Fastest residency and citizenship programs by processing time
Processing time is often the deciding factor when a job, a move or a school year is waiting. This ranking orders residency and citizenship programs by the time from a complete application to a decision.
- 1Costa RicaStay for Remote Workers and Service Providers15 days
- 2United KingdomGlobal Talent Visa21 days
- 3United KingdomInnovator Founder Visa21 days
- 4SingaporeOverseas Networks & Expertise Pass28 days
- 5EstoniaDigital Nomad Long-stay Visa30 days
- 6HungaryWhite Card30 days
- 7SingaporeEntrePass42 days
- 8GreeceGolden Visa — Listed Property Restoration2 months
- 9NetherlandsStart-up Residence Permit3 months
- 10ItalyDigital Nomad Visa — Self-employed4 months
- 11NauruNaoero Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program4 months
- 12ArmeniaSimplified Citizenship for People of Armenian Origin4 months
- 13PolandConfirmation of Polish Citizenship6 months
- 14IrelandForeign Birth Registration12 months
- 15ItalyCitizenship by Descent24 months
How this ranking is calculated
We use the processing time the government publishes. Many governments publish none, or publish a target they regularly miss. In those cases the ranking uses the median of reported cases from licensed advisers and applicant surveys, and the row is marked "Reported cases, no official time". The program page shows both figures when both exist, plus how long it then takes to receive the card or passport.
Fast decisions are only part of speed. The tags on every row show the years to citizenship, because a residence permit granted in a month can still take ten years to become a passport. Check the program page before you plan around a date.
Full formulas and sources are on the methodology page. Figures last reviewed 2026-11-15.
Speed ranking: FAQ
Why do some rows say "Reported cases"?
Because the government publishes no processing time for that program. The figure is the median of reported cases and is less reliable than an official time.
Does the time include collecting documents?
No. It starts when a complete application is submitted. Gathering documents, translations and police certificates usually adds weeks before that.