Bali Tourists Issued Important Visa Update From Indonesian Immigration
Tourists in Bali this week will notice that things feel a little different…a little more reverent, a little more sacred, and a little more celebratory.
This is because on Thursday, 19th March, Bali will observe Nyepi Day, also known as the holy day of silence. Just days later on Saturday 21st March all of Indonesia will observe Eid al-Fitr as a national public holiday.
All of these holy days and public holidays have an effect on all aspects of daily life on the island, for both local residents and tourists. One of the key things tourists need to be aware of in the coming days is the Immigration Office closures.
As the public holidays come into effect, Immigration Offices close, and even online immigration services are paused. This is very important for tourists to understand, especially if they need to apply for a visa extension or are applying for a last-minute visa to arrive in Indonesia within the next week.
The Directorate General of Immigration for Indonesia has explained, “In observance of the Nyepi and Eid al-Fitr 1447 H holidays, all Immigration Offices in Indonesia will be temporarily closed from March 18 to 24, 2026, and will resume normal operations on March 25, 2026. Residents and foreign nationals are urged to promptly complete their passport, stay permit, and e-Visa applications before March 17, 2026, to avoid a backlog of applicants and the risk of overstaying.”
“For residents with urgent passport requirements, please contact the nearest Immigration office. For foreign nationals with urgent visa requirements, please contact [email protected] or [email protected].”
In light of the conflict in the Middle East over the last three weeks, hundreds of emergency stay permits were issued to tourists left stranded by last-minute flight cancellations.
While Indonesia Immigration can issue Emergency stay Permits to tourists who meet the specific criteria, for free, tourists are being advised to explore whether a precautionary visa extension is the safest option for them, as the situation in the Gulf remains unstable and airspaces over the Middle East are experiencing closures.
Ngurah Rai Immigration explained last week, “In response to the situation, the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office has established the following technical measures: Immigration Officers at Ngurah Rai Airport will manually and systematically cancel departure stamps for foreigners required to re-enter Indonesia.”
“Affected passengers are entitled to an Emergency Stay Permit (ITKT) with a maximum validity of 30 days, and may be extended in accordance with applicable provisions. It may be issued at the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office.”
The statement explained further, “Overstay resulting from such circumstances shall be subject to a tariff of Rp0,00 (zero rupiah), provided that an official statement letter from the airline or airport authority is submitted.” Concluding “This policy aims to provide legal certainty and lawful immigration services for Foreign Nationals in emergency situations.”
For tourists who are unsure what the best course of action is for their specific situation, Indonesia Immigration has a live chat service available Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm local time. However this service will also be impacted by office closures, so it is best to contact immigration officers with questions as soon as possible.
Indonesian immigration authorities are among the strictest in the world. Overstaying a visa or stay permit incurs an IDR 1,000,000 a day fine, and often results in overstayers being blacklisted from the country.
Most tourists who visit Bali do so on the eVisa on Arrival. This visa is valid for 30 days and can be extended for a further 30 days.
The extension process is straightforward but has multiple steps. Tourists must submit their extension request online via the Official Indonesia eVisa website, they will then be given an appointment at their nearest Immigration Office where biometrics will be taken and travel documents checked, before an extension is granted.
This Hybrid Application System came into effect in May 2025, though tourists still get caught out. For a short period after the pandemic, it was possible to extend a tourist visa entirely online.
The Indonesian Directorate General of Immigration has an Instagram account where content is published in English.
The account publishes regular updates about immigration policies that affect tourists, but also helpful hints and tips to ensure that holidaymakers and tourists obey the law.
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