Across education systems, labour markets and organisational contexts, capabilities frequently exist before systems recognise them. People learn, but what they know does not reliably translate into recognition, roles or opportunity. This paper introduces Recognition Latency as a system-level time indicator. Recognition Latency describes the time interval between the existence of a capability and its formal or functional recognition within a system. Building on research on validation of non-formal and informal learning, skills systems and labour market transitions, the concept proposes a temporal lens that allows systems to analyse delays in recognition processes. The paper outlines a conceptual definition, operationalisation approach and implications for policy, organisations and learning systems.