Immigration Processing During the Holiday Season
December 16, 2015
Worldwide
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 2016 should contact their immigration service provider to discuss the impact of holiday closures on their specific circumstances.
Algeria
The immigration authority will be closed December 23 and 24, 2015 and January 1, 2016.
Austria
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2015 and January 1 and 6, 2016. On December 24 and 31, 2015, the immigration authority will close at noon.
Azerbaijan
The immigration authority will be closed December 31, 2015. For additional closures, contact the immigration office.
Belarus
Immigration authorities will be closed December 25, 2015 and January 1, 7 and 8, 2016. Due to a reduced workforce, delays should be expected during December into early January.
Belgium
The federal administration office will be closed from December 24, 2015 through January 1, 2016.
Bolivia
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2015 and January 1, 2016. Foreign nationals should check the authority for the operating hours for December 24 and 31, 2015.
Brazil
Government offices will be closed December 24, 25 and 31, 2015 and January 1, 2016.
Bulgaria
Government offices will be closed December 24, 25 and 31, 2015 and January 1, 2016.
Colombia
The Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Colombia will be closed December 25, 2015 and January 1, 2016. Starting January 21, 2016, expect delays due to staff shortages. Most professional boards will be closed at least on December 25, 2015 and January 1, 2016, but there may be additional closures - foreign nationals and employers should contact the relevant board for the full schedule.
Costa Rica
The Immigration Office in Costa Rica will be closed from December 18, 2015 through January 4, 2016 and will not be processing visa and work permit applications during this time. Due to office closures for the holiday season, processing delays should be expected for visa and work permit applications through January. Office closings and abbreviated holiday schedules are also expected at Costa Rican consular posts worldwide.
Croatia
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2015 and January 1 and 6, 2016, with shorter hours likely on December 24 and 31, 2015. Additionally, expect general delays around the holiday season due to staff shortages.
Cyprus
The immigration authority will be closed December 25 and 26, 2015 and January 1 and 6, 2016. Although December 24 and 31 are not considered public holidays, many public offices will also be closed.
Czech Republic
The immigration authorities will be closed December 21, 2015 through January 1, 2016.
Denmark
The immigration authorities will be closed December 24, 2015 through January 3, 2016.
Ecuador
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2015 and January 1, 2016.
Estonia
The immigration authorities will be closed December 24 through 26, 2015 and January 1, 2016. On December 23 and 31, 2015, the offices will close at 2pm.
Finland
The immigration authority will be closed December 24 and 25, 2015, and January 1 and 6, 2016, and may operate for half a day on December 23 and 31, 2015. Holiday staff shortages should be expected from December 21, 2015 through January 7, 2016.
France
Immigration offices will be closed December 25 and 31, 2015 and January 1, 2016.
Greece
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2015 and January 1 and 6, 2016 and will be open for a half day on December 24 and 31, 2015.
Hong Kong
The immigration authority will be closed December 25 and 26, 2015 and January 1, 2016.
Hungary
The immigration authority will be closed December 23, 2015 through January 1, 2016.
Israel
Israeli consulates abroad may close or partially close between December 24, 2015 and January 1, 2016. Applicants and employers should contact the consulate at which they will apply for more information.
Italy
Immigration authorities will be closed December 25, 2015 and January 1 and 6, 2016. Due to a reduced workforce, delays should be expected during December into early January.
Kazakhstan
Public offices will be closed December 16 and 17, 2015 and January 1, 4 and 7, 2016.
Latvia
The immigration authorities will be closed December 24, 25 and 31, 2015, and January 1, 2016. On December 23 and 30, government offices will close one hour early.
Lithuania
The immigration authorities will be closed December 24 and 25, 2015 and January 1, 2016.
Macau
The immigration authority will be closed December 21, 22, 25 and 26, 2015 and January 1, 2016.
Malta
The immigration authority will be closed December 24 through 26 and 31, 2015. Due to a reduced workforce, delays should be expected during December into early January.
Mexico
The immigration authority will close December 18, 2015 at 1 pm and will reopen January 6, 2016 at 9 am.
Moldova
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2015 and January 1, 7 and 8, 2016.
New Zealand
The immigration authority will be closed December 24, 2015 and will reopen January 4, 2016.
Norway
The immigration authority will be closed December 24, 2015 and will reopen January 4, 2016.
Peru
Government offices will be closed December 24 through 26, 31, 2015, and January 1, 2016. Additional closures may be established by the offices at their discretion.
Poland
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2015, and January 1 and 6, 2016. Additionally, government offices will be working with limited capacity on December 24 and 31, 2015.
Portugal
The immigration authority will be closed December 24 through 27, 2015 and December 31, 2015- January 3, 2016.
Romania
The immigration authority will be closed December 24 and 25, 2015, and January 1, 2 and 24, 2016.
Russia
The immigration authority will be closed from January 1 through January 10, 2016.
Slovakia
The immigration authority will be closed December 24 through 26, 2015 and January 1 and 6, 2016. Due to a reduced workforce, delays should be expected during December into early January.
Slovenia
The immigration authority will be closed December 25 through 26, 2015 and January 1, 2016. Due to a reduced workforce, delays should be expected during December into early January.
Spain
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2015 and January 1 and 6, 2016, and will be open for half a day on December 24 and 31, 2015, and possibly January 5, 2016.
Sweden
The Swedish Migration Board will be closed December 24, 25, and 31, 2015, and January 1 and 6, 2016. The hours on January 5, 2015 will be 9am – 1 pm.
Taiwan
The immigration authority will be closed January 1, 2016.
Turkey
The immigration authority will close early on December 31, 2015 and will be closed January 1, 2016.
Ukraine
The immigration authority will be closed January 1, 7 and 8, 2016.
United Kingdom
Government offices will be closed December 25 and 28, 2015 and January 1, 2016. Offices in Scotland will also be closed January 4, 2016. Delays in government processing times are anticipated over this period, continuing into the early New Year, due to staff holidays. Availability of Premium Service Centre appointments for same-day processing are anticipated to be similarly impacted.
Uzbekistan
The immigration authority will be closed December 30, 2015. Due to a reduced workforce, delays should be expected during December into early January.
Venezuela
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2015 and January 1, 2016.
