Immigration Processing During the Holiday Season
December 8, 2017
Executive Summary
During the holiday season, many government offices worldwide will close or have reduced staff and hours of operation, likely resulting in processing delays for work permits, residence permits and visas over the coming weeks and into the new year.
During the holiday season, many government offices worldwide will close or have reduced staff and hours of operation, likely resulting in processing delays for work permits, residence permits and visas over the coming weeks and into the new year.
The following is a non-exhaustive list of immigration office and government closings during the holiday season. Employers and foreign nationals with travel or relocation plans between now and early 2018 should contact their immigration service provider to discuss the impact of holiday closures on their specific circumstances.
Albania
The government authorities will be closed December 8, 2017, December 25, 2017 and January 1-2, 2018. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period may delay processing times.
Algeria
The immigration authority will be closed January 1, 2018.
Angola
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018
Armenia
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Australia
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-27, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Austria
The immigration authority will be closed December 8, 2017, December 25-26, 2017, and January 1, 2018. During the year-end season there may be processing delays as the authority will work with reduced staff.
Azerbaijan
Government offices will be closed January 1-3, 2018.
Bahrain
The immigration authority will be closed January 1, 2018.
Belarus
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Belgium
The government offices will be closed on the following days:
- Flanders: immigration offices are closed December 25, 2017 - January 5, 2018. During this period, most counters and all telephone lines are closed, and all application processing is paused. Exceptionally, counters in Antwerp, Gent and Leuven will be open on January 2 and 4, 2018. Normal processing will resume on January 8, 2018.
- Brussels: immigration offices are closed December 25, 2017 - January 2, 2018.
- Wallonia: while holiday closure dates are not confirmed, based on our experience we expect similar closures due to limited staff.
Bolivia
Government offices will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018. Additionally, there may be delays due to a reduced workforce.
Bosnia
Government offices are closed December 25, 2017 and January 1-2 and 9, 2018. The authorities are working with reduced staff which may cause processing delays or delays with receiving updates and information.
Botswana
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Brazil
Government offices are expected to be closed on December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018. Additional closures may be decided on short notice, and delays due to reduced workforce should also be expected.
Brunei
Government offices will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Bulgaria
The immigration authority will be closed December 23-27, 2017 and December 30, 2017 - January 1, 2018. Government offices are expected to close slightly early December 28-29, 2017.
Burkina Faso
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Burundi
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Cambodia
Government offices will be closed January 1 and 7, 2018.
Cameroon
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Canada
Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2018 and January 1, 2018.
Chad
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
China
Government offices will be closed January 1, 2018.
Colombia
Government closures are expected on December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018. Additionally, there may be delays due to a reduced workforce.
Congo (Republic of)
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Costa Rica
The immigration authority will be closed December 18, 2017 - January 15, 2018. The offices will only operate for passport pick up and issuance of travel permits for minors (except on December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018, which are public holidays).
Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Croatia
Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Cyprus
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017. The last day for filing applications in 2017 is December 29, 2017. The first day for filing applications in 2018 is January 2, 2018.
Czech Republic
The immigration authorities will be closed December 25, 2017. The last day for filing applications in 2017 is December 21, 2017. The first day for filing applications in 2018 is January 1, 2018.
Democratic Republic of Congo
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Denmark
The immigration authorities will be closed December 23, 2017 - January 2, 2018. Applications can be filed during this period, but the authorities will only start processing them upon reopening.
Dominican Republic
No official closures other than December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018. Additionally, there may be delays due to a reduced workforce.
Ecuador
Government offices are expected to be closed on December 25, 2015 and January 1, 2018. Additionally, there may be delays due to a reduced workforce.
Estonia
The immigration authorities will be closed December 22, 25, 26 and 29, 2017 and January 1, 2018. The last day for filing applications in 2017 is December 28, 2017. The first day for filing applications in 2018 is January 2, 2018.
Equatorial Guinea
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Ethiopia
The immigration authority will be closed January 7, 2018.
Finland
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2017 and January 1, 2018. From December 18, 2017 until January 5, 2018, government offices will have reduced staff. We anticipate difficulties in arranging appointments in this period, as well as considerable delays in application processing.
France
Government offices may be closed December 25, 2017, and January 1, 2018. Delays due to limited staffing during the holidays should be expected.
Gabon
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Gambia
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Ghana
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Georgia
Public offices will be closed the afternoon of December 31, 2017, January 1-2, 2018, January 7, 2018 and January 19, 2018.
Germany
Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2017 and January 1, 2018. Reduced staff during the year-end period will affect appointment availability and application processing.
Greece
The immigration authorities will not be closed during the year-end period. The department responsible for biometric data appointments will be closed from December 25, 2017 – January 5, 2018. New applications will be affected by this closure. The last day to submit biometric data in 2017 is December 22, 2017. The first day to submit biometric data in 2018 is January 8, 2018.
Hong Kong
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Hungary
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 until January 1, 2018. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period may delay processing times.
Indonesia
Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2017 and January 1, 2018. In addition, the Ministry of Manpower will not accept any applications December 22, 2017-January 1, 2018.
Ireland
Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Israel
Government offices may have reduced staff December 13-20, 2017.
Italy
Immigration authorities will be closed December 25-27, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Japan
The immigration authority will be closed December 23 and December 29, 2017-January 3, 2018. Additionally, Japan will celebrate Coming of Age Day on January 8, 2017. Delays due to limited staffing should be expected around this time.
Kuwait
The immigration authority will be closed December 31, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Latvia
The immigration authorities will be closed December 25-26, 2017.
Lesotho
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Liberia
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Lithuania
The immigration authorities will be closed December 25-26, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Luxembourg
Government offices will not be closed. However, reduced staff during the year-end period may delay processing times.
Madagascar
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Macau
The immigration authority will be closed December 20, 22, 25 and 26, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Malaysia
Immigration offices across Malaysia (both West and East Malaysia) will be closed on December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018. Immigration offices will not accept any document (including passports for endorsement) or payment submitted on December 29, 2017 (for West Malaysia), or during the period of December 22, 2017-January 2, 2018 (for East Malaysia). Delays should also be expected in East Malaysia during this same period due to limited staffing.
Malawi
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Malta
Government offices will be closed on December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Mexico
The Mexican National Immigration Institute in Mexico City and in other Mexican cities will be closed starting December 17, 2017. Normal operating hours are expected to resume by January 9, 2018. These closure periods are subject to change without advance notice.
Moldova
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 7 and 8, 2018.
Montenegro
The immigration authority will be closed January 1-2 and 8, 2018.
Mozambique
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Namibia
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Netherlands
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2017 and January 1, 2018. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period is expected to delay processing times.
New Zealand
All Immigration New Zealand offices will be partially closed December 22, 2017-January 3, 2018 due to limited staffing.
Nigeria
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Norway
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017-January 2, 2018.
Oman
The immigration authority will be closed January 1, 2018.
Panama
Government offices are expected to be closed on December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018, as these are public holidays. Additionally, delays may be expected due to reduced workforce.
Papua New Guinea
Government offices will be closed December 22, 2017 until January 2, 2018.
Paraguay
Government offices will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018. Delays can be expected due to short staffing.
Peru
Government offices are expected to be closed on December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018, as these are public holidays. Additionally, there may be delays due to a reduced workforce.
Philippines
Government offices (including Philippine Embassies and Consulates) will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018. There may also be delays in government processing and operations around the Christmas holiday.
Poland
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2017 and January 1, 2018. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period may delay processing times.
Portugal
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2017 and January 1-2, 2018.
Republic of Guinea
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Romania
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2017 and January 1-2, 2018.
Russia
Government offices will be closed January 1-8, 2018. No new applications can be filed during this period, and processing of pending applications will likely be delayed.
Senegal
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Serbia
The immigration authority will be closed January 1-2, 2018.
Singapore
Government offices will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Slovakia
Government offices will be closed December 24-26, 2017, January 1, 2018 and January 6, 2018. Reduced staff during the year-end period is expected to delay processing times through to January.
Slovenia
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2017 and January 1-2, 2018. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period is expected to delay processing times.
South Korea
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Spain
The immigration authority will be closed December 8, 2017, December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018. The authorities are expected to face processing delays.
South Africa
- Visa Facilitation Center (VFS) will be closed December 25 and 26, 2017, and January 1-2, 2018.
- Final day for 2017 submissions at VFS: December 20, 2017.
- Only collections department at VFS will remain open (from 8am – 2 pm): December 21, 22, 27-29, 2017.
Reminder: visa applications from within South Africa should be submitted 60 days prior to the expiry to the current visa.
Sweden
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2017, January 1, 2018, and the afternoon of January 5, 2018.
Switzerland
The immigration authority will be closed December 22, 2017 - January 2, 2018.
Taiwan
Government offices will be closed January 1, 2018.
Tanzania
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Trinidad & Tobago
Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Thailand
Immigration authorities will be closed December 11, 2017 and January 1-2, 2018.
Turkey
Immigration authorities will be closed January 1, 2018.
Ukraine
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period may delay processing times.
United Arab Emirates
Government authorities, including the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, the General Directorates of Residency and Foreigners Affairs and Free Zone Government Services Offices will be closed December 31, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
United Kingdom
Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Uruguay
Government offices will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018. Delays can be expected due to short staffing.
Venezuela
Government entities will be closed on December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018 due to public holidays. Additionally, there may be delays due to a reduced workforce.
Vietnam
Government offices (including Vietnamese Embassies and Consulates) will be closed January 1, 2018.
Zambia
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
Zimbabwe
The immigration authority will be closed December 22, 25-26, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
