# Investment Migration Timelines

Typical processing times from engagement to approval for residence and citizenship by investment programmes. Each timeline cites the official government source.

Updated 2026-11-01. Also on the [web page](https://goldenvisas.fyi/guides/timelines).

Timelines are **government processing times from submission of a complete application**. Document preparation (police certificates, apostilles, bank statements, legalised translations) typically adds **4–12 weeks before submission**.

## Citizenship by investment

| Programme | Official timeline | Key steps | Source |
|-----------|-------------------|-----------|--------|
| **St Kitts and Nevis** | 120–180 days from acknowledgment | 1. Agent pre-check (2–4 wks) 2. Submit + pay fees 3. DD + interview 4. Approval-in-principle 5. Contribution + passport | [ciu.gov.kn/application-process/](https://ciu.gov.kn/application-process/) (2026-11-01) |
| **Dominica** | 3–4 months | 1. Agent pre-check 2. Submit 3. DD 4. Approval 5. Contribution + passport | [cbiu.gov.dm](https://www.cbiu.gov.dm/) (2026-11-01) |
| **Grenada** | 4–6 months | 1. Agent pre-check 2. Submit 3. DD 4. Interview (if required) 5. Approval 6. Contribution + passport | [imagrenada.gd](https://imagrenada.gd/) (2026-11-01) |
| **Antigua and Barbuda** | 4–6 months | 1. Agent pre-check 2. Submit 3. DD 4. Approval 5. Contribution + passport | [cip.gov.ag](https://cip.gov.ag/) (2026-11-01) |
| **Saint Lucia** | 3–4 months | 1. Agent pre-check 2. Submit 3. DD 4. Approval 5. Contribution + passport | [cipsaintlucia.com](https://www.cipsaintlucia.com/) (2026-11-01) |
| **Malta (MEIN)** | Closed | The scheme was repealed in July 2025 after the ECJ ruling (C-181/23); citizenship is now by merit at ministerial discretion | [eur-lex.europa.eu](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/C/2025/3238/oj/eng) (2026-11-01) |
| **Türkiye** | 3–6 months | 1. Property purchase + valuation 2. Submit 3. DD 4. Approval 5. Passport | [goc.gov.tr](https://www.goc.gov.tr/) (2026-11-01) |
| **Vanuatu** | 1–2 months | 1. DSP pre-check 2. Submit 3. DD 4. Approval 5. Contribution + passport | [vancitizenship.gov.vu](https://vancitizenship.gov.vu/) (2026-11-01) |

**Notes**:
- Caribbean CBI: Interview mandatory for main applicant (St Kitts, increasingly others). Conducted virtually or in person.
- Türkiye: Property valuation by SPK-licensed appraiser adds 2–4 weeks before submission.

## Residence by investment (golden visa)

| Programme | Official timeline | Key steps | Source |
|-----------|-------------------|-----------|--------|
| **Greece** | 2–4 months | 1. Property purchase/lease 2. Lawyer files 3. Biometrics 4. Card issued | [migration.gov.gr/en/golden-visa/](https://migration.gov.gr/en/golden-visa/) (2026-11-01) |
| **Spain** | Closed | Investor residence ended 3 April 2025 (LO 1/2025); only renewals of existing permits continue | [lamoncloa.gob.es](https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/) (2026-11-01) |
| **Italy** | 3–4 months | 1. Investment 2. Visa application (consulate) 3. Entry 4. Permit (questura) | [esteri.it](https://www.esteri.it/) (2026-11-01) |
| **Portugal (ARI)** | 6–12 months | 1. Investment 2. AIMA submission 3. Interview 4. Card | [aima.gov.pt](https://aima.gov.pt/) (2026-11-01) |
| **Malta (MPRP)** | 4–6 months | 1. Agent submits 2. DD (4-tier) 3. Approval 4. Card | [residencymalta.gov.mt/legal-framework-mprp-2/](https://residencymalta.gov.mt/legal-framework-mprp-2/) (2026-11-01) |
| **UAE** | 2–4 weeks | 1. Property/contract 2. Medical 3. Emirates ID 4. Visa stamping | [u.ae/en/golden-visa](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/golden-visa) (2026-11-01) |
| **USA (EB-5)** | 24–48+ months | 1. I-526 filing 2. Adjudication 3. Conditional Green Card 4. I-829 (21–24 mo later) | [uscis.gov/eb-5](https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/permanent-workers/eb-5-immigrant-investor-program) (2026-11-01) |
| **Cyprus** (Reg. 6(2) PR) | 2–3 months | 1. Investment 2. Lawyer files with Migration Dept 3. Permit | [gov.cy](https://www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/) (2026-11-01) |
| **Hungary** (guest investor) | 2–3 months | 1. Fund purchase or donation 2. Visa at consulate 3. OIF residence application 4. Card | [oif.gov.hu](https://www.oif.gov.hu/factsheets/visa-for-guest-investors) (2026-11-01) |

**Notes**:
- Greece: Biometrics appointment can take 4–8 weeks to schedule in Athens.
- Portugal: AIMA (ex-SEF) backlog means 12+ months is common. Temporary stay authorisation issued at submission.
- EB-5: I-526 processing time varies by regional centre and USCIS workload. Check USCIS case processing times for current estimates.
- UAE: Fastest programme; medical fitness test and Emirates ID are same-day in most centres.

## Pre-submission timeline (document gathering)

| Task | Typical time | Notes |
|------|--------------|-------|
| Police certificates (all countries 10+ years) | 4–8 weeks | Some countries (e.g. USA FBI, UK ACRO) take 6–10 weeks |
| Apostilles/legalisations | 2–4 weeks | Hague Apostille Convention countries: 1–2 weeks; others: embassy legalisation 4–8 weeks |
| Bank statements (3–5 years) | 1–2 weeks | Request from banks early; some require in-person |
| Tax returns/certificates | 2–4 weeks | Tax authority processing varies |
| Corporate documents (if business source) | 2–6 weeks | Company registry extracts, audited financials, shareholder resolutions |
| Translations | 1–2 weeks | Certified translations required for non-official-language documents |
| Medical exams | 1–2 weeks | Approved panel physicians only |
| **Total pre-submission** | **6–14 weeks** | Start early; run tasks in parallel |

## Renewal timelines

| Programme | Renewal period | Processing time | Notes |
|-----------|----------------|-----------------|-------|
| Greece Golden Visa | 5 years | 1–2 months | Biometrics required |
| Italy Investor Visa | 2 years (first), then 3 | 1–2 months | Questura appointment |
| Portugal ARI | 2 years | 6–12 months | AIMA backlog; temporary proof issued |
| Malta MPRP | 5 years | 1–2 months | Residence card renewal |
| UAE Golden Visa | 5 or 10 years | 1–2 weeks | Online renewal |
| USA EB-5 | Conditional (2 yr) → Permanent | I-829: 12–24 mo | File 90 days before conditional expiry |

## What causes delays

| Delay factor | Impact | Mitigation |
|--------------|--------|------------|
| Incomplete application | 4–12 weeks | Use checklist; agent pre-review |
| Police certificate delays | 4–10 weeks | Apply early; use expedite where available |
| Name discrepancies | 2–8 weeks | Ensure all docs match passport exactly |
| Source-of-funds queries | 4–12 weeks | Prepare detailed audit trail upfront |
| Interview scheduling | 2–6 weeks | Be flexible with dates; virtual option |
| Government backlog | Months | No mitigation; check published processing times |
| Sanctions/high-risk nationality | Additional DD | Disclose early; provide extra docs |

## Planning your timeline

**Conservative estimate** (add 50% to official times for first-time applicants):
- Caribbean CBI: **6–9 months** from engagement to passport
- Malta MPRP: **6–9 months** to residence card
- Türkiye: **5–8 months**
- Vanuatu: **3–4 months**
- Greece Golden Visa: **4–7 months** (incl. property search)
- Portugal ARI: **12–18 months** (incl. AIMA backlog)
- EB-5: **36–60+ months** to permanent Green Card

**Start document gathering 3 months before you plan to submit.** The government clock starts only when a complete application is received.

## Official processing time trackers

- **USCIS**: egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/ (form I-526, I-829)
- **IRCC (Canada)**: cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/ (SUV, other)
- **UKVI**: gov.uk/visa-processing-times (Innovator Founder and work routes; the Investor visa closed in 2022)
- **AIMA (Portugal)**: aima.gov.pt (ARI statistics)
- **Greece**: migration.gov.gr (Golden Visa statistics)
- **Malta**: residencymalta.gov.mt (MPRP statistics)

Always confirm current processing times on the official website before you commit.

## Questions

### Why do timelines vary?

Due diligence complexity, application completeness, interview scheduling, government workload, and programme-specific steps (e.g. Malta residence period) all affect timelines.

### Can I speed up the process?

No official fast-track exists. Complete documentation, prompt responses to queries, and using an experienced authorised agent avoid delays.

### What happens if my application is delayed?

Most programmes issue a receipt acknowledging submission. You can follow up via your agent. Some (e.g. St Kitts) publish service standards (120–180 days).

### Does the timeline include document gathering?

The timelines below are **government processing times** from submission of a complete application. Document gathering (police certificates, bank statements, legalised documents) typically adds 4–12 weeks before submission.