Immigration Processing During the Holiday Season
December 9, 2019
At a Glance
- During the holiday season, many government offices worldwide will close or have reduced staff and operating hours, likely resulting in processing delays for work permits, residence permits and visas over the coming weeks and into the new year.
- Employers and foreign nationals with travel or relocation plans between now and early 2020 should contact their immigration service provider to discuss the impact of holiday closures on their specific circumstances.
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 2020 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 25, 2019, and January 1-2, 2020. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period may delay processing times.
Algeria
The immigration authority will be closed January 1 and January 20, 2020.
Angola
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Argentina
Government offices will be closed December 24, 25 and 31, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Australia
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Austria
The immigration authority in Vienna will be closed December 25-26, 2019, and January 1, 2020, and will have limited opening hours (8-11 AM local time) on December 24 and 31, 2019. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period may delay processing times.
Azerbaijan
Government offices will be closed December 31, 2019 and January 1-6, 2020.
Bahrain
The immigration authority will be closed on December 16-17, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Belarus
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1-2 and 6-7, 2020. To compensate, the immigration authority will be open on January 4 and 11, 2020.
Belgium
Government offices will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020. Federal, regional and municipal authorities are expected to be closed or close early on other days in December and January, but typically announce these on short notice. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period is expected to delay processing.
Bermuda
Government offices are expected to close at 1 pm on December 24 and 31, 2019, and will be closed on December 25 and 26, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Bolivia
Government offices will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Bosnia
Government offices will be closed January 1, 2 and 7, 2020. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period is expected to delay processing times.
Botswana
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Brazil
The Federal Police and other government offices are expected to close at 11 AM on December 24 and 31, 2019, and remain closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Brunei
Government offices will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Bulgaria
The immigration authority will be closed December 24-26, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Cambodia
Government offices will be closed December 10, 2019 and January 1 and 7, 2020.
Cameroon
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Canada
Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2019 and January 1, 2020. Foreign nationals traveling to Canada are reminded to confirm that their necessary travel documents (passports, work permits visas and/or electronic travel authorizations, as applicable) are valid before departing Canada. Permanent residents of Canada should be aware that a valid permanent residence card is required to return to Canada by air.
Chad
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Chile
Government offices are expected to close at 12 PM on December 24, 2019, and remain closed December 25 and 31, 2019, and January 1, 2020.
China
Government offices will be closed January 1, 2020.
Colombia
Government offices will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2019. Additionally, some Professional Boards will be closed between December 23, 2019 and January 3, 2020. There may be delays due to a reduced workforce in all governmental offices.
Costa Rica
Government offices will be closed December 23, 2019 through January 3, 2020.
Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Croatia
Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2019 and January 1 and 6, 2020. Government offices are expected to close early on December 24 and 31, 2019. In general, government offices will have limited staff between December 24, 2019 and January 7, 2020.
Cyprus
Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2019 and January 1 and 6, 2020. Government offices will be operating at limited capacity on December 24 and 31, 2019.
Czech Republic
Government offices will be closed from December 23, 2019 up to and including January 1, 2020. Government offices will operate with limited staff January 2-3, 2020.
Democratic Republic of Congo
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1 and 4, 2020.
Denmark
The immigration authorities will be closed from December 23, 2019 up to and including January 1, 2020.
Dominican Republic
The National Immigration Directorate is expected to close at 12 PM on December 24 and 31, 2019, and remain closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020. The public registry office (JCE) will be closed December 23-25, 30 and 31, 2019, and January 1, 2020. There may be delays due to a reduced workforce.
Ecuador
Government offices will be closed on December 25, 30 and 31, 2019, and January 1, 2020. Additionally, there may be delays due to a reduced workforce.
Egypt
Government offices are expected to be closed on January 1 and January 7, 2020.
Estonia
Government offices will be closed December 24-26 and 31, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Eswatini
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 26 and 28 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Equatorial Guinea
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Ethiopia
The immigration authority will be closed January 7, 2020.
Finland
Government offices will be closed December 6 and 24-26, 2019 and January 1 and 6, 2020. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period will delay processing.
France
Government offices will be closed December 25, 2019, and January 1, 2020. Applicants should anticipate processing delays due to limited staff during the holiday period, both at consular posts, Office Français de l’Immigration et Intégration (OFII) offices and local prefectures.
Gabon
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Gambia
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Ghana
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2019 and January 1 and 7, 2020.
Georgia
Government offices will be closed January 1-2 and 7, 2020.
Germany
Government offices will be closed December 24-26, 2019 and January 1, 2020. Reduced staff during the year-end period will affect appointment availability and application processing.
Greece
Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2019 and January 1, 2020. Government offices are expected to close early on December 24 and 31, 2019. Applicants are advised to submit applications on December 20, 2019 at the latest.
Guatemala
Government offices will be closed on December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020, and are also expected to be closed on December 24 and 31, 2019.
Guyana
Government offices are expected to close at 12 PM on December 24 and 31, 2019, and will be closed December 25 and 26, 2019, and January 1, 2020. Additionally, delays may be expected due to reduced workforce after December 10, 2019.
Hong Kong
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Hungary
The Labor Office front office will be closed December 16-27, 2019. Fragomen expects applications to continue to be processed at a slightly slower pace and sent to the Immigration Office for final approval, but the status of individual applications cannot be checked between December 13, 2019 and January 2, 2020.
The Immigration Office will be closed December 24-26 and 31, 2019 and January 1, 2020. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period may delay processing times.
Iceland
Fragomen expects government offices to be closed December 24-26 and 31, 2019 and January 1, 2020. Although no formal announcement on closures is made, government offices are typically closed on public holidays.
India
All Indian Missions abroad and local immigration offices will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020. Delays in government processing are anticipated in December and early January due to reduced staff.
Indonesia
Government offices will be closed December 24-25, 2019 and January 1, 2020. In addition, the Ministry of Manpower may stop accepting applications around this time, although no official announcement has been made.
Iraq
Government offices will be closed on December 10, 2019 and January 1 and 6, 2020.
Ireland
Fragomen expects Irish immigration authorities to be closed December 25-26, 2019 and January 1, 2020, with limited opening hours likely on December 24, 27-28 and 31, 2019. The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) typically announce holiday closures in mid-December. Applicants should anticipate processing delays due to limited staff during the holiday period.
Israel
Though there are no scheduled closures in December or January, some consulates may have limited opening hours considering regional bank holidays. It is advisable to check consular and government office websites before visiting.
Italy
Immigration authorities will be closed December 25-26, 2019 and January 1 and 6, 2020. In general, immigration processing is expected to be delayed from December 23, 2019 until January 6, 2020 due to reduced staff.
Japan
The immigration authority will be closed December 28, 2019 to January 5, 2020. Delays due to limited staffing should be expected around this time.
Jordan
Government offices will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Kazakhstan
Government offices will be closed December 2 and 16-17, 2019 and January 1-4, 2020. Government offices will be open January 5 to compensate.
Kuwait
The immigration authority will be closed January 1, 2020.
Latvia
Government offices will be closed December 24-26 and 31, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Lebanon
Government offices will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1 and 6, 2020.
Lesotho
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Liberia
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Lithuania
Government offices will be closed December 24-26, 2019 and January 1, 2020. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period may delay processing times.
Luxembourg
Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2019 and January 1, 2020. Government offices will close early on December 24 and 31, 2019. Applicants should anticipate processing delays due to reduced staff during the year-end period.
Madagascar
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Macau
Government offices will be closed December 20, 22-26 and 31, 2019, and January 1, 2020.
Malaysia
Immigration offices across Malaysia (both West and East Malaysia) will be closed on December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020. They are also expected to close early the day before these holidays on December 24 and 31, 2019, respectively.
Malawi
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Mali
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Mauritius
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1-2, 2020.
Mauritania
The immigration authority will be closed January 1, 2020.
Malta
Government offices will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020. Government offices will operate with limited staff January 2-3, 2020.
Mexico
The National Immigration Institute will be closed December 20, 2019 through January 1, 2020.
Moldova
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2019, and January 1 and 7-8, 2020.
Montenegro
Government offices will be closed January 1-2 and 6-8, 2020.
Morocco
Government offices will be closed on January 1 and 11, 2020.
Mozambique
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Namibia
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Nepal
Government offices will be closed on December 12, 25 and 31, 2019.
Netherlands
The immigration and labor authorities will be closed December 25-27, 2019 and January 1, 2020. Additionally, the immigration authority will close at 1 PM on December 19, 2019. Fragomen expects regional immigration and municipal shared service centers (Expatcentra) to be closed on additional days between December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020. Applicants are advised to schedule appointments well in advance. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period is expected to delay processing times.
New Zealand
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2019, and January 1-2, 2020. In addition, offshore branches will be closed on the following dates: December 25-27, 2019 (Mumbai branch), December 25-26, 2019 and January 1, 2020 (Beijing branch), and December 25, 2019 to January 2, 2020 (Pacific Island branches).
Nigeria
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Norway
The immigration authority will be closed December 24-26 and 31, 2019 and January 1-2, 2020. The immigration authority will be open but operating at minimum capacity on December 23, 27 and 30, 2019 and January 3, 2020.
Oman
The immigration authority will be closed January 1, 2020.
Pakistan
The immigration authority will be closed on December 25 and 26, 2019.
Panama
Government offices are expected to close at 10 AM on December 24 and 31, 2019 and remain closed on December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020. Additionally, delays may be expected due to reduced workforce.
Papua New Guinea
The immigration authority will be closed December 21, 2019 until January 5, 2020. In addition, the authority will stop accepting new applications starting December 13. Only applications filed prior to this date will be processed until the authority closes on December 21.
Peru
Government offices are expected to be closed or close at 12 PM on December 24 and 31, 2019. They will remain closed on December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020. Additionally, there may be delays due to a reduced workforce.
Philippines
Government offices and Philippine consular posts will be closed on December 24-25 and 30-31, 2019, and January 1, 2020. There may also be delays in government processing and operations around the Christmas holiday.
Poland
Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2019 and January 1, 2020. Offices are also expected to close early, or to close fully at late notice, on December 24, 27 and 31, 2019. Consular posts typically observe Polish national holidays and are similarly expected to close on these days. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period may delay processing times.
Portugal
Government offices are expected to close December 24-26 and 31, 2019 and January 1-2, 2020, although a formal announcement is typically only made mid-December.
Qatar
Government offices will be closed December 18, 2019 and February 11., 2020
Romania
Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2019 and January 1-2 and 24, 2020. Government offices are expected to be closed or close early on other days in December and January, but typically announce these on short notice. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period is expected to delay processing.
Russia
Government offices will be closed January 1-8, 2020. No new applications can be filed during this period, and processing of pending applications will likely be delayed.
Rwanda
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2019 and January 1-2, 2020.
Senegal
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Serbia
Government offices will be closed January 1-2 and 7, 2020. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period is expected to delay processing times.
Singapore
Government offices will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Slovakia
Government offices will be closed December 24-26, 2019, and January 1 and 6, 2020. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period is expected to delay processing times.
Slovenia
Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2019 and January 1-2, 2020. 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, 2019 and January 1, 2020. Application processing at immigration offices will also generally slowdown in December as the end of the year approaches.
Spain
Government offices will be closed December 6 and 25, 2019 and January 1 and 7, 2020. Government offices are expected to close early and schedule minimal appointments on December 24 and 31, 2019. Generally, reduced staffing during the year-end period is expected to delay processing times.
South Africa
Visa Facilitation Center (VFS) will be closed December 19, 2019 - January 2, 2019.
Sri Lanka
Government offices will be closed December 11 and 25, 2019.
Sweden
Government offices will be closed December 24-26 and 31, 2019, and January 1, 2020. Applicants should anticipate processing delays due to limited staff during the holiday period.
Switzerland
Government offices will be closed on the following days:
| Canton | Labor Office | Migration Office |
FEDERAL |
December 25-26, 2019 and January 1-2, 2020. On December 24 and 31, the authorities will close at 12 noon local time. |
|
Aargau |
December 24, 2019 up to and including January 3, 2020. |
|
Bern |
December 25-26, 2019 and January 1-2, 2020. On December 24 and 31, the authorities will close at 12 noon local time. |
|
Basel |
December 25-26, 2019 and January 1, 2020. On December 24 and 31, the authorities will close at 12 noon local time. |
|
Geneva |
December 23, 2019 up to and including January 2, 2020. |
|
Luzern |
December 24, 2019 up to and including January 2, 2020. |
December 24-26 and 31, 2019 and January 1-2, 2020. |
Schaffhausen |
December 24, 2019 up to and including January 3, 2020. |
December 23, 2019 up to and including January 3, 2020. On December 20, 2019, the Migration Office will close at 4 pm local time. |
Solothurn |
December 25, 2019 up to and including January 2, 2020. On December 24 the authorities will close at 12 noon. |
|
Vaud |
December 25, 2019 up to and including January 6, 2020. |
December 25-26, 2019 and January 1-2, 2020. |
Zurich |
December 24, 2019 up to and including January 6, 2020. |
December 24, 2019 up to and including January 3, 2020. |
Zug |
December 24-26 and 31, 2019 and January 1-2, 2020. |
December 24, 2019 up to and including January 3, 2020. |
Taiwan
Government offices will be closed January 1, 2020.
Tanzania
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Trinidad & Tobago
Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Thailand
Immigration authorities will be closed December 10 and 30-31, 2019, and January 1, 2020.
Tunisia
Government offices will be closed January 1, 2020.
Turkey
Government offices will be closed January 1, 2020.
Uganda
The immigration authority will be closed December 25-26, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Ukraine
Government offices will be closed December 25 and 31, 2019 and January 1 and 6-7, 2020. 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 January 1, 2020.
United Kingdom
Government offices will be closed December 25-26 2019 and January 1, 2020. Fragomen expects local service centers operated by Sopra Steria to be closed on further days between December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period may delay processing times.
Uruguay
Government offices will be closed December 24, 25 and 31, 2019 and January 1, 2020. Delays can be expected due to short staffing.
Venezuela
Government entities will be closed on December 24, 25, and 31, 2019 and January 1, 2020 due to public holidays. Additionally, there may be delays due to a reduced workforce.
Vietnam
Government offices (including Vietnamese consular posts) will be closed January 1, 2020.
Zambia
The immigration authority will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
Zimbabwe
The immigration authority will be closed December 22, 25 and 26, 2019 and January 1, 2020.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
