Government Office Closures and Immigration Processing Delays During the Holidays

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.

Albania 

Government offices will be closed December 8, 2025, December 25, 2025 and January 1-2, 2026.  

Algeria 

Government offices will be closed January 1, 2026.  

Angola 

Immigration offices will operate on reduced working hours on December 24 and 31, 2025 until 12:00 local time and will be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026.  

Argentina 

Government offices will be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026.  

Armenia 

Government offices will be closed from December 31, 2025 to January 2, 2026, and on January 6, 2026.  

Australia 

Subject to official confirmation, the Department of Home Affairs will close on the public holidays of December 25- 26, 2025 and January 1, 2026, and will also have reduced staff and restricted services for December 29-31, 2025. 

Austria 

Government offices will be closed December 8, 2025, December 24-26, 2025, December 31, 2025, January 1, 2026 and January 6, 2026. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period may delay processing times.

Azerbaijan

Government offices will be closed December 31, 2025-January 4, 2026. 

Bahamas 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026.  

Bahrain 

Government offices will be closed January 1, 2026.  

Bangladesh 

Government offices will be closed December 16 and 25, 2025.   

Barbados 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026. 

Belarus 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025, January 1-2, 2026 and January 7, 2026. Exceptionally, government offices will be open on December 20, 2025 (a Saturday).  

Belgium 

Government offices will be closed as follows: 

• Brussels: closed December 25, 2025-January 1, 2026. 
• Flanders: closed December 25, 2025-January 1, 2026. 
• Wallonia: closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026. 

Bermuda 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026. They typically also close early on December 24, 2025 (usually at noon local time).  

Bolivia 

Government offices will be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026, and will also close early (at 13:00 local time) on December 24 and 31, 2025. 

Bosnia and Herzegovina 

Government offices will be closed December 25, 2025, January 1-2, 2026 and January 7, 2026. 

Botswana

Immigration services are expected to be slow as of December 22, 2025, as immigration offices will have skeletal staff during the holiday period. In addition, immigration government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1-2, 2026. 

Brazil 

Government offices are expected to close on December 24, 25 and 31, 2025, as well as January 1, 2026, while operating on an optional or reduced-staff basis on December 26, 2025 and January 2, 2026. 

Brunei 

Government offices will be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026. 

Bulgaria 

Government offices will be closed December 24-26, 2025, and December 31, 2025 to January 2, 2026.  

Cameroon 

Government offices will be closed December 25, 2025, and January 1, 2026. 

Canada 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026. The government may also announce short-notice closures or reduced operating hours for various offices on December 24 and 31, 2025. 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. 

Cayman Islands 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026. They will also close early on December 24, 2025.  

Chile 

Government offices will be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026, and will also close early (at noon local time) on December 24 and 31, 2025. 

China  

Government offices will be closed January 1-3, 2026.  

Colombia 

Government offices will be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026 and will close early (at noon local time) on December 24 and 31, 2025. 

Costa Rica 

Government offices are expected to close from December 22, 202-January 2, 2026, pending official confirmation. 

Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) 

Immigration offices will be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026.

Croatia 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025, January 1, 2026 and January 6, 2026.   

Cyprus 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1 and January 6, 2026.  

Czech Republic 

Government offices will be closed December 24-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026. 

Democratic Republic of Congo 

Immigration offices will be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1, 4, 16, and 17, 2026.  

Denmark 

Danish immigration authorities will be closed December 23, 2025 to January 5, 2026. As part of this, no biometrics or Central Person Register appointments will be available during this period. Processing delays are expected as authorities are closing earlier this year than in previous years. 

Dominican Republic 

Government offices will be closed December 24, 25 and 31, 2025 and January 1, 2026.  

Ecuador  

Government offices will be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1-2, 2026.  

Egypt 

There are no scheduled government closures in December 2025 or January 2026. 

El Salvador 

Government offices will be closed December 23, 2025-January 1, 2026. 

Estonia 

Government offices will be closed December 24-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026. 

Ethiopia 

Government offices will be closed January 6-7, 2026 and January 19, 2026. 

Fiji 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026.  

Finland

Government offices will be closed December 24-26, 2025 and January 1 and 6, 2026.  

France 

Government offices will be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026. 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. 

Georgia 

Government offices will be closed January 1-2, 2026 and January 7, 2026. 

Germany 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026. Smaller administrative offices and consular posts may be closed December 24, 27, and 31, 2025. Government offices in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Saxony-Anhalt will also be closed January 6, 2026.  

Ghana 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 31, 2025 and January 1, 2026.    

Greece 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025, January 1, 2026, and January 6, 2026. 

Guatemala 

Government offices will be closed December 24-25 and 31, 2025 and January 1, 2026. Additional short-notice closures may also be announced on days surrounding these holidays.  

Guyana 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026. 

Honduras 

Government offices are expected to be closed December 24-26 and 31, 2025 and January 1-2, 2026.  

Hong Kong SAR 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026. 

Hungary 

Government offices will be closed December 24-26, 2025 and January 1-2, 2026. Additionally, the Immigration Office and the National Office of Translation and Attestation will be closed December 29-31, 2025, though other government offices may remain open during this period.

Iceland  

Government offices will be closed December 24-26, 2025, December 31, 2025 and January 1, 2026. 

India 

Government offices will be closed December 25, 2025. 

Indonesia 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026.  

Iraqi Kurdistan 

Government offices are expected to be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026. An official announcement is expected soon.  

Iraq 

Government offices will be closed January 1, 2026.  

Ireland 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026. 

Israel 

Government offices will be closed as follows:  

• Half day closure (closed by 14:00 local time) on December 14, 2025. 
• Full day closure on December 21, 2025. 
• Between December 14-30, 2025, it is common for government employees to take time off, so processing times may be reduced.  

Italy 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025, and January 1 and 6, 2026.  

Japan 

Government offices will be closed December 29, 2025-January 4, 2026.  

Jordan 

Government offices will be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026. 

Kazakhstan 

Government offices will be closed December 16, 2025, January 1-2, 2026 and January 7, 2026. Government offices will not be accepting documents on December 31, 2025.   

Kenya 

Immigration offices will be closed December 12, 25, 26, 2025 and January 1, 2026. Immigration services are expected to be slow during the holiday period.   

Kosovo 

Government offices will be closed December 25, 2025, January 1-2, 2026 and January 7, 2026.  

Kuwait 

Government offices will be closed January 1, 2026.  

Kyrgyzstan  

Government offices will be closed January 1-7, 2026.  

Latvia 

Government offices will be closed December 24-26, 2025, and December 31, 2025 to January 2, 2026. December 23, 2025, and December 30, 2025 will both be shortened workdays.  

Lebanon 

Government offices are expected to be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026. An official announcement is expected soon. 

Liechtenstein  

Government offices will be closed December 8, 2025, December 24 to 26, 2025, December 31, 2025 to January 2, 2026 and January 6, 2026. 

Lithuania 

Government offices will be closed December 24-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period may delay processing times. 

Luxembourg 

Government offices will be closed the afternoon of December 24, 2025, all of December 25-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026. 

 
North Macedonia 

Government offices will be closed December 8, 2025, January 1, 2026 and January 7, 2026. 

Madagascar 

All public entities will be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026. 

Malaysia 

Subject to confirmation once the official announcement is released, the MYXpats Center and MDEC Office will generally close earlier, with a half-day closure in the afternoon of December 24 and 31, 2025. The Immigration Putrajaya will be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026. 

Malta 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026.    

Mauritius 

Government offices will be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1-2, 2026. Specifically, the Mauritius Ports Authority (MPA) will operate on reduced working hours on December 24 and 31, 2025. 

Mauritania 

Government offices will be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026.   

Mexico

The National Immigration Institute will be closed from December 22, 2025, through January 1, 2026.

Moldova 

Government offices will be closed December 25, 2025, January 1, 2026 and January 7, 2026.  

Mongolia 

Government offices will be closed December 29, 2025 and January 1, 2026. 

Montenegro 

Government offices will be closed January 1-2, 2026 and January 6-8, 2026.

Morocco

Government offices will be closed January 1, 2026.  

Mozambique 

Immigration offices will be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026 and are likely to close at 12:00 local time on December 24 and 31, 2025. Services are expected to be delayed, as most offices will be operating with skeletal staff during this period. 

Myanmar 

Government offices will be closed December 19, 25 and 26, 2025 and January 1, 2, and 4, 2026. 

Namibia 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026. Reduced staff during this holiday period are expected to delay processing times.

Netherlands 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period is expected to delay processing times. 

Nepal 

Government offices will be closed December 25 and 30, 2025, January 11, 15, 19, 23 (for educational institutions only) and 30, 2026.

New Zealand 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1-2, 2026. The Immigration New Zealand call center will close on public holidays and operate with reduced staff on other days. Processing branches will close from the afternoon of December 24, 2025, with normal operations expected to resume on January 5, 2026. 

Norway 

Government offices will be closed December 24-26, 2025, December 31, 2025 and January 1, 2026. 

Oman 

There are no scheduled government closures in December 2025 or January 2026. 

Pakistan 

Government offices are expected to be closed December 25, 2025. An official announcement is expected soon. 

Panama 

Government offices will be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026. Immigration offices are also expected to close early on the business day before these holidays on December 24 and 31, 2025. 

Paraguay 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026.  

Peru 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026. 

Philippines 

Government offices will be closed December 8, 24-25, 30-31, 2025 and January 1, 2026. 

Poland 

Government offices will be closed December 24-26, 2025, January 1, 2026 and January 6, 2026. Additionally, some government offices may also be closed or adhering to reduced working hours on December 31, 2025 and January 5, 2026. This news tends to be announced at the last moment. Concerned individuals should inquire with the relevant office closer to time.  

Portugal 

Government offices will be closed December 24-25, 2025, December 31, 2025, and January 1, 2026. Many government offices will also have vacation days on December 26, 2025 and January 2, 2026. 

Qatar 

There are no scheduled government closures in December 2025 or January 2026. 

Romania 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025, January 1-2, 2026 and January 6-7, 2026.  

Russia 

Government offices will be closed from December 31, 2025 to January 9, 2026 (inclusive).

Rwanda 

All public entities will be closed December 25-26 and 31, 2025 and January 1-2, 2026.

Saudi Arabia 

There are no scheduled government closures in December 2025 or January 2026. 

Senegal 

Government offices will be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026. 

Serbia 

Government offices will be closed January 1-2, 2026 and January 7, 2026. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period is expected to delay processing times. 

Singapore 

Government offices will be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026. 

Slovakia 

Government offices will be closed December 24-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026.  

Slovenia 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1-2, 2026.  

South Korea 

Government offices will be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026. 

South Africa 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026. Specifically, SAQA will be closed December 19, 2025 and will reopen January 5, 2026. 

Spain 

Government offices will be closed December 25, 2025. Government offices in Barcelona will also be closed December 26, 2025. 

Sri Lanka 

Government offices will be closed December 25, 2025. 

Sweden 

Government offices will be closed December 24-26, 2025, and December 31, 2025 to January 6, 2026. Applicants should anticipate processing delays due to limited staff during the holiday period.

Switzerland 

Government offices will be closed as follows: 

• Aargau:
  • AWA: December 24, 2025 to January 1, 2026 
  • Migrationsamt: December 22, 2025 to January 1, 2026 
• Bern. Afternoon of December 24 to December 26, 2025; and afternoon of December 31, 2025 to January 1, 2026. 
• Basel Stadt. Afternoon of December 24 to December 26, 2025; and afternoon of December 31, 2025 to January 1, 2026. 
• Geneva. December 24, 2025 to January 1, 2026. 
• Lucerne. Afternoon of December 24 to December 26, 2025; and afternoon of December 31, 2025 to January 2, 2026. 
• Solothurn. Afternoon of December 24, 2025 to January 2, 2026. 
• Vaud. December 24, 2025 to January 2, 2026. 
• Zürich. December 22, 2025 to January 2, 2026. 
• Zug:
  • AWA: December 24 to December 26, 2025; and December 31, 2025 to January 2, 2026. 
  • Migrationsamt: December 24, 2025 to January 2, 2026. 
• Schaffhausen. December 24, 2025 to January 2, 2026. 
• Bund (Federal). December 24, 2025 to January 5, 2026. 

Liechtenstein

December 24 to 26, 2025, December 31, 2025 to January 2, 2026, and January 6, 2026. 

Taiwan 

Government offices will be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026. 

Tanzania 

Immigration offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026. Immigration services are expected to be slow during the holiday period. 

Thailand 

Government offices will be closed December 5, 10 and 31, 2025 and January 1 and 2, 2026. 

Trinidad and Tobago 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026. 

Tunisia 

Government offices will be closed January 1, 2026.  

Turkey 

Government offices will be closed January 1, 2026. 

Uganda 

Immigration offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026. Immigration services are expected to be slow during the holiday period.  

United Arab Emirates 

Government offices will be closed January 1, 2026.

United Kingdom 

Government offices will be closed December 25-26, 2025 and January 1, 2026. Government offices in Scotland will also be closed January 2, 2026. In general, reduced staff during the year-end period may delay processing times.  

Uruguay 

Government offices will be closed December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026.  

Uzbekistan

Government offices will be closed January 1, 2026; December 31, 2025 will be a shorter work day (unofficially).

Venezuela

Government offices, including SAIME and the Venezuelan Consulate in Colombia, will be closed December 24, 25, and 31, 2025 and January 1, 2026.