Offices to close in early October for holidays

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Employers are reminded that Chinese government offices will be closed Oct. 1-8 as the country celebrates National Day and related holidays

What does the change mean? Employers and applicants should plan around the holiday break and file time-sensitive applications as soon as possible

• Implementation time frame: Oct. 1-8
• Visas/permits affected: All immigration-related government services
• Impact on processing times: Applicants should expect slower processing
• Business impact: Employers should factor in the holiday period when planning business schedules and start dates.

Background: National Day is celebrated Oct. 1 of every year to commemorate the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The holiday is combined with the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated in a number of Asian countries, and offices in mainland China will be closed for a full week.

BAL Analysis: Employers should plan around the holidays and anticipate a backlog when offices reopen. Chinese consular posts abroad will also suspend operations or operate on significantly reduced schedules. Overseas applicants should contact their relevant Chinese consulate for specific holiday schedules.

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

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