Impact of Eid-al-Fitr on consular services during Ramadan closure 2024
Eid-al-Fitr (Hari Raya Idul Fitri) closes many Muslim-majority country consulates in 2024. Find out which embassies scale back or shut and how it affects your visa applications.
The Hari Raya Idul Fitri holiday, also known as Eid-al-Fitr, is one of the most anticipated celebrations in the Muslim calendar, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
It is also a period when public institutions—especially embassies and consulates in Muslim-majority countries—experience exceptional closures or shifts in operating hours and service availability.
Ramadan 2024 ran from Monday, 11 March 2024 to Tuesday, 9 April 2024. The official end date, confirmed by the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), was 1 April 2024.
Reduced consular services during Hari Raya Idul Fitri
During Hari Raya Idul Fitri, many embassies and consulates in Muslim-majority countries operate with significantly reduced capacity or even suspend operations entirely. This slows the processing of new visa applications and limits access to information and assistance for applicants.
In some cases, these institutions may close entirely for the duration of the holiday, halting all visa and administrative services. This is largely because most staff are Muslim and wish to observe religious traditions with their families.
Below is a list of predominantly Muslim countries that recognise a public holiday for the end of Ramadan:
Africa: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Chad, Mauritania, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Comoros, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia
Asia: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India (with significant Muslim minorities), Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei
Europe: Turkey, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro
Examples from Indonesia and Azerbaijan
Indonesia’s immigration authorities have announced they will not process any electronic visa applications between 8 and 15 April 2024 due to Hari Raya Idul Fitri. Delays and reduced services may similarly affect Indonesian consulates worldwide during this period.
Azerbaijan has also indicated degraded consular services between 10 and 12 April 2024 because of the religious celebration. These examples highlight how this festive period can significantly impact visa processing and consular service availability in affected countries.
For travellers planning trips to Muslim-majority countries around Eid-al-Fitr, it is essential to account for these dates and potential delays. Applicants are advised to submit visa requests well in advance and avoid processing during the holiday period altogether.
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