British Embassy in Egypt reopens

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? The British Embassy in Egypt has reopened after closing last week due to unspecified security concerns.

What does the change mean? Immigration, travel and other consular services have resumed.

• Implementation timeframe: The embassy reopened Dec. 16.
• Visas/permits affected: All visas.
• Who is affected: Anyone applying for visas or in need of consular services at the British Embassy.
• Impact on processing times: There may be longer wait times for visas and other services due to increased demand for embassy services resulting from the nine-day closure.
• Business impact: Possible delays could impact business travelers.
• Next steps: The embassy reopened Dec. 16, with British officials stating on the embassy’s website that “security issues related to the building were resolved in cooperation with the Egyptian government.”

Background: The British Embassy in Cairo closed and temporarily suspended services Dec. 7, citing security concerns. The Canadian Embassy closed the next day, also citing security concerns. While the British Embassy reopened, the Canadian Embassy remained closed as of Dec. 17.

BAL Analysis: The fact that the closure was relatively short is good news for visa applicants, who faced the possibility of long delays or having to apply outside Egypt when the embassy closed its doors last week. BAL will continue to monitor the status of the Canadian Embassy and will keep clients updated on its status.

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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