The conflict in the Middle East is having a massive impact on international travel.
With airspace across the Middle East closed for more than 48 hours, the knock-on effect of the world’s biggest transit hubs being closed is being felt all around the globe, including in Bali.
With thousands of travelers now stranded in Bali due to flight cancellations by Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways through Dubai Airport, Abu Dhabi Airport, and Doha Airport, immigration officials in Bali are stepping in to support.
There is now a significant risk of foreigners overstaying their visas due to flight cancellations, and Bali Immigration has implemented a series of support measures to ensure that those who are stranded are not caught on the wrong side of the law by circumstances beyond their control.
The Head of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, Bugie Kurniawan, told reporters, “We continue to monitor these global dynamics intensively.” He has appeared to tourists and foreigners in Bali whose visa is nearing expiry or has already expired as a result of flight cancellations to immediately report to their nearest Immigration Office, or the Immigration Service Post at Bali Airport.
Kurniawan has confirmed that the handling of the ongoing situation will be carried out in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, taking into account force majeure conditions due to disruptions to international flights. This is an important phrase for those set to claim on their travel insurance, which is being managed by the authorities in Bali as a force majeure event.
Kurniawan told reporters, “Our main priority is ensuring that passengers receive good immigration administrative services and adhere to procedure.” Bali Immigration has increased the number of support staff on duty; there are now thirty officers available per shift at the Immigration Service Post at Bali Airport.
Kurniawan and his team are acting in directives that have been issued by the Directorate General of Immigration, through circular letter number IMI-590.GR.01.01 of 2025, which states that foreigners who have passed exit clearance but must re-enter Indonesian territory will receive immigration handling in accordance with applicable provisions.
In simpler terms, if a passenger has gone through immigration and is waiting in the departure lounge for their flight out of Bali, but then the flight is canceled, and they are informed they must re-enter Indonesia.
Immigration officers at the Ngurah Rai Airport TPI have decided to cancel departures manually by canceling departure stamps and systematically for foreigners who must re-enter Indonesian territory. In addition, affected passengers can be granted an Emergency Stay Permit (ITKT).
The maximum validity period is 30 days and can be extended in accordance with applicable regulations. This permit can be issued at the Ngurah Rai Airport Immigration Checkpoint (TPI) or at the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office.
Kurniawan explained, “According to the circular, overstays for affected foreigners are subject to a Rp 0 fee upon airport clearance. Five individuals have already overstayed by one day and were not charged. We have implemented this.”
To ensure an easy and manageable situation for affected passengers, Ngurah Rai Immigration has implemented a same-day service policy.
Affected foreign nationals only need to bring their original passport, a flight cancellation letter from the airline or airport authority, and proof of the canceled ticket in order to be granted their Emergency Stay Permit.
He added, “We guarantee that the ITKT issuance process will be completed on the same day. Officers have been deployed so that foreign nationals don’t need to worry about their immigration status while waiting for a new flight schedule. All you need to do is attach an official declaration from the airport authorities or the relevant airline.”
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, 3rd March, the Head of the Bali Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration, Felucia Sengky Ratna, emphasized that the zero-fee emergency stay permit policy is a form of the government’s swift response to the global force majeure situation that has impacted tourists in Bali.
Ratna shared, “The state is here to provide certainty, security, and comfort for foreign nationals whose flights are delayed due to the escalation in the Middle East. This ITKT policy and waiver of overstay fines demonstrate our empathy and commitment to maintaining Indonesia’s tourism image. We want to ensure that tourists are not burdened by circumstances beyond their control.”
The safest thing for tourists in Bali to do right now is to contact Immigration to assess what they are doing in their specific situation. Even for those who have time left on their visa, as a precautionary measure, it is highly advisable to submit a visa extension request via the Official Indonesia eVisa website or at the nearest Immigration Office, as soon as possible, as these travel disruptions look set to continue for some time.
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WAYAN BO
Wednesday 4th of March 2026
Anyway the routs to and from Europe aren’t safe enough because airlines are, primary because of kerosene consumption reasons, overflying war zones or flying to near to war zones in Middle East and sometimes even Ukraine. - The best example for economic opinion by airlines are B747 cargo planes with four engines which are safer than two engine passenger planes.