Hm.. time.. that is indeed a good question, but!
I´m taking as proof the time when...
SPOILER OF PORTAL 2 BEGIN HERE!!
YOU ARE WARNED
Chell fires a portal shot to the moon, It took what, a second or two (because things went in slow motion when it happened)
PORTAL 2 SPOILERS END HERE!!
YOU WERE WARNED
So I have the idea of using the coordinates of X place to create a portal on the place, not fire it as if it was a bullet, obviously this would need heavy duty energy to make a big portal for a ship (maybe not much for a small team..)
Also, I can use the warp gate from the Treasure planet movie (You got to see it, it is an awesome movie) so the big objects can move instantly by using a map of the galaxy, but this time we would need a colossal energy source.
My idea for creating portals in desired coordinates can actually be progressed, the user selects a specific coordinate, then he/she charges the portal device depending on the load that will travel and how big the actual portal be, when the device is charged, it will send a signal via relay points by using anything that is electronic (satelites, ships, colonies, roaming space cores, you name it) and since the signal is so small (here ignore my excuse of physics knowledge) it will travel instantly like in the Mass effect series.
Since the Normandy (fastest ship on the whole series) is faster than the Reapers who can travel 30 light-years (283,821,914,177,424,000 meters) per 24 hours or 10,958 times the speed of light. (here is the wiki in case
http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/FTL ) it can take only few hours even though it is a rather sized ship with 31-ish crew for long periods of traveling. So a wave signal sent to a coordinate will take seconds to reach its desired goal
"Hm.. intergalactic portal traveling.. I will enjoy this new test"Now we are fired up people, prepare for a new (and hopefully harmless) invention