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Persons should be aware that due to the situation in Lebanon and Israel, the visa section of the British High Commission in Nicosia, Cyprus is closed, effective 20 July 2006. Applications for visas may be made at any British mission overseas with a visa section. No announcement predicting when normal service will be resumed has been made.
It is assumed that local conditions require the full attention of available staff. Persons travelling or intending to travel in the region would be well advised to regularly check for operational announcements of other Consular and Passport Services that might be affected.
• Lebanon: temporary closure of visa section
The visa section of the British Embassy, Beirut closed to the public on 13 July 2006 due to current events.
Previously announced, and unrelated, are the following closures, restrictions and announcements currently in effect this year:
• Bangladesh: restricted service
The British Home Office has announced that from 7 June 2006, the British High Commission in Bangladesh will cease to accept working holidaymaker visa applications until further notice.
• Botswana: all applications accepted except working holidaymakers
On the 2 April 2005 it was announced by the Home Office that the British High Commission in Botswana would cease to accept working holidaymaker visa applications until further notice.
• Brazil: waiting times
The Visa Section of the British Consulate General, Rio de Janeiro is currently experiencing an unprecedented demand for visas.
• Ivory Coast: closure of the British Embassy in Abidjan
Following the closure of the British Embassy in Abidjan, the visa section in Accra, Ghana handles all visa applications for applicants from the Ivory Coast.
• Malawi: changes to visa applications procedures
Due to extensive construction works, the British High Commission in Lilongwe closed to the public on 23 December 2005. Starting with 3 January 2006, all visa applications should be submitted via the DHL offices in Lilongwe and Blantyre.
• Malaysia: all applications accepted except working holidaymakers
On the 2 April 2005 it was announced by the Home Office that the British High Commission in Malaysia would cease to accept working holidaymaker visa applications until further notice.
• Namibia: all applications accepted except working holidaymakers
On the 2 April 2005 it was announced by the Home Office that the British High Commission in Namibia would cease to accept working holidaymaker visa applications until further notice.
• Pakistan: all applications accepted except working holidaymakers
The visa section in Islamabad accepts applications for all categories except working holidaymakers.
• Tonga: Visa service for Tonga moves to Fiji
With effect from 1 February 2006 responsibility for handling visa applications from Tonga will pass from the British High Commission in Nuku'Alofa to the British High Commission in Suva, Fiji.
• Vanuatu: closure of visa section in Port Vila
From 21 October 2005, the British High Commission, Port Vila will close to the public. The responsibility for all entry clearance issues will pass to the British High Commission in Suva (Fiji).
• Yemen: limited service through FedEx
Following the temporary closure on 6 January, the Visa Section at the British Embassy, Sana'a has resumed a limited visa service in cooperation with FedEx offices throughout Yemen.
• Uzbekistan: Visa Section, Tashkent closed until further notice.
Nationals of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan should apply to the visa section of the British Embassy, Almaty.
Related:
• UK suspends working holidaymaker visas from Bangladesh
• New versions of UK visa and work permit forms available
