The Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC) in Karachi has issued a holiday notice stating that the counter will be closed on 1 May 2026 in observance of International Labour Day. Only document-collection services will operate on 4 and 5 May. The centre is asking travellers and corporate mobility teams to file applications and collect passports either before 30 April or after the holiday window to avoid disruption. Express processing—-which ordinarily takes two working days—-will be unavailable from 30 April through 5 May, effectively extending urgent lead times to a minimum of four calendar days. Pakistan is one of the busiest outposts for Chinese visa processing, handling thousands of applications related to energy-sector projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
![Karachi Chinese Visa Centre Announces 1 May Closure, Urges Applicants to Adjust Timelines]()
Travellers who want to stay ahead of these bottlenecks can take advantage of VisaHQ’s digital platform, which lets users assemble Chinese visa packets, track evolving requirements and book appointments remotely; its dedicated China page (https://www.visahq.com/china/) keeps mobility plans on course even when CVASC counters are closed.
Any delay risks cascading effects on project mobilisation schedules, so contractors have been advised to submit crew-change paperwork well in advance. The notice follows similar Labour-Day closure announcements by CVASC offices in Colombo and Dhaka, and reflects a coordinated effort to give staff uniform rest days across South Asia. Applicants can continue to complete the online form and book post-holiday appointments through the CVASC portal, but the website warns that early May slots are filling quickly.
Travellers who want to stay ahead of these bottlenecks can take advantage of VisaHQ’s digital platform, which lets users assemble Chinese visa packets, track evolving requirements and book appointments remotely; its dedicated China page (https://www.visahq.com/china/) keeps mobility plans on course even when CVASC counters are closed.
Any delay risks cascading effects on project mobilisation schedules, so contractors have been advised to submit crew-change paperwork well in advance. The notice follows similar Labour-Day closure announcements by CVASC offices in Colombo and Dhaka, and reflects a coordinated effort to give staff uniform rest days across South Asia. Applicants can continue to complete the online form and book post-holiday appointments through the CVASC portal, but the website warns that early May slots are filling quickly.
