How Long Does PCI DSS Compliance Take?

The timeline for achieving PCI DSS compliance depends on your organization’s current state of readiness and the scope of compliance.

Typical phases:

• Scope definition: 2-4 weeks

• Gap assessment: 4-6 weeks

• Remediation: 1-6 months (depending on findings)

• Internal validation: 2-4 weeks

• Formal assessment: 2-6 weeks (SAQ or ROC)

In total, organizations can expect PCI DSS compliance to take anywhere from 3 to 9 months.

Factors that can shorten the timeline:

• Alignment with existing ISO 27001 or SOC 2 programs

• Effective project management and cross-functional collaboration

• Use of automation to streamline evidence collection and testing

Ongoing continuous compliance practices further reduce the effort required for annual revalidation—ensuring that PCI DSS becomes a sustainable part of your security program.