Initial Processing Time
How long does Initial processing take? Real timelines from application to residence card, based on community reports.
Processing Time Summary
Median
48 days
Typical Range
19–110 days
Fastest
5 days
185 reports
185
Duration measures from appointment or approval to card received. The typical range is the 25th–75th percentile (middle 50% of reports).
By Processing Channel
In-Person
49 days
18–109 day range · 182 reports
Online
4 reports, no duration data
Community Reports
Community Reports
+ Share your timelineShowing 837 records. Median: 48 days
| Type | Channel | Office | Days to Card | Confidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial | In-Person | — | High | Nomad Gate ↗ | |
| Initial | — | — | Medium | Nomad Gate ↗ | |
| Initial | In-Person | — | Low | Nomad Gate ↗ | |
| Initial | In-Person | — | High | Nomad Gate ↗ | |
| Initial | In-Person | — | — | Low | Nomad Gate ↗ |
| Initial | In-Person | — | — | Medium | Reddit ↗ |
| Initial | In-Person | — | — | High | Nomad Gate ↗ |
| Initial | In-Person | — | Medium | Nomad Gate ↗ | |
| Initial | In-Person | — | — | High | Nomad Gate ↗ |
| Initial | In-Person | — | — | Medium | Nomad Gate ↗ |
| Initial | In-Person | — | — | Medium | Nomad Gate ↗ |
| Initial | In-Person | — | High | Nomad Gate ↗ | |
| Initial | In-Person | — | High | Nomad Gate ↗ | |
| Initial | In-Person | — | High | Nomad Gate ↗ | |
| Initial | In-Person | — | High | Nomad Gate ↗ | |
| Initial | In-Person | — | — | Medium | Nomad Gate ↗ |
| Initial | In-Person | — | — | Medium | Reddit ↗ |
| Initial | In-Person | — | — | Low | Reddit ↗ |
| Initial | In-Person | — | — | Low | Reddit ↗ |
| Initial | In-Person | — | Medium | Reddit ↗ | |
| Initial | — | — | Medium | Reddit ↗ | |
| Initial | In-Person | — | — | Low | Reddit ↗ |
| Initial | In-Person | — | High | User submitted | |
| Initial | In-Person | 19 days | High | Xiaohongshu ↗ | |
| Initial | In-Person | 13 days | High | Xiaohongshu ↗ |
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User submitted
Initial · In-Person19d
Initial · In-Person13d
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does initial processing take?
Based on 185 community reports, the median processing time is 48 days. Most applicants wait between 19 and 110 days.
Is this data reliable?
Our data comes from real community reports shared across online forums and submitted directly by users. Each report is assigned a confidence level (high, medium, or low) based on the specificity of dates provided. While not official AIMA data, it provides useful estimates based on actual experiences.
How can I speed up my application?
Based on community data, online portal submissions tend to be processed faster than in-person appointments. Ensure all documents are complete and correctly formatted to avoid delays. Check our comprehensive guide for more tips.
Other Processing Times
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