Guide to waiting time for application for work immigration

In order to tell you how long you have to wait for an answer to your application for a residence permit, we ask you to answer three questions. 

The information on this page is personalised for

What type of application have you submitted?:

appeal (after my application was rejected)

What type of residence permit have you applied for?:

skilled worker

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Increased waiting times this summer

UDI has fewer caseworkers available this year to process applications. Additionally, due to staff taking summer holidays, even fewer caseworkers will be available during the summer period. As a result, it may take longer than usual to process your application.

Please note that contacting us regarding waiting times will not lead to your application being processed any faster.

Can my case be prioritised?

Applications are processed in the order in which they are received. In addition, we prioritise processing the most urgent cases, i.e. cases that concern vulnerable groups.

Only a very limited number of applications can be prioritised. If you would like to find out whether your case may qualify, you can read more about it here. Requests for prioritisation cannot be made by telephone, chat or email. 

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Due to a large number of applications received, as well as challenges with the control of educational documents in applications that concern work at a vocational level, it may take longer to process such applications. This includes, for example, applications related to work as a cook, car mechanic, carpenter, painter, bricklayer and hairdresser.

Applications where educational documents issued in certain countries have been submitted may take considerably longer time to process. This currently applies to applications where educational documents issued in the following countries have been submitted: Bangladesh, China, Philippines, India, Iran, Kosovo, Nepal, Pakistan, Türkiye and Vietnam.

Information for you who have received a rejection and have appealed

4 months after UDI or the police receives your appeal, we will either grant your appeal and give you a residence permit, or forward your case to the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) for consideration. 

If we forward your appeal to UNE, you will be notified by email or SMS. You can find information on UNE’s website about how long it takes from UNE receives your appeal, until you receive an answer from them (external website).

How long you have to wait may change. In that case, the new information will apply to you, even if you have been told a different waiting time previously. We update the information on this page once a month.

If your case requires additional investigation, this will be conducted. How long it will take to complete the investigations will vary. You can read more about what the additional investigations may involve. 

Very few cases can be prioritised. To request priority, you must send us a detailed explanation and attach documentation. Select the alternative that best describes your situation for more information about priority.

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Waiting times may change

Your waiting time may change while your application is in with UDI. If so, it is the updated waiting time that will apply, even if we indicated a different waiting time when you submitted your application. 

Answers to frequently asked questions 

Follow the link to read the answer to the question. 

This information was last updated on 

19 June 2025

. It will be updated again on 

24 July 2025

. 

 

 

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