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PR Path Length by Visa

Years to permanent residency, across every residency visa we track. Rows are sorted from fastest to slowest — programmes whose PR clock hasn't been published as a fixed number sink to the bottom. Programmes with no PR path at all (student visas, most working-holidays, some digital-nomad permits) are called out below the main table.

Last derived from the underlying visa dataset at build time. Source of truth per programme lives on that programme's detail page and in the official-source link there. General information — not legal advice.

Fastest programme per country

For applicants who care about country over route: the shortest PR route in each country's catalogue.

CountryYears to PRFastest routePath to citizenship
Australia0Australia Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)Skilled workerYes, ~4yr
Brazil0Brazil Retirement / Passive Income Visa (VIPER)RetirementYes, ~4yr
Canada0Canada Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker)Skilled workerYes, ~3yr
Cyprus0Cyprus Category F Permit (Retirees & Passive Income)Passive incomeYes, ~7yr
Israel0Israel Aliyah (Law of Return)FamilyYes, ~0yr
Malta0Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP)Investment
Mauritius0Mauritius Permanent Residency (Property Purchase)InvestmentYes, ~5yr
Mexico0Mexico Permanent Resident Card (Residente Permanente)RetirementYes, ~5yr
New Zealand0New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category Resident VisaSkilled workerYes, ~5yr
Panama0Panama Friendly Nations VisaPassive incomeYes, ~5yr
Paraguay0Paraguay Permanent ResidencyPassive incomeYes, ~3yr
Philippines0Philippines Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV)Retirement
Saudi Arabia0Saudi Arabia Premium Residency (Iqama Mumayazah)Investment
South Korea0Korea F-5 Permanent ResidencyPassive incomeYes, ~5yr
Turkey0Turkey Turquoise CardSkilled workerYes, ~5yr
United Arab Emirates0UAE Golden VisaInvestment
United States0EB-5 Immigrant Investor VisaInvestmentYes, ~5yr
Chile1Chile Rentista VisaPassive incomeYes, ~5yr
Japan1Japan Highly Skilled Professional VisaSkilled workerYes, ~5yr
Colombia2Colombia Pensionado / Retirement Visa (M-10)RetirementYes, ~5yr
Ireland2Ireland Critical Skills Employment PermitSkilled workerYes, ~5yr
Singapore2Singapore EntrePassEntrepreneurYes, ~8yr
Argentina3Argentina Rentista Residency VisaPassive incomeYes, ~2yr
Costa Rica3Costa Rica Rentista VisaPassive incomeYes, ~7yr
Germany3Germany EU Blue CardSkilled workerYes, ~5yr
Hungary3Hungary Guest Investor ProgrammeInvestmentYes, ~8yr
Thailand3Thailand LTR Visa – Wealthy Global CitizenInvestmentYes, ~8yr
United Kingdom3UK Innovator Founder VisaEntrepreneurYes, ~4yr
Uruguay3Uruguay Ordinary Residence Permit (Residencia Permanente)Passive incomeYes, ~5yr
Sweden4Sweden EU Blue CardSkilled workerYes, ~5yr
Austria5Austria Red-White-Red CardSkilled workerYes, ~10yr
Belgium5Belgium Single PermitSkilled workerYes, ~5yr
Cape Verde5Cape Verde Residency-by-Investment to NaturalisationInvestmentYes, ~10yr
Czech Republic5Czech Employment CardSkilled workerYes, ~10yr
Estonia5Estonia Startup VisaEntrepreneurYes, ~8yr
France5France Talent Passport (Passeport Talent)Skilled workerYes, ~5yr
Georgia5Georgia Small Business / Individual Entrepreneur VisaEntrepreneurYes, ~10yr
Greece5Greece Golden VisaInvestmentYes, ~7yr
Indonesia5Indonesia Second Home Visa (B211B)RetirementYes, ~10yr
Italy5Italy Elective Residence VisaPassive incomeYes, ~10yr
Latvia5Latvia Real Estate Residence Permit (MPR)InvestmentYes, ~10yr
Lithuania5Lithuania Startup VisaEntrepreneurYes, ~10yr
Luxembourg5Luxembourg Salaried Worker PermitSkilled workerYes, ~5yr
Netherlands5Netherlands DAFT Visa (Dutch-American Friendship Treaty)EntrepreneurYes, ~5yr
Poland5Poland Temporary Residence PermitSkilled workerYes, ~10yr
Portugal5Portugal D7 Passive Income VisaPassive incomeYes, ~5yr
Romania5Romania Digital Nomad VisaDigital nomadYes, ~8yr
South Africa5South Africa Critical Skills Work VisaSkilled workerYes, ~10yr
Spain5Spain Non-Lucrative VisaPassive incomeYes, ~10yr
Vietnam5Vietnam DT Investor VisaInvestment
Switzerland10Switzerland B Residence Permit (Employment)Skilled workerYes, ~10yr

All PR-eligible visas

122 residency programmes with a documented PR pathway, sorted by shortest published timeline.

YearsCountryVisaCategoryCitizenship?
0 AustraliaAustralia Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)Skilled worker~4yr
0 AustraliaAustralia Global Talent Visa (Subclass 858)Skilled worker~4yr
0 AustraliaAustralia Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)Skilled worker~4yr
0 BrazilBrazil Retirement / Passive Income Visa (VIPER)Retirement~4yr
0 BrazilBrazil Investor Visa (VITEM XIV)Investment~4yr
0 CanadaCanada Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker)Skilled worker~3yr
0 CanadaCanada Start-Up VisaEntrepreneur~3yr
0 CanadaCanada Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)Skilled worker~3yr
0 CanadaCanada Express Entry Category-Based SelectionSkilled worker~3yr
0 CyprusCyprus Category F Permit (Retirees & Passive Income)Passive income~7yr
0 IsraelIsrael Aliyah (Law of Return)Family~0yr
0 MaltaMalta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP)Investment
0 MauritiusMauritius Permanent Residency (Property Purchase)Investment~5yr
0 MexicoMexico Permanent Resident Card (Residente Permanente)Retirement~5yr
0 New ZealandNew Zealand Skilled Migrant Category Resident VisaSkilled worker~5yr
0 New ZealandNew Zealand Investor 2 VisaInvestment~5yr
0 PanamaPanama Friendly Nations VisaPassive income~5yr
0 PanamaPanama Pensionado VisaRetirement~5yr
0 ParaguayParaguay Permanent ResidencyPassive income~3yr
0 PhilippinesPhilippines Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV)Retirement
0 PhilippinesPhilippines Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV)Investment
0 Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia Premium Residency (Iqama Mumayazah)Investment
0 South KoreaKorea F-5 Permanent ResidencyPassive income~5yr
0 TurkeyTurkey Turquoise CardSkilled worker~5yr
0 United Arab EmiratesUAE Golden VisaInvestment
0 United Arab EmiratesUAE Retirement VisaRetirement
0 United StatesEB-5 Immigrant Investor VisaInvestment~5yr
0 United StatesUnited States EB-1A Visa for Individuals with Extraordinary AbilitySkilled worker~5yr
0 United StatesUnited States EB-2 National Interest WaiverSkilled worker~5yr
1 ChileChile Rentista VisaPassive income~5yr
1 JapanJapan Highly Skilled Professional VisaSkilled worker~5yr
1 JapanJapan J-Skip Visa (Highly Skilled Professional Fast-Track)Skilled worker~5yr
2 AustraliaAustralia Skills in Demand (SID) Visa (Subclass 482)Skilled worker~4yr
2 ColombiaColombia Pensionado / Retirement Visa (M-10)Retirement~5yr
2 IrelandIreland Critical Skills Employment PermitSkilled worker~5yr
2 New ZealandNZ Active Investor Plus VisaInvestment~5yr
2 SingaporeSingapore EntrePassEntrepreneur~8yr
2 SingaporeSingapore Employment PassSkilled worker~8yr
2 SingaporeSingapore ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass)Skilled worker~8yr
2 SingaporeSingapore Tech.PassSkilled worker~8yr
3 ArgentinaArgentina Rentista Residency VisaPassive income~2yr
3 ArgentinaArgentina Pensionado (Retiree) VisaRetirement~2yr
3 Costa RicaCosta Rica Rentista VisaPassive income~7yr
3 Costa RicaCosta Rica Pensionado VisaRetirement~7yr
3 GermanyGermany EU Blue CardSkilled worker~5yr
3 HungaryHungary Guest Investor ProgrammeInvestment~8yr
3 South KoreaSouth Korea F-2-99 Point-Based Long-Term Residency VisaSkilled worker~5yr
3 ThailandThailand LTR Visa – Wealthy Global CitizenInvestment~8yr
3 ThailandThailand LTR Visa – Wealthy PensionerRetirement~8yr
3 ThailandThailand LTR Visa – Work-from-Thailand ProfessionalDigital nomad~8yr
3 ThailandThailand LTR Visa – Highly Skilled ProfessionalSkilled worker~8yr
3 United KingdomUK Innovator Founder VisaEntrepreneur~4yr
3 UruguayUruguay Ordinary Residence Permit (Residencia Permanente)Passive income~5yr
4 AustraliaAustralia Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 188)Entrepreneur~5yr
4 MexicoMexico Temporary Resident VisaPassive income~5yr
4 MexicoMexico Temporary Resident Visa (Retirement)Retirement~5yr
4 SwedenSweden EU Blue CardSkilled worker~5yr
4 SwedenSweden Self-Employment PermitEntrepreneur~5yr
5 AustriaAustria Red-White-Red CardSkilled worker~10yr
5 BelgiumBelgium Single PermitSkilled worker~5yr
5 BelgiumBelgium Self-Employed Professional CardEntrepreneur~5yr
5 Cape VerdeCape Verde Residency-by-Investment to NaturalisationInvestment~10yr
5 CyprusCyprus Digital Nomad VisaDigital nomad~7yr
5 Czech RepublicCzech Employment CardSkilled worker~10yr
5 Czech RepublicCzech Long-Term Residence — Investment / BusinessInvestment~10yr
5 Czech RepublicCzech Digital Nomad VisaDigital nomad~10yr
5 EstoniaEstonia Startup VisaEntrepreneur~8yr
5 FranceFrance Talent Passport (Passeport Talent)Skilled worker~5yr
5 FranceFrance Long-Stay Visitor Visa (VLS-TS Visiteur)Passive income~5yr
5 FranceFrance Talent Passport — Salaried Employee (Salarié Qualifié)Skilled worker~5yr
5 FranceFrance Talent Passport — Innovative Startup Founder (Création d'Entreprise)Entrepreneur~5yr
5 FranceFrance Talent Passport — Researcher (Chercheur)Skilled worker~2yr
5 GeorgiaGeorgia Small Business / Individual Entrepreneur VisaEntrepreneur~10yr
5 GermanyGermany Freelancer Visa (Freiberufler)Entrepreneur~5yr
5 GermanyGermany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)Skilled worker~5yr
5 GreeceGreece Golden VisaInvestment~7yr
5 GreeceGreece Financial Independence Visa (Type D)Retirement~7yr
5 GreeceGreece Skilled Worker Visa (Type D)Skilled worker~7yr
5 IndonesiaIndonesia Second Home Visa (B211B)Retirement~10yr
5 IrelandIreland Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP)Investment~5yr
5 ItalyItaly Elective Residence VisaPassive income~10yr
5 ItalyItaly Digital Nomad VisaDigital nomad~10yr
5 ItalyItaly Investor Visa (Visto per Investitori)Investment~10yr
5 ItalyItaly Self-Employment VisaEntrepreneur~10yr
5 ItalyItaly Flat Tax Regime for High-Net-Worth New ResidentsPassive income~10yr
5 ItalyItaly EU Blue CardSkilled worker~10yr
5 LatviaLatvia Real Estate Residence Permit (MPR)Investment~10yr
5 LithuaniaLithuania Startup VisaEntrepreneur~10yr
5 LuxembourgLuxembourg Salaried Worker PermitSkilled worker~5yr
5 NetherlandsNetherlands DAFT Visa (Dutch-American Friendship Treaty)Entrepreneur~5yr
5 NetherlandsNetherlands Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)Skilled worker~5yr
5 PolandPoland Temporary Residence PermitSkilled worker~10yr
5 PortugalPortugal D7 Passive Income VisaPassive income~5yr
5 PortugalPortugal D8 Digital Nomad VisaDigital nomad~5yr
5 PortugalPortugal Golden Visa (ARI)Investment~5yr
5 PortugalPortugal HQA Visa (Highly Qualified Activity)Skilled worker~5yr
5 PortugalPortugal D1 Visa (Subordinate Work / Dependent Employment Visa)Skilled worker~10yr
5 PortugalPortugal D3 Visa (Highly Qualified Activity Visa)Skilled worker~10yr
5 PortugalPortugal Family Reunification Visa (D6)Family~5yr
5 PortugalPortugal D2 Entrepreneur / Independent Worker VisaEntrepreneur~10yr
5 RomaniaRomania Digital Nomad VisaDigital nomad~8yr
5 South AfricaSouth Africa Critical Skills Work VisaSkilled worker~10yr
5 South AfricaSouth Africa Retired Persons VisaRetirement~10yr
5 South KoreaSouth Korea D-8 Investor VisaInvestment~5yr
5 South KoreaSouth Korea F-2 Long-Term Resident VisaSkilled worker
5 South KoreaSouth Korea D-8-4 Technology Startup Visa (OASIS)Entrepreneur~5yr
5 SpainSpain Non-Lucrative VisaPassive income~10yr
5 SpainSpain Digital Nomad VisaDigital nomad~10yr
5 SpainSpain Self-Employment (Autónomo) VisaEntrepreneur~10yr
5 SpainSpain Startup Visa (Entrepreneur Visa – Law 14/2013)Entrepreneur~10yr
5 United KingdomUK Skilled Worker VisaSkilled worker~6yr
5 United KingdomUK Global Talent VisaSkilled worker~6yr
5 United KingdomUK Ancestry VisaFamily~6yr
5 United StatesUS L-1 Intracompany Transferee VisaSkilled worker~10yr
5 VietnamVietnam DT Investor VisaInvestment
6 United StatesUS H-1B Specialty Occupation VisaSkilled worker~11yr
8 TurkeyTurkey Short-Term Residence PermitPassive income~5yr
8 TurkeyTurkey Work PermitSkilled worker~5yr
10 JapanJapan Business Manager VisaEntrepreneur~5yr
10 JapanJapan Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) VisaSkilled worker~5yr
10 SwitzerlandSwitzerland B Residence Permit (Employment)Skilled worker~10yr
10 SwitzerlandSwitzerland Self-Employment PermitEntrepreneur~10yr

Visas with no documented PR pathway

46 programmes are temporary-only or lead directly to citizenship without an intermediate PR stage (CBI programmes, some CBD registrations). Route these via the visa detail page rather than treating a missing PR column as a bug.

Machine-readable

This matrix is derived at build time from the underlying visa dataset published at /api/v1/visas.json. Use the JSON endpoint for programmatic access.