Eid al-Fitr Immigration Office Closures Will Affect Bali Tourists 

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Tourists in Bali can expect to find things feeling a little different over the next few weeks.

As the whole of Indonesia prepares for the Eid al-Fitr holiday, businesses and government agencies are preparing to go on annual leave. 

Although Bali is a majority Balinese Hindu province, Indonesia is a majority Muslim nation.

The Hari Raya Eid al-Fitr holiday is one of the biggest festivals on the calendar.

With millions of families taking time off work to visit family members further afield and take their annual leave, businesses and services may be limited over the next few weeks.

Similar to how many businesses in Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand close down business between Christmas and New Year, the Eid al-Fitr holiday, also known as Lebaran, is Indonesia’s annual getaway.

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In 2024, Eid al-Fitr, which is the holy day that marks the end of Ramadan, will commence on the evening of the 9th of April and will be celebrated into the 10th of April.

The national holiday of Hari Raya Idul Fitri, often referred to as Lebaran, will be observed from Tuesday, April 9th, until Monday, April 15th.

One of the most important things tourists must keep in mind if they are visiting Bali in the coming weeks is that immigration services will be disrupted due to office closures.

In a statement issued by Bali’s Ngurah Rai Immigration, office officials warn of upcoming closures.

The statement reads “In connection with Hari Raya Eid-ul-Fitr 1445H, this is hereby informed to all immigration service applicants that the Special TPI Ngurah Rai Immigration Office on: Monday-Monday, 8-15 April 2024 is CLOSED.”

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They add, “For foreigners whose permits expire on April 6-15, 2024, are expected to apply for an extension of residence permits no later than April 5, 2024, at 12.00 WITA. Services will reopen Tuesday, April 16, 2024.”

A similar statement has been issued by the Immigration Office in Denpasar.

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This means that any foreigners whose visas expire between the 6th and the 15th of April and who wish to extend their visas must submit their paperwork before midday on the 5th of April.

However, tourists are encouraged not to leave visa extensions until the last minute, let alone in the days before Eid al-Fitr.

It is always advisable to submit the visa extension as early as possible in case of delays or immigration officials requiring additional paperwork. 

Bali’s immigration teams are not playing when it comes to overstaying visas.

Tourists who are in Bali on the e-visa-on-arrival and wish to extend their visa would also be wise to submit their digital extension application as soon as possible too.

While the official Indonesian e-visa website is set to be up and running during this time, with so many immigration offices closed around the country, it is smart to also apply for digital extensions before the 5th of April for visas expiring between the 6th and the 15th of April. 

With millions of Indonesian tourists traveling across the country over the Lebaran holiday, tourists in Bali are reminded to prepare for extra traffic and book tickets for top attractions and hotels in advance.

Top hotel managers and tourism leaders also advise all tourists to book their accommodation in Bali as soon as possible.

Hotel occupancy increased by 20-30% over the Lebaran holiday, with many family-favorite hotels in popular resorts selling out completely.

The average room occupancy over the Lebaran holiday in Bali’s most famous resorts is 70-80%.

Tourists looking for a last-minute holiday in Bali might be able to find great value deals by searching for Eid al-Fitr package deals. 

While the majority of domestic tourists who will be visiting Bali for the Eid al-Fitr festival will be traveling by road and ferry from East Java, tourists are also reminded that due to the increased volume of traffic on the roads, more time should be given to travel to and from destinations, especially Bali Airport.