Immigration Processing Delays Expected as Governments Shut Down for Eid al-Fitr Holiday
May 30, 2019
At a Glance
Foreign nationals and their employers can expect immigration processing delays to continue well into June in the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and parts of Asia due to government closures in observance of Eid-al-Fitr.
Foreign nationals and their employers can expect immigration processing delays over the coming weeks in the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and parts of Asia during observance of Eid-al-Fitr. Many government offices worldwide reduce their hours or close during Eid-al-Fitr.
In most of the world, Eid-al-Fitr holiday is expected to begin on June 3, though its exact dates and the duration will vary by country. Processing delays could continue in the weeks following Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr, due to application backlogs that accumulate during the closures.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of operating hours and office closures for Eid-al-Fitr, though there have not been official announcements for most countries.
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Bangladesh |
Government offices are expected to remain closed through June 8. |
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Indonesia |
Government offices are expected to be closed or to open for limited hours through June 7. |
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Iraq |
Offices of the Federal Iraq Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government will be closed from June 4 to 8. |
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Malaysia |
Government offices, including the Immigration Department and other Work Pass adjudicating departments are expected to be closed June 4 -7. |
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Oman |
All government offices, including the Ministry of Manpower and the Royal Oman Police will remain closed through June 8. |
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Qatar |
Government offices will remain closed through June 10. |
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Saudi Arabia |
Government offices will remain closed between June 2 and 6, but normal work is not expected to resume until June 9. |
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United Arab Emirates |
Government offices will remain closed between June 2 and 6, with normal work resuming on June 9. |
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
