The Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC) in Seoul issued a notice on 5 February 2026 confirming that it will suspend all counter services on Friday 16 February and Tuesday 20 February in observance of South Korea’s Family Day and the Chinese Spring Festival. Although South Korean nationals have enjoyed 15-day visa-free entry to Hainan and 144-hour transit waivers in several mainland cities, most business travellers, students and media staff still require a full Chinese visa processed through the CVASC.
Applications lodged in the week of 12–15 February will therefore be subject to delayed passport return dates, while express and rush services will be unavailable. The centre warned that peak traffic is expected when it re-opens on 21 February, urging applicants to book appointments well in advance and avoid last-minute submissions.
![Seoul Chinese Visa Centre to close on 16 & 20 February for Lunar New Year]()
Travellers pressed for time can also turn to VisaHQ, whose online platform (https://www.visahq.com/china/) streamlines Chinese visa applications by providing document pre-checks, appointment scheduling and real-time status tracking—services that help minimize the risk of errors and further delays when CVASC counters are congested or closed.
For companies managing South Korea–China assignments, the closure overlaps with one of the heaviest travel periods of the year. Airlines are already running sold-out flights between Seoul, Beijing and Shanghai for the holiday. Mobility managers should advise travellers to adjust itineraries or use China’s e-application portal to pre-submit documentation and reduce counter time.
Other CVASC offices in Busan and Gwangju will follow the same holiday schedule, while the Chinese embassy in Seoul will maintain only consular-emergency services. The disruption highlights the importance of monitoring individual centre calendars, as CVASC holiday closures are not always synchronised with mainland public-holiday dates.
Applications lodged in the week of 12–15 February will therefore be subject to delayed passport return dates, while express and rush services will be unavailable. The centre warned that peak traffic is expected when it re-opens on 21 February, urging applicants to book appointments well in advance and avoid last-minute submissions.
Travellers pressed for time can also turn to VisaHQ, whose online platform (https://www.visahq.com/china/) streamlines Chinese visa applications by providing document pre-checks, appointment scheduling and real-time status tracking—services that help minimize the risk of errors and further delays when CVASC counters are congested or closed.
For companies managing South Korea–China assignments, the closure overlaps with one of the heaviest travel periods of the year. Airlines are already running sold-out flights between Seoul, Beijing and Shanghai for the holiday. Mobility managers should advise travellers to adjust itineraries or use China’s e-application portal to pre-submit documentation and reduce counter time.
Other CVASC offices in Busan and Gwangju will follow the same holiday schedule, while the Chinese embassy in Seoul will maintain only consular-emergency services. The disruption highlights the importance of monitoring individual centre calendars, as CVASC holiday closures are not always synchronised with mainland public-holiday dates.
