Worldwide: Immigration Processing and Delays During the Holidays
January 3, 2023
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 2023 should contact their immigration service provider to discuss the impact of holiday closures on their specific circumstances.
- These closures are in addition to remaining closures of government offices due to COVID-19. Check Fragomen’s dedicated website for up-to-date information on COVID-19-related government closures, travel restrictions and other related information.
Albania
Government offices will be closed on December 25, 2022 and January 1-2, 2023. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period may delay processing times.
Algeria
The immigration authority will be closed January 1 and 12, 2023.
Angola
Government offices will be closed December 25, 2022 and January 1, 2023.
Argentina
Government offices will be closed December 23 and 30, 2022.
Australia
The immigration authority will be closed December 26-27, 2022, and January 2, 2023.
Austria
Government offices will be closed on December 24-26 and 31, 2022 and January 1 and 6, 2023. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period may delay processing times.
Azerbaijan
Government offices will be closed December 31, 2022 and January 1-4, 7 and 19, 2023.
Bahrain
Government offices will be closed January 1-2, 2023.
Bangladesh
Government offices will be closed on December 16 and 25, 2022.
Bolivia
Government offices will close early at 15:00 (local time) on December 24 and 31, 2022.
Bosnia Herzegovina
Government offices will be closed on January 2, 2023.
Botswana
All public entities will be closed December 26-27, 2022 and January 2-3, 2023. Processing times and other immigration services are expected to be delayed during this time as most entities will have skeletal staff in offices during this period.
Brazil
Government offices are expected to be closed December 30, 2022.
Brunei
Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2022.
Bulgaria
Government offices will be closed December 26-28, 2022 and January 2, 2023.
Cambodia
There are no government office closures during the holiday period.
Canada
Government offices will be closed December 26-27, 2022, and January 2, 2023. Foreign nationals entering Canada on those days should still be able to apply for work permits at ports of entry, although there may be reduced staff.
Chile
Government offices will close at 12:00 (local time) on December 23 and 30, 2022.
China
Government offices will be closed December 31, 2022 through January 3, 2023.
Colombia
There are no government office closures during the holiday period.
Costa Rica
Government offices are expected to be closed December 23, 2022 through January 6, 2023.
Croatia
Government offices will operate on a shortened schedule on December 23, 2022 and will be closed on December 26, 2022 and January 6, 2023. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period may delay processing times.
Cyprus
Government offices will be closed on December 24-26, 2022 and January 1, 2023.
Czech Republic
The Immigration Authority will be closed on December 30, 2022. On December 27-29, 2022, the Immigration Authority will only be open for clients with a pre-scheduled appointment. Additionally, on December 28, 2022, the agency will also be open to individuals with “extraordinary matters that cannot be delayed”.
Democratic Republic of Congo
All public entities will be closed on December 25, 2022 and January 1, 2023. Processing of immigration documents is expected to slow down between December 23, 2022 and January 4, 2023.
Denmark
Danish immigration authorities will be closed December 23, 2022 and January 1, 2023. This includes biometric services.
Dominican Republic
There are no government office closures during the holiday period. Delays may be expected due to reduced workforce.
Ecuador
Government offices will be closed December 26, 2022 and January 2, 2023.
El Salvador
Government offices will be closed December 26 through 30, 2022.
Estonia
Government offices will be closed December 26, 2022 and will work reduced hours December 23 and 30, 2022.
Equatorial Guinea
All public entities will be closed December 25-26, 2022, and January 1-2, 2023.
Ethiopia
All public entities will be closed January 7, 2023. Processing of immigration documents is expected to slow down between December 23, 2022 and January 4, 2023.
Falkland Islands
Government offices are closed at 12:00 (local time) on December 23, 2022 through January 2, 2023. Government offices will be running with a reduced staff on the days that it is open from December 21, 2022 through January 9, 2023.
Fiji
Government offices are closed on December 26-27, 2022 and January 2, 2023.
Finland
Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2022 and January 1 and 6, 2023.
Gabon
All public entities will be closed December 24-25, 2022, and December 30, 2022-January 1, 2023.
Germany
The Berlin local Town Hall is closed until February 2023 due to elections.
Ghana
All public entities will be closed December 26, 2022 and January 1, 2023.
Greece
Government offices will be closed December 26, 2022 and January 6, 2023. Additionally, government offices will close at 12:00 (local time) on December 23 and 30, 2022.
Guatemala
Government offices are expected to be closed December 23 and 30, 2022.
Guyana
Government offices will be closed December 26-27, 2022 and January 2, 2023.
Honduras
The immigration and labor authorities will not close during the holiday season. The Supreme Court of Justice (in charge of document certifications) will be closed December 16, 2022, through January 3, 2023.
Hong Kong SAR
The immigration authority will be closed December 26-27, 2022 and January 2, 2023.
Hungary
There are no government closures. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period may delay processing times.
Indonesia
There are no government office closures during the holiday period.
Iraq
Government offices will be closed December 25, 2022 and January 2, 2023.
Iraqi Kurdistan
Government offices will be closed December 25, 2022 through January 1, 2023.
Israel
Though there are no scheduled closures in December or January; however, some consulates may have limited opening hours due to regional bank holidays. Travelers should check consular and government office websites before visiting.
Italy
Government offices will be closed on December 25-26 and 31, 2022 and January 1, 2023.
Japan
The immigration authority will be closed December 29-31, 2022 and January 1-3, 2023. Delays due to limited staffing should be expected around this time.
Jordan
Government offices will be closed on January 1-2, 2023.
Kazakhstan
Government offices will be closed December 16, 2022 and January 2-3, 2023.
Kenya
All public entities will be closed December 26, 2022 and January 2, 2023. Processing of immigration documents is expected to be delayed between December 23, 2022 and January 4, 2023.
Kosovo
The immigration authority will be closed January 2, 6 and 7, 2023.
Kuwait
Government offices will be closed January 1-2, 2023.
Lesotho
All public entities will be closed December 25- 26, 2022 and January 1, 2023.
Latvia
Government offices will be closed on December 26, 2022.
Lithuania
Government offices are expected to be closed December 26, 2022.
Macau
Government offices will be closed December 20, 23, 26-27, 2022 and January 3, 2023.
Madagascar
All public entities will be closed December 23, 2022 at 12:00 (local time) to January 4, 2023.
Malaysia
Immigration offices across Malaysia (both East and West Malaysia) are expected to close early on December 23 and 30, 2022. Government offices are closed on December 26, 2022, and January 2, 2023.
Malta
Government offices are expected to close on December 13 and 25, 2022 and January 1, 2023.
Mauritius
All public entities will be closed December 25, 2022 and January 1-2, 2023.
Mauritania
All public entities will be closed January 1, 2023.
Mexico
The National Immigration Institute is expected to be closed December 19 through December 30, 2022. The government may announce additional or different closure dates on short notice.
Moldova
There are no government closures but government offices are expected to be delayed during the first week of 2023.
Mongolia
Government offices will be closed December 29, 2022 and January 1, 2023.
Montenegro
Government offices will be closed January 1-3, and 6-8, 2023.
Myanmar
Government offices will be closed December 22, 25, and 31, 2022.
Namibia
The Immigration Selection Board will be closed December 16, 2022 through January 31, 2023, therefore, no permits will be processed during this period. The Sub-committee (which processed short-term visas) will be closed December 25-26, 2022 and January 1-2, 2023, and short-term visas’ processing time will be delayed due to a reduced workforce.
Nepal
There are no government office closures during the holiday period.
Netherlands
Government offices will be closed December 26, 2022.
New Zealand
Immigration New Zealand will be closed from December 25, 2022 through January 4, 2023. Visas will not be processed during the closure.
Nicaragua
Government offices will be closed December 22, 2022 to January 6, 2023.
Nigeria
All public entities will be closed on December 25-26, 2022 and January 1-2, 2023. Processing of immigration documents is expected to be delayed between December 23, 2022 and January 3, 2023.
North Macedonia
Government offices will be closed on December 8, 2022 and January 2 and 6, 2023. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period is expected to delay processing times.
Panama
Government offices are expected to close on December 20 and 26, 2022 and January 2, 2023. Delays may be expected due to reduced workforce.
Peru
Government offices will be closed on December 26, 2022.
Philippines
Government authorities will (likely) be closed December 26, 30, 2022 and January 3, 2023.
Poland
Government offices will be closed January 1 and 6, 2022.
Portugal
Government offices are expected to close on December 23, 26, and 30, 2022 and January 2, 2023.
Romania
Government offices will be closed December 24-26, and 31, 2022 and January 2, 2023.
Russia
Government offices will be closed January 2-6, 2023.
Rwanda
All public entities will be closed December 25-26, 2022 and January 1-2, 2023. Processing of immigration documents is expected to be delayed between December 23, 2022 and January 4, 2023.
Serbia
Government offices will be closed January 1-3 and 7, 2023. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period is expected to delay processing times.
Singapore
Government offices will be closed December 26, 2022 and January 2, 2023.
Slovakia
Government offices will be closed December 24-26, 2022 and January 1 and 6, 2023.
Slovenia
Government offices will be closed December 26, 2022 and January 2, 2023.
South Africa
All public entities will be closed December 25-26, 2022 and January 1-2, 2023. The South African VFS will close from the December 20, 2022 and will reopen on January 3, 2023.
South Korea
There are no government office closures during the holiday period.
Spain
Government offices will be closed December 26, 2022 and January 6, 2023.
Sri Lanka
Government offices will be closed December 7 and 25-26, 2022.
Sweden
Government offices will be closed December 26, 2022, and January 6, 2023.
Switzerland
Government offices will be closed on the following days:
- Aargau: The Office of Economy and Labour (AWA) and the Office of Migration Services will be closed December 26, 2022 to January 2, 2023.
- Basel: The Office of Economy and Labour (AWA) and the Office of Migration Services will be closed on December 26, 2022.
- Bern: The Office of Migration Services and the Office for Economy will be closed December 26, 2022 to January 1, 2023.
- Bund: The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) will be closed December 26, 2022 to January 2, 2023.
- Genf: The Office of the Inspectorate of Labour Relations (OCIRT) and the Cantonal Office for Population and Migration (OCPM) will be closed December 26, 2022 and January 2, 2023.
- Liechtenstein: The Office for Economics (AVW) and the Immigration and Passport Office (APA) will be closed December 26, 2022 to January 2, 2023.
- Luzern: The Office of Economy and Work (WIRA) and the Office of Migration Services will be closed December 26, 2022 to January 2, 2023.
- Schaffhausen: The Office of Economy and Labour (AWA) will be closed from December 23, 2022 at 12:00 (local time) to January 2, 2023 and the Office of Migration Services will be closed December 26, 2022 to January 2, 2023.
- Solothurn: The Office of Economy and Labour (AWA) and the Office of Migration Services will be closed from December 26, 2022 to January 2, 2023.
- Vaud: The Controle du Marche will be closed on December 26, 2022 and the Office of Population Services will be closed on December 26, 2022 and December 30, 2022 to January 2, 2023.
- Zug: The Office of Economy and Labour (AWA) and the Office of Migration Services will be closed December 26, 2022 and January 2, 2023.
- Zürich: The Office of Economy and Labour (AWA) and the Office of Migration Services will be closed December 23, 2022 to January 2, 2023.
Taiwan ROC
Government offices will be closed January 2, 2023.
Tanzania
All public entities will be closed December 26, 2022 and January 2, 2023. Processing of immigration documents is expected to slow down between December 23, 2022 and January 4, 2023.
Thailand
Immigration authorities will be closed December 5, 10, 12 and 30-31, 2022, and January 1-2, 2023.
Trinidad and Tobago
Government offices will be closed December 26-27, 2022, and January 2, 2023.
Türkiye
Government offices will be closed January 1, 2023.
Uganda
All public entities will be closed December 23, 2022 and January 2, 2023. Processing of immigration documents is expected to be delayed between December 23, 2022 and January 4, 2023.
Ukraine
Government offices will be closed December 26, 2022 and January 2 and 9, 2023.
United Kingdom
Government offices will be closed December 26-27, 2022 and January 2, 2023. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period may delay processing times. Additionally, UK Border Control Officials and airport employees have confirmed they will be going on strike all days December 23-31, 2022, except December 27. The airports that will be affected include Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, and Cardiff and the Port of New Haven. Expect long queues and delays and other travel disruptions.
Uruguay
There are no government office closures during the holiday period.
Venezuela
Government offices will be closed December 16, 2022 through January 6, 2023.
Vietnam
Government offices will be closed on January 3, 2023.
Zambia
All public entities will be closed December 23, 2022 from 12:00 (local time). The entities will again be closed on December 26, December 30 and January 2, 2023.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
