World Immigration News

Worldwide: Immigration Processing Delays During the Holidays

Release Date: 2024-12-12
Media: Fragomen
Summary: During the holiday season (December 2024 to early January 2025), many government offices around the world will be closed or have reduced operating hours, which may cause delays in the processing of work permits, residence permits, and visas. Employers and foreign nationals should contact their immigration service providers to discuss how these closures may impact their specific cases.

Key closures include:

Albania, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, and others have various holiday closures during this period, often from December 24 to January 2.
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland will have extended closures, with Denmark closing from December 18 to January 2.
China and Japan have limited closures around the New Year.
Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia do not have scheduled closures during this period.
Immigration authorities in many countries are expected to operate with reduced staff, causing delays, and travelers should plan accordingly.
Tags: WORLD