US Embassy in Nairobi to Close for President’s Day Holiday

The United States Embassy in Nairobi will close on Monday, 16 February, in observance of President’s Day. 

All routine consular services will be suspended, with normal operations set to resume on Tuesday, 17 February. The closure will affect visa appointments, passport processing and other standard consular services. Applicants with scheduled appointments on that date are advised to reschedule. 

Emergency assistance for American citizens will remain available through designated contact lines. President’s Day, formally known as Washington’s Birthday, is one of eleven federal holidays in the United States. 

The day was originally established to honour George Washington, the country’s first president, but is now widely regarded as a commemoration of all American presidents. Under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1971, the holiday is observed on the third Monday of February.

As a federal mission, the Nairobi embassy follows the official holiday calendar observed in Washington, D.C.. The schedule applies to United States diplomatic missions worldwide, regardless of their host country.

American embassies typically observe both US federal holidays and selected public holidays in their host nations. This arrangement allows missions to remain aligned with US law while recognising local schedules. Full consular services in Nairobi will resume on Tuesday, including visa interviews, document processing and assistance to US citizens.