Lists

The fastest-processing skilled-worker visas of 2026

By official minimum processing week, ascending. Reality usually sits above the floor — we publish the range each government advertises.

01 CN China (Mainland) · M Visa — Business Visit Short-term commercial visitors, buyers, and conference attendees. 1–3w 02 SG Singapore · Employment Pass (EP) Managerial, executive, professional, and technical workers. 1–4w 03 SG Singapore · S Pass Mid-skilled technical workers in eligible sectors. 1–4w 04 SG Singapore · Dependant's Pass / Long-Term Visit Pass Spouses and children of EP, S Pass, ONE Pass, and Tech.Pass holders. 1–4w 05 NL Netherlands · Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) Non-EU qualified professionals with a Dutch recognised employer. 2–4w 06 KR South Korea · F-1-D Workation (Digital Nomad) Visa Non-Korean remote workers earning ≥ ₩88M/year from non-Korean employers. 2–4w 07 AE United Arab Emirates · Virtual Working Programme (Remote Work Visa) Remote workers earning US$5,000+/month from non-UAE employers. 2–4w 08 AE United Arab Emirates · Family-Sponsored Residency (Spouse / Children / Parents) Family members of UAE residents and citizens. 2–4w 09 CN China (Mainland) · R Visa — High-Level Foreign Talent Top-tier scientists, executives, and specialist professionals. 2–5w 10 CN China (Mainland) · X1 Visa — Long-Term Student Students accepted for courses of 6 months or longer in China. 2–5w 11 PT Portugal · Tech Visa Highly qualified tech workers with a job offer at a certified Portuguese tech company 2–6w 12 IE Ireland · Graduate Scheme (Stamp 1G) Non-EEA graduates of Irish higher-education institutions. 2–6w 13 IE Ireland · Seasonal Employment Permit Non-EEA workers in short-term seasonal sectors (horticulture, agriculture). 2–6w 14 FR France · Talent – Researcher Researchers and academics hosted by a French research institution. 2–6w 15 FR France · VLS-TS Visitor (long-stay visa acting as residence permit) Self-funded movers (retirees, passive-income earners) not working in France. 2–6w 16 JP Japan · Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Highly-qualified workers fast-tracked to long-term residence. 2–6w 17 HK Hong Kong · Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) — Category A High earners with annual income ≥ HKD 2.5 million. 2–6w 18 KR South Korea · D-10 Job Seeker / Top-Tier Recent graduates and tech professionals seeking Korean employment. 2–6w 19 AE United Arab Emirates · Green Visa (5-year residency) Skilled workers and freelancers without an employer sponsor. 2–6w 20 AE United Arab Emirates · Standard Work Visa (Employer-Sponsored) Employees sponsored by UAE-based employers (mainland or free zone). 2–6w

Methodology on the methodology page. Each row links to the country brief with full source attribution.

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