China’s Consulate-General in Melbourne has notified the public that its Consular Service Hall—including all visa, authentication and notarial windows—will be closed from 16 to 20 February for Spring-Festival holidays. Phone and e-mail inquiry lines will also be offline, with normal service resuming on Monday 23 February.
The notice urges travellers to file visa applications well in advance and reminds Chinese nationals in Victoria and Tasmania to prioritise personal safety during the festive period. Emergency consular-protection calls will remain active via a dedicated hotline.
![Chinese Consulate in Melbourne to Close Visa Counters 16–20 February]()
For travellers who need to start their paperwork while the counters are shut, online facilitators such as VisaHQ offer a useful workaround; its portal (https://www.visahq.com/china/) lets applicants review requirements, submit forms and track progress remotely, helping individuals and companies keep schedules on track even when in-person services are unavailable.
Melbourne is a major departure point for mining, education and agri-tech personnel heading to China. Travel agents forecast that the five-day shutdown could push peak-season appointment availability into March, especially for Z-work and M-business visas that require additional vetting.
Firms planning post-holiday rotations to China’s manufacturing belt are adjusting rosters to account for possible delays and advising expatriates to check passport validity to avoid last-minute complications.
The notice urges travellers to file visa applications well in advance and reminds Chinese nationals in Victoria and Tasmania to prioritise personal safety during the festive period. Emergency consular-protection calls will remain active via a dedicated hotline.
For travellers who need to start their paperwork while the counters are shut, online facilitators such as VisaHQ offer a useful workaround; its portal (https://www.visahq.com/china/) lets applicants review requirements, submit forms and track progress remotely, helping individuals and companies keep schedules on track even when in-person services are unavailable.
Melbourne is a major departure point for mining, education and agri-tech personnel heading to China. Travel agents forecast that the five-day shutdown could push peak-season appointment availability into March, especially for Z-work and M-business visas that require additional vetting.
Firms planning post-holiday rotations to China’s manufacturing belt are adjusting rosters to account for possible delays and advising expatriates to check passport validity to avoid last-minute complications.
