Worldwide: Immigration Processing Delays Expected During Ramadan
April 28, 2022
At a Glance
- Foreign nationals and their employers can expect immigration processing delays from the beginning of April through the beginning of May in the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and parts of Asia during the observance of Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr. Many government offices worldwide reduce their hours and/or close during Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr.
- Processing delays could continue in the weeks following Ramadan, due to application backlogs that accumulate during the closures.
The situation
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 Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr. Many government offices worldwide reduce their hours and/or close during Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr.
A closer look
In most of the world, Ramadan is expected to begin on April 1, 2 or 3, depending on lunar sightings. The Eid-al-Fitr holiday will begin on the first day following the end of Ramadan, though its exact dates and the duration will vary by country. Processing delays could continue in the weeks following Ramadan, due to application backlogs that accumulate during the closures.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of operating hours and office closures for Ramadan. Government office closures are expected in many countries for Eid-al-Fitr, though there have not been official announcements for most countries.
| COUNTRY | CLOSURES |
| Algeria | Government offices are not officially closed during Ramadan (expected to begin April 2-3 and end on May 1-3, depending on lunar sightings) but most will operate on a reduced schedule, opening at 8:30 and closing at 15:30 local time. Government offices will also likely be closed on Eid-al-Fitr for two days if the holiday falls on business days. Processing delays can be expected for initial and renewal applications due to the reduced working hours. |
| Bahrain | The month of Ramadan will begin on April 2. Most government offices will operate from 8:00 through 14:00 local time daily. Additionally, government entities will close for Eid-al-Fitr on May 3 and resume operations on May 8. |
| Bangladesh | The month of Ramadan will begin on April 3 in Bangladesh. Government offices will operate with a reduced workforce until May 4, 2022 and will be closed on April 14, April 29, May 1, 2 and 4. Processing delays of pending immigration applications should be expected throughout the month. |
| Brunei | The Ramadan season will begin on April 2 and will last until May 2 in Brunei. Government offices will be closed for five business days from the confirmed Hari Raya date (expected to be May 3-9). Government offices will close at 14:00 local time daily for the entire month of Ramadan and delays in immigration processing are expected through the month and up to two weeks after Ramadan ends. |
| Egypt | The month of Ramadan will begin April 2 and end on May 2. Government offices will operate on a reduced schedule from 9:00 through 14:00 local time daily. Additionally, government entities will close for Eid-al-Fitr April 29 and resume operations on May 8. |
| Iraq | The month of Ramadan is expected to begin April 1 or 2 and end on May 1-2, depending on lunar sightings. Most government offices will operate from 8:00 through 13:30 local time throughout the month. Additionally, although authorities have not yet announced government closures for Eid-al-Fitr, it is expected that government entities will close on April 28 and resume operations on May 8. |
| Iraqi Kurdistan | The month of Ramadan is expected to begin April 1 or 2. Most government offices will operate from 8:00 through 13:30 local time throughout the month. Additionally, government entities will close for Eid-al-Fitr on April 28 and resume operations on May 8. |
| Jordan | The month of Ramadan will begin on April 3. Government offices will operate on a reduced schedule from 10:00 through 15:00 local time daily. Additionally, government entities will close for Eid-al-Fitr on May 2 and resume operations on May 8. |
| Kuwait | The month of Ramadan is expected to begin April 2 or 3. Government offices will operate on a reduced schedule from 9:30 through 14:00 local time throughout the month. Additionally, government offices will close for Eid-al-Fitr on May 1 and resume operations on May 8. |
| Lebanon | The month of Ramadan is expected to begin April 2 or 3. Government offices will operate on a reduced schedule from 8:00 through 12:00 local time on Monday through Thursday and will be closed on Fridays. Additionally, although authorities have not yet announced government closures for Eid-al-Fitr, it is expected that government entities will close on May 1 and resume operations on May 4. |
| Malaysia |
The month of Ramadan will begin on April 3. Government offices, including the Immigration Department and other Work Pass adjudicating departments such as the eXpats Centre of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation Sdn. Bhd. and MYXpats Centre of the Expatriate Services Division, are expected to operate with reduced hours throughout the month. Government offices will be closed from May 2 through May 4. Processing delays are expected throughout the month of Ramadan and may continue for up to three weeks after the Hari Raya Eid-al-Fitr celebrations. |
| Morocco | The month of Ramadan is expected to begin on April 3 and end May 2, depending on lunar sightings. Government offices will operate from 10 through 15:30 local time during the month. Additionally, although authorities have not yet announced government closures for Eid-al-Fitr, it is expected that government entities will close on May 2 and resume operations on May 5. |
| Oman | The month of Ramadan is expected to begin on April 2 or 3. Government offices will close two hours early daily during the month. Additionally, government entities will close for Eid-al-Fitr on April 30 and resume operations on May 8. |
| Pakistan | The month of Ramadan is expected to begin on April 1 or 2. Government offices will operate on a reduced schedule from 10:00 through 15:30 local time on Monday through Thursday and from 10:00 through 13:00 local time on Friday. Additionally, although authorities have not yet announced government closures for Eid-al-Fitr,it is expected that government entities will close on May 2 and resume operations on May 8. |
| Qatar | The month of Ramadan is expected to begin on April 2 or 3. Government offices will operate on a reduced schedule from 9:00 through 14:00 local time daily. Additionally, although authorities have not yet announced government closures for Eid-al-Fitr, it is expected that government entities will close on May 1 and resume operations on May 8. |
| Saudi Arabia | The month of Ramadan is expected to begin on April 2. Government offices are expected to operate from 10:00 through 15:00 local time. Additionally, government entities will close for Eid-al-Fitr on April 25 and resume operations on May 8. |
| Tunisia | The month of Ramadan will begin on April 3. Government offices will operate on a reduced schedule from 8:00 through 12:30 local time on Monday through Thursday and from 7:00 through 13:00 local time on Fridays. Additionally, although authorities have not yet announced government closures for Eid-al-Fitr, it is expected that government entities will close on May 2 and resume operations on May 5. |
| Turkey | Government offices will be closed from May 1 through May 4. Processing delays can be expected during Ramadan for initial and renewal applications as government offices are often understaffed. |
| United Arab Emirates | The month of Ramadan is expected to begin April 1 or 2. Government offices will operate on a reduced schedule. From Monday through Thursday they will operate from 9:00 to 14:30 and on Friday from 9:00 through 12:00 local time. Additionally, government entities will close for Eid-al-Fitr on April 30 and resume operations on May 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.
