Brazilian Consulate in London suspends services

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? The Brazilian Consulate in London is closed because of damage to the building.

What does the change mean? The closure will suspend regular services, and visa applicants should expect delays.

• Implementation timeframe: Immediate.
• Visas/permits affected: All visa and consular services.
• Who is affected: Travelers applying for visas and other consular services at the Brazilian Consulate in London.
• Impact on processing times: The consulate has not announced when it will reopen; a lengthy closure would significantly delay processing.
• Business impact: The suspension of services may impact travel dates and work start dates.
• Next steps: Applicants whose visas were processed at the Brazilian Embassy may be able to collect their passports on their normal collection date. However, new applications may not be submitted and applicants with pending legalization documents may not collect them until the consulate reopens.

Background: The Consulate General of Brazil in London closed and suspended regular services April 14, citing structural damage to its building. Emergency cases will be handled by the Brazilian Embassy in London.

BAL Analysis: Applicants whose visas cannot be collected should prepare for immediate delays. If the closure is lengthy, a possible backlog of cases may develop and applicants may have to adjust their travel plans.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group in the United Kingdom. For additional information, please contact uk@bal.com.

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