Bali immigration urges foreigners to monitor visas amid Mideast crisis
Rai Bugie Kurniawan, head of Bali’s Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, said Sunday that authorities are “closely monitoring global developments” after US and Israeli strikes on Iran killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
He warned many foreign nationals could become stranded in Bali due to canceled flights, risking visa overstays if they cannot depart Indonesia on time.
Kurniawan urged those with expiring or expired permits from flight disruptions to notify the nearest immigration office or Bali Airport service centers immediately for guidance.
He assured that immigration authorities would account for force majeure from flight cancellations while upholding Indonesia’s laws and regulations when assisting affected travelers.
“Our priority is to ensure immigration procedures for passengers are handled properly and efficiently,” Kurniawan said.
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The office also reminded international travelers, especially those transiting through Middle Eastern countries, to check flight status before arriving at the airport.
To prevent passenger congestion caused by flight disruptions, Ngurah Rai Immigration deployed additional staff and increased coordination with airport authorities and airline representatives.
On Saturday, US and Israeli forces struck Iranian targets, including Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran retaliated with missile strikes on Israel and US military bases in the Middle East.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in his office during the attack, prompting a 40-day national mourning period and a week of non-working days.
The escalation prompted several Middle Eastern countries, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, to close airspace, disrupting international flights to and from Bali.
At least five flights scheduled from Bali Airport had been canceled as of 1 a.m. local time on March 1 due to these disruptions.
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Translator: Dewa Ketut SW, Nabil Ihsan