How long from temporary visa to permanent residence? 6 countries

8 routes in this comparison.

Not permanent on grant — a later stage

Australia skilled migration: Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491)
Australia
Months before the permanent stage
36 months
Job offer
Not published on the page we read
Application fee
No amount stored
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Overview: 'apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time your visa is granted.' About this visa: apply, if eligible, through subclass 191; 'You cannot apply for other permanent visas until you have held your subclass 491 visa for 3 years.'
Open the authority page for this fact
Source: Department of Home Affairs · verified 2026-08-16
Germany work visa: EU Blue Card
Germany
Months before the permanent stage
21 months
Job offer
Required
Application fee
EUR 75
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Page opened 2026-09-21: 'After 27 months, EU Blue Card holders can obtain a [settlement permit] if they can prove that they have German language skills at level A1. If language level B1 can be demonstrated, the settlement permit can be issued after only 21 months.' Stored months are the shorter B1 path, not a guarantee.
Open the authority page for this fact
Source: Federal Government (Make it in Germany) · verified 2026-08-15
Netherlands work visa: Highly skilled migrant
Netherlands
Months before the permanent stage
60 months
Job offer
Required
Application fee
EUR 423
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
HSM page: 'Do you have a residence permit for 5 years? You can apply for a permanent residence permit.' Permanent-residence page also requires 5 consecutive years, a current non-temporary purpose (highly skilled migrant is listed as non-temporary), civic integration at least A2 or an exemption, income, BRP registration, and timely extensions. Stored months are the 5-year rule, not a grant.
Open the authority page for this fact
Source: Immigration and Naturalisation Service · verified 2026-08-15
Portugal digital nomad visa: remote work
Portugal
Months before the permanent stage
60 months
Job offer
Not required
Application fee
No amount stored
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
AIMA art. 80.º page (opened): “Titularidade de autorização de residência temporária há pelo menos 5 anos.” Same rule on gov.pt (https://www.gov.pt/servicos/pedir-a-autorizacao-de-residencia-permanente) and Lei n.º 23/2007 consolidada, art. 80.º n.º 1 alínea a). AIMA nomad page (opened): temporary title “válida pelo período de dois anos … renovável por períodos sucessivos de três anos.” Old 24-month PR figure contradicted that.
Open the authority page for this fact
Source: Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo, I.P. · verified 2026-09-24
Retire abroad in Portugal: passive income
Portugal
Months before the permanent stage
60 months
Job offer
Not required
Application fee
EUR 90
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
AIMA art. 80.º (opened): “Titularidade de autorização de residência temporária há pelo menos 5 anos.” Lei n.º 23/2007 consolidada, art. 80.º n.º 1 alínea a). Old 24-month PR figure contradicted that.
Open the authority page for this fact
Source: Governo de Portugal (gov.pt) · verified 2026-09-24
Sweden work visa: Work permit (employee)
Sweden
Months before the permanent stage
48 months
Job offer
Required
Application fee
SEK 2,200
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Extension page: “You must have had, and met the conditions for, a permit for work and have worked in Sweden for four of the past seven years.” Also: sustainable financial maintenance (2026 leftover after housing SEK 6,243 a month for a single adult) and “You must live a well-behaved life.” Permanent-residence hub (https://www.migrationsverket.se/en/you-want-to-apply/permanent-residence-permit.html) says a permanent permit “does not have a limited period of validity” but “you must meet special requirements relating to, among other things, financial maintenance and good conduct.” The stored 48 months is only the time limb. Old record treated 48 months as sufficient on its own.
Open the authority page for this fact
Source: Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · verified 2026-08-15
Sweden self-employed visa: Residence permit to run your own business
Sweden
Months before the permanent stage
24 months
Job offer
Not required
Application fee
SEK 2,000
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Extension page: “You must have had, and met the conditions for, a residence permit as a self-employed person, and have run your own business in Sweden for at least two years.” Also: support yourself through the business and live a well-behaved life. The leftover-after-housing figure on that page still prints “In 2025, that amount is SEK 6,186” while the work-extension page prints SEK 6,243 for 2026 — flagged for a human; not stored as this route’s funds field. Old 48-month figure contradicted the two-year rule and has been replaced, with the extra conditions recorded in the summary.
Open the authority page for this fact
Source: Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · verified 2026-08-15
UK work visa: Skilled Worker Visa
United Kingdom
Months before the permanent stage
60 months
Job offer
Required
Application fee
From GBP 819
Processing time
No commitment to a processing time
Overview: 'After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as indefinite leave to remain).' Settlement hub: work-visa applicants 'must usually have lived and worked in the UK for 5 years' and lists Skilled Worker. Hedged as 'may' / 'usually', not a guarantee.
Open the authority page for this fact
Source: UK Visas and Immigration · verified 2026-09-24

Route	Months before the permanent stage	Job offer	Application fee	Processing time
Australia skilled migration: Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491) Australia	36 months	Not published on the page we read	No amount stored	No commitment to a processing time
Overview: 'apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time your visa is granted.' About this visa: apply, if eligible, through subclass 191; 'You cannot apply for other permanent visas until you have held your subclass 491 visa for 3 years.' Open the authority page for this fact Source: Department of Home Affairs · verified 2026-08-16
Germany work visa: EU Blue Card Germany	21 months	Required	EUR 75	No commitment to a processing time
Page opened 2026-09-21: 'After 27 months, EU Blue Card holders can obtain a [settlement permit] if they can prove that they have German language skills at level A1. If language level B1 can be demonstrated, the settlement permit can be issued after only 21 months.' Stored months are the shorter B1 path, not a guarantee. Open the authority page for this fact Source: Federal Government (Make it in Germany) · verified 2026-08-15
Netherlands work visa: Highly skilled migrant Netherlands	60 months	Required	EUR 423	No commitment to a processing time
HSM page: 'Do you have a residence permit for 5 years? You can apply for a permanent residence permit.' Permanent-residence page also requires 5 consecutive years, a current non-temporary purpose (highly skilled migrant is listed as non-temporary), civic integration at least A2 or an exemption, income, BRP registration, and timely extensions. Stored months are the 5-year rule, not a grant. Open the authority page for this fact Source: Immigration and Naturalisation Service · verified 2026-08-15
Portugal digital nomad visa: remote work Portugal	60 months	Not required	No amount stored	No commitment to a processing time
AIMA art. 80.º page (opened): “Titularidade de autorização de residência temporária há pelo menos 5 anos.” Same rule on gov.pt (https://www.gov.pt/servicos/pedir-a-autorizacao-de-residencia-permanente) and Lei n.º 23/2007 consolidada, art. 80.º n.º 1 alínea a). AIMA nomad page (opened): temporary title “válida pelo período de dois anos … renovável por períodos sucessivos de três anos.” Old 24-month PR figure contradicted that. Open the authority page for this fact Source: Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo, I.P. · verified 2026-09-24
Retire abroad in Portugal: passive income Portugal	60 months	Not required	EUR 90	No commitment to a processing time
AIMA art. 80.º (opened): “Titularidade de autorização de residência temporária há pelo menos 5 anos.” Lei n.º 23/2007 consolidada, art. 80.º n.º 1 alínea a). Old 24-month PR figure contradicted that. Open the authority page for this fact Source: Governo de Portugal (gov.pt) · verified 2026-09-24
Sweden work visa: Work permit (employee) Sweden	48 months	Required	SEK 2,200	No commitment to a processing time
Extension page: “You must have had, and met the conditions for, a permit for work and have worked in Sweden for four of the past seven years.” Also: sustainable financial maintenance (2026 leftover after housing SEK 6,243 a month for a single adult) and “You must live a well-behaved life.” Permanent-residence hub (https://www.migrationsverket.se/en/you-want-to-apply/permanent-residence-permit.html) says a permanent permit “does not have a limited period of validity” but “you must meet special requirements relating to, among other things, financial maintenance and good conduct.” The stored 48 months is only the time limb. Old record treated 48 months as sufficient on its own. Open the authority page for this fact Source: Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · verified 2026-08-15
Sweden self-employed visa: Residence permit to run your own business Sweden	24 months	Not required	SEK 2,000	No commitment to a processing time
Extension page: “You must have had, and met the conditions for, a residence permit as a self-employed person, and have run your own business in Sweden for at least two years.” Also: support yourself through the business and live a well-behaved life. The leftover-after-housing figure on that page still prints “In 2025, that amount is SEK 6,186” while the work-extension page prints SEK 6,243 for 2026 — flagged for a human; not stored as this route’s funds field. Old 48-month figure contradicted the two-year rule and has been replaced, with the extra conditions recorded in the summary. Open the authority page for this fact Source: Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · verified 2026-08-15
UK work visa: Skilled Worker Visa United Kingdom	60 months	Required	From GBP 819	No commitment to a processing time
Overview: 'After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as indefinite leave to remain).' Settlement hub: work-visa applicants 'must usually have lived and worked in the UK for 5 years' and lists Skilled Worker. Hedged as 'may' / 'usually', not a guarantee. Open the authority page for this fact Source: UK Visas and Immigration · verified 2026-09-24

These routes are not permanent on grant. Each row stores how many months run before the permanent stage, and the conditions attached; none of them is automatic.

Other comparisons: Why no one commits to a processing time · Permanent residence on arrival · Immigrate without a job offer · Points tests compared · Application fees by country · Proof of funds by country · Work visa salary minimums · Age limits by country · Language requirements by country · Student visas and permanent residence · Temporary visas compared

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