Workium
Countries & Destinations

Program Timelines

3 min read

Processing timelines vary by country and visa type. This guide provides estimated timeframes for each stage of the relocation process across all 24 supported countries.

Understanding Processing Timelines

Processing times vary significantly between countries and visa types. Below are estimated timelines for each stage of the process.

Typical Process Stages

1Pre-Assessment and Profile Review: 1-2 weeks
2Document Preparation: 2-4 weeks (depends on your readiness and responsiveness)
3Job Matching: 2-8 weeks (varies significantly by country, sector, and candidate profile)
4Work Permit Processing: 2-12 weeks (country-dependent, this is the government processing stage)
5Visa Application and Embassy Processing: 2-8 weeks
6Pre-Departure Preparation: 1-2 weeks

Country-Specific Estimates (Total from Start to Departure)

United Kingdom: 5-7 months (UK processes are thorough and include COS acquisition)
Germany: 2-4 months (Blue Card is faster than standard work permit)
Portugal: 2-4 months
Netherlands: 2-3 months (Highly Skilled Migrant is relatively fast)
Poland: 1-3 months (one of the fastest processing countries)
Czech Republic: 2-4 months
Norway: 3-5 months
Austria: 3-5 months
Hungary: 2-3 months
Romania: 2-3 months
Bulgaria: 2-3 months
Slovakia: 3-5 months
Serbia: 1-3 months (fastest processing in our network)
Ukraine: 1-3 months
Belarus: 2-4 months
Lithuania: 1-3 months
Latvia: 2-4 months
Montenegro: 2-4 months
Armenia: 1-3 months
Luxembourg: 3-5 months
Albania: 2-3 months
Estonia: 2-4 months

Factors That Affect Your Timeline

Document readiness: Having all documents prepared and properly certified before you start saves weeks. Start gathering documents as soon as possible.
Country of origin: Some nationalities face additional screening or documentation requirements.
Visa type: Blue Cards and Skilled Worker visas involve more checks than standard work permits.
Seasonal demand: Peak application periods (usually spring and summer) can cause delays.
Embassy workload: Visa appointment availability varies by location and time of year.
Employer cooperation: Some employers process paperwork faster than others.
Government processing: Immigration authorities have their own timelines which Workium cannot control.

What You Can Do to Speed Things Up

1Complete your document checklist as quickly as possible
2Respond to caseworker requests within 24 hours
3Ensure all documents are correctly certified and translated
4Attend embassy appointments promptly
5Keep your passport valid with at least 12 months remaining

IMPORTANT: These are estimates only. Actual processing times may vary based on individual circumstances. Track your specific timeline through your dashboard milestone tracker after registration.

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