This is the Nomad Forums visa processing times tracker: real application and decision dates for digital nomad visas, residence permits and long-stay visas, reported by members who have just been through them. Official pages give target times; this thread records how long it actually took, by country, consulate and month.
Started: October 2026. Updated monthly from replies in this thread.
In short:
- Reply with your visa, where you applied, the date you submitted and the date you got a decision, using the template below.
- Each month we publish the median processing time per visa and consulate at the top of this post, once there are at least 3 reports for that route.
- Reports are anonymous by design: no names, passport numbers or case references, only dates and outcomes.
How to report your application
Copy this into a reply and fill in what you know. Leave a line blank rather than guess.
Visa / permit: (e.g. Spain digital nomad visa, Portugal D8 residence visa, Thailand DTV)
Applied at: (consulate city, VFS/BLS centre, online portal, or in-country office)
Passport nationality:
Applied as: (employee of foreign company / freelancer / company owner / retiree)
Date submitted: (YYYY-MM-DD)
Date of decision: (YYYY-MM-DD)
Outcome: (approved / refused / asked for more documents)
Extra documents requested: (what, if any)
Income shown: (optional, a band is fine, e.g. €3,000-4,000/month)
Anything you'd do differently:
If your application is still pending, post the submission date now and edit your reply when you hear back. That way slow cases get counted too, not just the quick ones.
Current medians
No route has 3 reports yet. The table will appear here as replies come in.
| Visa / permit | Applied at | Reports | Median days | Fastest | Slowest | Last updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (first routes appear when 3 reports are in) |
How we calculate it
- Processing time is days from the date you submitted a complete application to the date of the decision, counted in calendar days.
- Median, not average, so one stuck case doesn’t distort the figure. We show the fastest and slowest too.
- We group by visa and the place you applied, because the same visa can take very different times at different consulates.
- Reports older than 18 months drop out of the median.
- Outliers stay in, but we’ll ask follow-up questions in the thread if a report looks like a typo.
Using the data
Journalists, bloggers and researchers are welcome to quote the medians with a link to this thread as the source. Please don’t copy individual members’ replies elsewhere without asking.
For requirements, fees and documents, start with the visa guides: Digital nomad visa countries: which countries have one (2026 list) · Does my country have a digital nomad visa? 35 countries answered (2026) · Digital Nomad Visa Index 2026: income requirements for 28 open visa routes, ranked
Quick answers
Q: How long does a digital nomad visa take to process?
It depends on the country and especially on where you apply, which is why this tracker groups reports by visa and consulate. Official target times differ by country, and actual times often differ from the targets. Check the medians table above once at least 3 members have reported for your route.
Q: How do I report my visa processing time?
Reply to this thread using the template: the visa, where you applied, your nationality, the date you submitted a complete application, the decision date and the outcome. Leave out names, passport numbers and case references. If you’re still waiting, post the submission date and edit later.
Q: Why does this tracker use the median instead of the average?
A single application stuck for months can drag an average far above what most people experience. The median is the middle report, so it reflects a typical case. The table also shows the fastest and slowest reports, so you can see the full range.
This is general information from the Nomad Forums team, not immigration, tax or legal advice. Rules change; check the official source or a qualified adviser before applying.
Over to you: Applied for a nomad visa or residence permit in the last 18 months? Post your dates with the template, even if it’s still pending. Three reports for a route is all it takes to put it on the table.