Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Zed]

On Wednesday I went to Osaka on a visa run. The consulate was closed because it was a Japanese national holiday. I had to stay an extra day to get the visa.

My question is: a) Is this standard in all countries for embassies and consulates to close for the holidays of their host countries?
b) Do they close for the holidays of their home countries also? (eg. Is the US embassy in Seoul open on July 4th? Is the Korean Embassy in Buenos Aires open during lunar new year?)

[kangnamdragon]

I would imagine they close for both countries' holidays as most of the workers in the Japanese consulate would be Japanese residents.

[peppergirl]

Yes, it is normal for embassies to be closed on the national holidays of both their own as well as their host country.

By the way, didn't I post before that Wednesday was a national holiday in Japan and the consulates/embassies would be closed? Read the answers to your own posts Zed!!!

[kangnamdragon]

Which national holiday was it?

[peppergirl]

National Foundation Day

[Zed]

I somehow managed to miss that Peppergirl . I think I overlooked it because it was at the bottom of the post where signatures usually are. I generally ignore those.
I didn't have much choice anyway. It was the last day on my visa extension and I didn't have the proper paperwork until Tuesday afternoon. I would have had to have gone on Wednesday anyway.

[Derrek]

Darn, Zed. We could have done the run together, but my blue paper won't be ready until at least next week.

Then again, glad I didn't have to stay an extra night!

[sadsac]

It is standard the world over for consuls and embassies to have both host country national holidays and their own national holidays. In Australia, the Korean Embassy closes for all Australian and Korean national holidays, as does the Australian Embassy in Seoul.