When you apply for a patent, you apply first in your own...

When you apply for a patent, you apply first in your own country. Then you can nominate which of the 108 PCT countries you wish to also go for. There is a wait of about 12mths before you enter what is usually known as international phase, this is where the big expenses occur and many groups just aim to license out. Each country then progresses at its own pace, with the individual claims tested in each jurisdiction by the local authorities. Some, like Japan take up to five years to grant, others are fast. Regardless there is always an argument with each (in their own language) to get all claims and often some are dropped in each country to get through. So there is no set time that patents are awarded, but they always have 20yrs from granting. Priority date is also set at lodgement, so nobody can come later and beat you through the process.

Hope this helps