The Ministry of Home Affairs has declared Monday, 13 July 2026, a day of state mourning following the death of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Father Amir of Qatar. National flags will fly at half-mast and “no official entertainment” will take place.
![One-day state mourning on 13 July may affect passport & visa services]()
In situations like this, VisaHQ’s India service center can be an invaluable resource. The platform helps travelers and corporate mobility teams rebook consular appointments, track document movement in real time, and secure expedited visa or passport processing whenever government offices reopen, reducing the impact of unscheduled slowdowns.
Although travel bans are not in force, government sources confirmed to Global Mobility News that most Passport Seva Kendras, Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs) and OCI processing counters will operate with reduced staff. Applicants with appointments today are being advised to monitor SMS updates for possible rescheduling. Impact on travellers: Same-day passport-tatkal collections and emergency exit permits for overstaying foreigners could experience delays of up to 24 hours. Airlines have been told to honour boarding passes for passengers whose passports are released a day late, provided they carry the rescheduled pickup receipt. Best practice: Mobility managers should build contingency days into document timelines during short-notice national observances and track press-information-bureau alerts, which are often issued late in the evening before the closure.
In situations like this, VisaHQ’s India service center can be an invaluable resource. The platform helps travelers and corporate mobility teams rebook consular appointments, track document movement in real time, and secure expedited visa or passport processing whenever government offices reopen, reducing the impact of unscheduled slowdowns.
Although travel bans are not in force, government sources confirmed to Global Mobility News that most Passport Seva Kendras, Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs) and OCI processing counters will operate with reduced staff. Applicants with appointments today are being advised to monitor SMS updates for possible rescheduling. Impact on travellers: Same-day passport-tatkal collections and emergency exit permits for overstaying foreigners could experience delays of up to 24 hours. Airlines have been told to honour boarding passes for passengers whose passports are released a day late, provided they carry the rescheduled pickup receipt. Best practice: Mobility managers should build contingency days into document timelines during short-notice national observances and track press-information-bureau alerts, which are often issued late in the evening before the closure.
