Interactive tool · Updated 31 July 2026
From first visa to passport: the real timeline
Pick a country and see the whole journey — temporary residence, permanent residence, citizenship — with the years and language tests each government actually requires.
Note: EU long-term residence is available after 5 years in every EU country regardless of the national rules shown. Citizenship timelines assume continuous legal residence; interruptions usually reset the clock. Verified July 2026 against each country's nationality law.