The Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC) network issued a notice on 29 December confirming that all overseas visa-centre offices will be closed on Thursday, 1 January, for the New Year public holiday and will reopen on 2 January. Applicants with passports due for collection on that date are advised to check revised pick-up times shown on their collection receipts.
Although a routine closure, the announcement comes at a time of elevated visa-processing volumes as China’s extended fee-reduction scheme (in effect until 31 December 2026) spurs more business travellers to submit applications ahead of the Spring Festival rush. Some CVASC locations – notably Los Angeles and London – are already quoting three-to-five-day turnarounds for express service and up to ten working days for standard processing.
![Chinese Visa Application Service Centres announce 1 January closure; passport pick-ups to be delayed]()
For organizations or travelers that need extra support navigating these shifting deadlines, VisaHQ offers a streamlined solution. Its China desk (https://www.visahq.com/china/) provides real-time application checks, document couriering, and proactive status alerts, helping clients avoid incomplete submissions and capitalize on available express or rush options.
Employers should factor the one-day shutdown into assignment start dates and ensure that couriers do not attempt deliveries to locked facilities. Where travellers face tight deployment windows, mobility teams may wish to upgrade to ‘rush’ service where available or use consular walk-in lines if local regulations permit.
CVASC reminded applicants that biometric data captured within the past five years remains valid, so repeat applicants can mail documents without appearing in person unless their passport number has changed. The centre also reiterated that incomplete applications will be returned unprocessed, potentially adding a further week once offices reopen.
Although a routine closure, the announcement comes at a time of elevated visa-processing volumes as China’s extended fee-reduction scheme (in effect until 31 December 2026) spurs more business travellers to submit applications ahead of the Spring Festival rush. Some CVASC locations – notably Los Angeles and London – are already quoting three-to-five-day turnarounds for express service and up to ten working days for standard processing.
For organizations or travelers that need extra support navigating these shifting deadlines, VisaHQ offers a streamlined solution. Its China desk (https://www.visahq.com/china/) provides real-time application checks, document couriering, and proactive status alerts, helping clients avoid incomplete submissions and capitalize on available express or rush options.
Employers should factor the one-day shutdown into assignment start dates and ensure that couriers do not attempt deliveries to locked facilities. Where travellers face tight deployment windows, mobility teams may wish to upgrade to ‘rush’ service where available or use consular walk-in lines if local regulations permit.
CVASC reminded applicants that biometric data captured within the past five years remains valid, so repeat applicants can mail documents without appearing in person unless their passport number has changed. The centre also reiterated that incomplete applications will be returned unprocessed, potentially adding a further week once offices reopen.
