Bali Immigration Prepares for Overstays Amid Mideast Flights Shutdowns

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Flight disruptions linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East are beginning to ripple as far as Indonesia’s resort island of Bali, prompting immigration authorities to prepare for a possible rise in foreign travelers overstaying their visas after canceled or delayed departures.

At I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Badung regency, Bali, the local immigration office said it is closely monitoring the situation as airspace closures in parts of the Middle East disrupt international flight schedules, including routes to and from Bali.

“We continue to monitor these global developments intensively,” said Head of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, Bugie Kurniawan, speaking in Jimbaran, Badung, on Sunday, March 1, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

According to him, foreign nationals could potentially overstay their permitted period of stay if they are unable to leave Indonesia as scheduled due to flight cancellations.

He urged passengers whose stay permits are nearing expiration, or have already expired because of emergency flight disruptions, to report immediately to the immigration office or the airport’s immigration service counter for further guidance.

Handling of such cases, he said, will follow prevailing immigration laws and regulations, while taking into account force majeure conditions resulting from international flight disturbances.

Immigration authorities, he added, will ensure that each case is handled professionally and proportionally, upholding legal certainty and public service principles.

The office also advised international travelers, particularly those transiting through the Middle East, to regularly check their flight status via official airline applications and coordinate with their airlines before heading to the airport.

“Our main priority is to ensure that immigration administrative processes for passengers continue to be served properly and in accordance with procedures,” he said.

To anticipate longer queues, the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office has increased staffing levels from 25 officers per shift to 30 officers per shift, adding five personnel to both international arrivals and departures.

Authorities are also coordinating with airport management, airlines, and other relevant agencies to monitor route movements and activate contingency plans for affected passengers.

The escalation of conflict in the Middle East has led to airspace closures in several countries, including Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Iran, affecting international flight schedules worldwide.

As of a monitoring report issued at 1 a.m. local time on March 1, 2026, five major outbound flights from Bali were impacted: services operated by Etihad Airways (EY477), Qatar Airways (QR963 and QR961), and Emirates (EK369 and EK399). ***