People pursue work visas for various reasons: to take on a new role abroad, to undergo an internal transfer, or to work legally in the country they already call home. For employers, obtaining work visas is also a common need, especially when skilled workers are scarce locally, and hiring becomes increasingly global.
Access to international talent can be a real competitive edge. The right hire, in the right market, at the right time, can move a business forward faster. But employment visa timelines often become the bottleneck. Lengthy processing times, unclear requirements, and layers of bureaucracy can delay start dates, derail hiring plans, and frustrate both candidates and hiring teams.
The good news is that not all countries approach work visas the same way. While some are known for their red tape and slow approvals, others have made speed and efficiency a priority — designing visa programs that help employers hire more quickly and provide talent with a more straightforward and predictable path to work authorization.
Key takeaways:
- Business-friendly countries, such as the UAE, strive to make the visa process as frictionless as possible.
- Many countries have dedicated fast tracks for workers with in-demand skills, such as healthcare or IT.
- The more digital-friendly the application process is, the quicker workers are likely to go from submitting their (virtual) paperwork to obtaining a visa.
Our Methodology: How We Identified the "Fastest"
When examining the ability to quickly obtain a visa, we didn’t just look at the advertised processing times. Those are often best-case scenarios that don't require additional paperwork, clarification, or other requirements.
We considered multiple other factors, including:
- Requirements clarity: Meaning, how easy is it to understand what's needed for the application?
- Digitalization: Countries with online application portals and digital submission processes often experience fewer delays.
- Dedicated fast-track programs: Are there specific pathways designed for highly skilled workers or in-demand professions that accelerate the process?
- Application approval rates: Although not directly related to speed, a high success rate often indicates an efficient system with clear guidelines and minimal errors.
Top 10 Fastest Processing Times for Work Visas
After crunching the numbers, we identified the 10 easiest countries to quickly obtain a visa due to their faster and more predictable processing (compared to the global average). A big reason why: each of them provides some form of fast-track pathway for highly skilled, in-demand talent — helping employers move from offer to start date with fewer delays.
We also examine the changes that occur when the candidate is already living in the country. In many cases, hiring locally based international talent is significantly quicker than relocating someone from abroad, making it a practical option for teams that need to hire fast without sacrificing compliance.
1. United Kingdom: Skilled Worker Visa
The Skilled Worker Visa is the cornerstone of the United Kingdom’s post-Brexit points-based immigration system. What makes the U.K. visa system uniquely fast is its "pay-for-speed" model.
While the standard three-week processing is already quick compared to many other countries’ visa systems, the U.K. Home Office offers Priority and Super Priority services. By paying an additional fee, ranging from GBP 500 to 1,000, applicants can move their file to the top of the pile.
Super Priority service often provides a legal decision within 24 hours of the biometric appointment if the employer has already issued a valid Certificate of Sponsorship.
- Process: Apply online for the Skilled Worker Visa and choose Priority or Super Priority for the fastest times.
- Requirements: A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), meeting English language requirements, and a job on the list of eligible occupations.
Why it’s fast: The Priority/Super Priority paid tiers offer nearly instant decisions.
Skilled Worker Change of Employment
To switch companies in the U.K., the employee must obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from the new employer and apply for a Change of Employment.
By using the Priority Service, the new visa is approved in five days, and the employee can remain in the U.K. during the transition.
2. Latvia: The EU Blue Card
Latvia offers one of the most efficient paths to the Schengen Area via the EU Blue Card, a work-and-residence permit intended for highly qualified non-EU citizens.
Latvia stands out from other EU nations because its national legislation specifically mandates that the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) process these applications faster than the standard EU directive requires.
For an additional fee, the government will prioritize the application, making it ideal for skilled workers who need to relocate to Europe on short notice.
- Process: Apply for an EU Blue Card or standard work visa. A five-business-day fast-track option is available for a higher fee.
- Requirements: A work contract, a university degree or five years of relevant experience, and a salary at least 1.5 times the average gross annual salary in Latvia.
Why it’s fast: National law mandates quick turnarounds; higher fees unlock five-day turnarounds.
Change of Employer
An employee already in Latvia on an EU Blue Card can switch employers by notifying the PMLP. If they’ve held the card for one year, they don't need a new labor market test.
For transfers from another EU country, the Intra-Community Mobility rules allow them to start working in Latvia immediately upon applying, provided they hold a Blue Card from another member state.
3. United Arab Emirates: The Work Bundle
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has revolutionized its immigration system through the Work Bundle initiative — a unified digital platform that integrates services from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICP).
Instead of managing separate applications for entry permits, medical fitness tests, and Emirates ID cards, the Work Bundle enables private sector companies to complete all requirements within a single, streamlined workflow.
This process reduces the administrative burden on businesses — ensuring that international talent can begin working within days of arrival.
- Process: The Work Bundle platform consolidates medical exams, fingerprinting, and visa issuance.
- Requirements: A job offer from a UAE company, a passport valid for six months, and an educational certificate (attested).
Why it’s fast: The Integrated Work Bundle platform reduced 15 steps to five.
Intra-Corporate Transfer (ICT) & Visa Transfer
For transfers, the Work Bundle allows a Change of Status without requiring the employee to leave the country, and is often processed in 48–72 hours.
If a worker residing in the UAE is switching over to a different company, the new employer applies for a Work Permit Transfer via the MoHRE portal. Once the previous employer cancels the old permit, the new one is issued almost instantly.
4. Singapore: The Employment Pass (EP)
The Employment Pass (EP) is Singapore's primary work visa for foreign skilled professionals, managers, and executives.
The application process is governed by the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS), a points-based system that evaluates both the individual candidate and the sponsoring employer. Points are awarded based on candidate-level factors such as salary and qualifications, as well as employer-level criteria, including workforce diversity and support for local employment.
Singapore streamlined its work visa process by transitioning to a fully digital system through the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) portal. That shift removed manual paperwork and enabled automated checks on requirements such as education credentials and salary benchmarks. As a result, online applications are approved in about 10 days.
- Process: Employers submit the Employment Pass application online through the MOM portal.
- Requirements: Must meet the COMPASS criteria and earn a minimum qualifying salary ranging from SGD 5,600 to 11,800 (as of 2025), depending on the applicant’s age and work sector.
Why it’s fast: The application process is fully digitized.
EP Transfer & ICT
Singapore doesn’t allow workers to transfer visas; the new employer must apply for a new Employment Pass. However, because the candidate is already in the MOM system, skills and qualification checks are often skipped, leading to approvals in as little as five days.
For internal company transfers, the ICT route is a possibility, but it’s also more restrictive, as it typically prohibits the employee from seeking permanent residency later.
5. Finland: The Specialist Fast-Track
Finland’s 14-day Fast-Track service offers dedicated processing for specialists, defined as highly skilled workers, such as IT experts or consultants, as well as entrepreneurs, including startup founders. The program is part of Finland's national strategy to combat a shrinking labor force by becoming the world's most efficient immigration system for talent.
Applicants must apply online via the Enter Finland portal and visit a Finnish mission abroad for identification within a strict timeframe.
- Process: Candidates apply through the Enter Finland online portal. The fast track requires the employer to supplement the application within two days of submission.
- Requirements: Specialist job (high salary), startup permit, or EU Blue Card candidate.
Why it’s fast: Specialists and startup founders qualify for a 14-day fast track.
Extended Permits
Workers already living in Finland can use the Extended Permit process to change employers. If the new job is in the same professional field, the employee can generally start working immediately upon applying, without needing to wait for the official decision.
Corporate transfers require the ICT Residence Permit, which is fast-tracked if the home company and Finnish branch are pre-registered.
6. The Netherlands: Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)
The Highly Skilled Migrant Program in the Netherlands is based on a Recognised Sponsor model. Under this system, the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) grants certain companies a trusted status, allowing them to bypass the lengthy Labor Market Impact Assessment.
Because the IND trusts these employers to vet their own candidates and verify salary requirements, the actual visa issuance becomes a secondary step that can be completed in roughly two weeks, making it one of the most predictable systems among all European countries.
- Process: The employer must be a Recognised Sponsor with the IND. They submit the Highly Skilled Migrant application on the worker's behalf.
- Requirements: A signed contract and a minimum salary threshold (approximately EUR 5,331 per month for workers over 30 as of 2025).
Why it’s fast: The trust-based system allows Recognised Sponsors to bypass standard checks.
Knowledge Migrant Transfer
If a Highly Skilled Migrant moves between two Recognised Sponsors in the Netherlands, the process is purely administrative and takes about one week.
The new employer simply notifies the IND of the change in sponsorship via the online portal. Since the migrant's residence permit is already valid, there is no entry visa phase, making the transition seamless.
7. Canada: Global Skills Strategy (GSS)
Canada’s Global Skills Strategy is designed to help fast-growing companies bring in specialized talent without lengthy delays. The two-week processing standard applies to workers under the Global Talent Stream, as well as certain management and professional roles that do not require a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
Unlike Canada’s standard work permit routes, which can move slowly due to high demand, the GSS offers a faster, more streamlined path, including quicker processing for immediate family members.
- Process: Employers must first qualify for the Global Skills Strategy. If eligible, the worker then applies online.
- Requirements: Highly skilled and exempt from, or already possess, a positive LMIA.
Why it’s fast: The targeted GSS program bypasses the standard visa backlog.
Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) & Work Permit Change
Canada’s ICT program is a popular LMIA-exempt category that allows companies to relocate key personnel to Canadian branches in roughly 2–4 weeks.
Workers already in Canada who are switching companies must apply for a new work permit. While this can take longer, the GSS can still be applied, which keeps the processing near the two-week mark.
8. Germany: Fast-Track Procedure for Skilled Workers
Under the Skilled Immigration Act, German employers can enter into a Fast-Track Procedure (Beschleunigtes Fachkräfteverfahren) with their local Foreigners' Authority (Ausländerbehörde). This is a formal agreement in which the employer pays a specific fee to have the authority act as a coordinator between the Federal Employment Agency and the German embassy abroad.
This coordination streamlines the process, ensuring that once local approval is granted, the visa is issued by the embassy within a matter of days — bypassing the standard wait of months for visa appointments.
- Process: The employer pays a fee of EUR 411, which initiates a fast-track request with the local Foreigners' Authority.
- Requirements: Recognized degree, job offer, and a signed agreement on the fast-track procedure between the employer and the state.
Why it’s fast: New laws permit local authorities to fast-track visas for skilled workers through their employer.
Employer Change & ICT Card
If an employee has held a German work permit for over a year (or two, depending on the visa type), they are no longer required to obtain permission from the Foreigners' Authority to change jobs.
For those who require permission, the Fast-Track Procedure can be used by the new employer to obtain approval within two weeks. Corporate transfers utilize the ICT Card, which is designed for assignments lasting 1–3 years.
9. Sweden: Certified Employer Work Permit
Similar to the Dutch model, Sweden utilizes a Certification System for employers who frequently hire international talent. When a company is certified by the Swedish Migration Agency, it enters into a partnership that guarantees priority handling for its employees' work permit applications.
While the standard Swedish immigration queue can be several months long due to high volume, the fast lane ensures that applications are complete upon submission and are assigned to dedicated units that move from filing to decision in approximately 10 to 15 business days.
- Process: Work permit applications are submitted online. Speed is only guaranteed if the employer is certified by the Swedish Migration Agency.
- Requirements: Job offer, monthly salary of at least SEK 28,480, and insurance provided by the employer.
Why it’s fast: Certified employers have a direct agreement for expedited processing.
Change of Employer (Certified)
Employees already in Sweden can switch to a new Certified Employer and continue working while the new application is pending, provided they applied before their old permit expired.
The Certified status of the new company ensures the new permit is issued in 10–15 days, significantly faster than the standard six-month wait for non-certified company switches.
10. Portugal: Strategic Sector Fast-Track
In response to significant application backlogs, Portugal launched a new initiative in early 2025 to reduce the typical 90–180+ day wait time for work permits to a maximum of 20 working days for specific industry sectors.
Known as the Via Verde (Green Lane), the fast-track program is managed through the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) and focuses on prioritizing applications for workers in fields such as technology, healthcare, green energy, construction, and tourism.
- Process: When an employer posts a vacancy with a shortage occupation code, it’s automatically directed to the Green Lane at AIMA.
- Requirements: A job offer in a shortage occupation, relevant qualifications, health insurance, and proof of accommodation.
Why it’s fast: Green Lane applications require fewer documents than traditional visa applications and are approved within 20 working days.
Professional Transition
For an employee already in Portugal, switching employers involves updating their Article 88 or Blue Card status via the AIMA portal.
While Portugal historically struggled with in-country updates, the 2025 digital reforms enable employees to register their new contract online, granting them immediate legal working status while the physical card is updated in the background.
RemoFirst Can Help Streamline Visa Applications
Not every country has embraced straightforward work visa applications. And, even those that can be confusing for employers and employees who are not familiar with the process. That’s where we can help.
RemoFirst helps companies navigate the visa and work permit application process in more than 85 countries. Our team of experts will walk you through the process and ensure that you understand which documents need to be submitted and when.
As an Employer of Record, we also help companies employ workers in over 185 countries and manage and pay contractors and freelancers in more than 150.
Book a demo today to learn more about how we can help you with your global hiring needs.
