Processingtime

In plain words

Processing time is the time the state takes over your application from the moment of filing to final approval. It is not the same as the whole route to a passport: on top of processing comes the time to gather and legalise documents, and sometimes to make the investment.

The guidelines vary: the classic Caribbean citizenship programmes usually process applications in 4-8 months, Malta in a year or longer because of the residence period and the most thorough check. Residence programmes are often faster — weeks or a couple of months. But these are only guidelines: the real time depends on the authority’s workload, the completeness of your file and the depth of due diligence.

The main cause of delays is the quality of the application. A clean and complete file goes through quickly, while contentious episodes, missing documents or questions about the origin of money stretch out the check and bring requests. That is why timelines are planned realistically, with a buffer, rather than counting on the minimum stated time.

Where processing time matters

What affects the timeline

What the timeline is made up of

1. 01Gathering and legalising documents
2. 02Filing the application
3. 03Due diligence check
4. 04Approval and investment
5. 05Passport or residence permit

What you need to know

• Processing time runs from filing to approval
• It is not the whole route: plus documents and investment
• The Caribbean usually takes 4-8 months, Malta a year or more
• The real time depends on the file and the check
• A clean application goes through faster than a contentious one

Common mistakes

• ✕Counting on the minimum stated time
• ✕Not allowing time for documents and legalisation
• ✕Filing an incomplete file and receiving requests
• ✕Ordering certificates too early — they expire
• ✕Not accounting for the depth of the check for your profile

Read next