | Citizenship | About 4–6 months (120–180 days) from the Citizenship Unit's acknowledgment of the application, plus document preparation. A mandatory interview applies to the main applicant; dependants aged 16+ may also be interviewed. |
| Türkiye Citizenship by Investment | Citizenship | About 3 to 6 months from submission. |
| Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment | Citizenship | Typically one to three months to passport, depending on document collection. |
| Bahrain Golden Residency | Residency | Five working days for the property-owner service, according to the official service page. |
| Bulgaria Permanent Residence by Investment | Residency | About 6 to 8 months to the permanent residence card. |
| Costa Rica Investor Residence | Residency | About 9 to 12 months. |
| Cyprus Permanent Residence by Investment | Residency | The authorities estimate about two months to examine a complete application. |
| Greece Golden Visa | Residency | About 4 to 6 months, depending on the investment route. |
| Hungary Guest Investor Programme | Residency | The official administrative deadline is 21 days, excluding the time needed to submit proof of investment and to correct any deficiencies. |
| Italy Investor Visa | Residency | The Investor Visa Committee issues its assessment within 30 days of a complete application (the clock stops while extra information is requested); the investor then applies for a 2-year visa at an Italian consulate. The investment or donation must be made within three months of arrival in Italy. |
| Jersey High Value Residency | Residency | Usually about one month, unless more information is requested. |
| Luxembourg Investor Residence Permit | Residency | About six months to become resident. |
| Malta Permanent Residence Programme | Residency | Due diligence typically takes about 3–7 months; the property, contribution and donation must be completed within eight months of approval in principle. Applicants may ask for temporary residence when they apply: a one-year renewable card once basic checks are done and the first EUR 15,000 is paid, revoked if the application is refused. |
| Mauritius Golden Visa | Residency | Five working days from the date a complete application is accepted. |
| New Zealand Active Investor Plus | Residency | About four months from a complete application. |
| Panama Qualified Investor Residency | Residency | Investment certification within 15 business days and a residence decision within 30 business days of a complete file. |
| Paraguay Investor Permanent Residence | Residency | The investor certificate is reported to be issued within five business days of a complete application; the residence card takes longer. |
| Portugal Golden Visa | Residency | A large backlog: about 39.6 months reported in March 2026. |
| Saudi Arabia Premium Residency | Residency | The government service lists a duration of 90 working days. |
| Singapore Global Investor Programme | Residency | About 9 to 12 months. |
| Switzerland Lump-Sum Taxation Residence | Residency | About 3 to 6 months from the residence permit application. |
| Thailand Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa, Wealthy Global Citizen | Residency | The Board of Investment notifies the endorsement result within 20 working days, longer if more documents are requested; the visa is issued after endorsement. |
| The Bahamas Permanent Residence | Residency | About 6 to 18 months. |
| UAE Golden Visa | Residency | In Dubai, the Land Department's service time is 7 to 10 business days. |
| UK Innovator Founder Visa | Residency | Usually 3 weeks when applying from outside the UK and 8 weeks from inside, once identity and documents are provided. |
How to plan
Build your timetable from the slower figure, not the advertised one. Complete documents, early due diligence on every family member and quick replies to requests are the factors applicants control.
Reviewed by Martin Albers, Head of ResearchSample profile
Programmes in this article
General information only — not legal, tax or financial advice.
