Permanent Residency Routes by Country (with Estimated Timelines – 2025)

Timelines assume legal stay, relevant employment, tax compliance, and full compliance with immigration rules.

1. UK
Graduate Route (2 years) → Skilled Worker Visa
PR (Indefinite Leave to Remain): approximately 5–6 years

2. Canada
Study/PGWP (1–3 years) → Express Entry / PNP
PR: approximately 2–4 years

3. Austria
Study → Red-White-Red Card
PR: approximately 5 years

4. Luxembourg
Study → Work Permit
PR: approximately 5 years

5. Portugal
Temporary Residence (study/work/business)
PR: approximately 5 years
Citizenship: approximately 7–10 years (subject to new rules)

6. France
Study → APS / Work Permit
PR: approximately 5 years

7. Switzerland
B Permit → C Permit
PR: approximately 10 years (some nationalities: 5 years)

8. Sweden
Work Permit
PR: approximately 4 years

9. Iceland
Work Permit
PR: approximately 4 years

10. Finland
Continuous Residence
PR: approximately 4 years (policy tightening proposed)

11. USA
OPT → H-1B → Employer-Sponsored Green Card
PR (Green Card): variable timeline (depends on employer, category, and quota)
Citizenship: 5 years after Green Card approval

12. Japan
Highly Skilled Professional / Work Visa
PR: 1–3 years (points-based)
Standard route: 5–10 years

13. New Zealand
Skilled Migrant Category
PR: approximately 2–5 years

14. Belgium
Work Permit
PR: approximately 5 years

15. Russia
Temporary Residence Permit (1 year) → PR
PR: approximately 2–3 years

16. Australia
Temporary Graduate → Skilled PR
PR: approximately 3–5 years

17. Spain
Legal Residence
PR: approximately 5 years

18. Italy
Long-Term EU Residence
PR: approximately 5 years

19. Germany
EU Blue Card
PR: approximately 21–33 months (with required German level)
Standard route: approximately 4–5 years

20. Malta
Work Residence
PR: approximately 5 years (highly selective)

Important Reminder

PR is not automatic.
It depends on country choice, career alignment, lawful residence, and long-term strategy.

-Folowosele Adeboye