Christmas Period: Get Your Documents Sorted Before the Holiday Rush

The Christmas period is one of the busiest — and most frustrating — times for people who suddenly realise they need notarised documents. Government offices close, the Department of Foreign Affairs has reduced capacity for apostille processing, embassies operate on skeleton staff, and notary offices have limited availability over the festive season. If you have any document needs for January deadlines, the time to act is now.

Hugh Phelan, Solicitor and Notary Public at East Douglas Street, Douglas, urges clients to plan ahead. Don’t let the holiday rush leave you without the documents you need.

Why Christmas Timing Matters

Several factors make the Christmas period particularly challenging for document authentication:

• Government office closures: The Department of Foreign Affairs, which processes apostilles, typically closes for several days over Christmas and New Year. This means apostille processing times increase significantly in late December and early January.
• Embassy closures: Foreign embassies and consulates in Dublin close for Christmas and often observe both Irish and their own national holidays, reducing their availability through late December and into January.
• Notary office hours: While Hugh Phelan’s office aims to accommodate urgent requests, availability is reduced during the Christmas period.
• January deadlines: Many university application deadlines, visa application deadlines, and professional registration deadlines fall in January. Documents needed for these deadlines must be prepared well before Christmas.
• New Year relocations: People starting new jobs abroad in January need all their documents ready before they leave — which means getting them notarised in November or early December at the latest.

Common December Document Needs

The most common notarial requests we see in the pre-Christmas period include:

• Academic documents for January postgraduate applications: Many international universities have January application deadlines. Notarised transcripts and degree certificates need to be ready.
• Visa applications for January travel: Work visas, student visas, and immigration applications with January deadlines need notarised supporting documents.
• Property transactions: International property purchases or sales with year-end completion deadlines require notarised contracts, powers of attorney, and corporate documents.
• Tax and corporate year-end: Companies with December year-ends may need notarised financial declarations, audit confirmations, and corporate documents for international subsidiaries.
• Powers of attorney: Family members travelling abroad over Christmas, or moving abroad in the new year, often need powers of attorney arranged before Christmas.

Our Christmas Availability

Hugh Phelan’s office will be available for appointments throughout December, with reduced hours during the Christmas week itself. We strongly recommend:

• Early December: The best time to arrange any notarisations needed before Christmas or for January deadlines.
• Mid-December: Still possible but apostille turnaround may extend into January.
• Late December: Emergency notarisations only. Apostille processing will not resume until the new year.

Planning Checklist

Use this checklist to ensure you’re prepared:

• Identify all documents you’ll need notarised for January deadlines
• Gather original documents (order replacements from the GRO if needed — allow extra time)
• Check whether apostille or consular legalisation is required
• Contact Hugh Phelan’s office to schedule your appointment
• Allow 2–3 weeks for apostille processing during the busy period
• Factor in embassy/consulate closure dates for legalisation

Contact Us

Don’t wait until the last minute. Contact Hugh Phelan’s office now to arrange your pre-Christmas notarisation:

• Phone: (021) 489 7134
• Urgent/Mobile: 086 390 7815
• Email: info@phelansolicitors.com
• Address: East Douglas Street, Douglas, Co. Cork

Frequently Asked Questions