Ministry of Immigration and Corrections
Directorate General of Immigration
JAKARTA – The Directorate General of Immigration is facilitating emergency stay permits for foreign nationals (WNA) affected by flight cancellations due to the eruption of Mount Lewotobi on Tuesday (June 17, 2025). This policy is regulated in the Circular Letter of the Director General of Immigration Number IMI-568.GR.01.01 Year 2025.
The granting of emergency stay permits is carried out through task forces on standby at affected airports, such as Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, Komodo International Airport, and El Tari International Airport in East Nusa Tenggara.
"We have instructed the Heads of Immigration Offices in the Regional Offices of the Directorate General of Immigration in East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, and Bali to facilitate applications for emergency stay permits for affected foreign nationals," explained the Acting (Plt) Director General of Immigration, Yuldi Yusman, on Friday (June 20, 2025).
Yuldi also requested the Heads of Immigration Offices to apply a fee of Rp0.00 (zero rupiah) selectively for foreign nationals whose stay permits have exceeded their validity period (overstay) due to this incident. The waiver of overstay fees can be granted based on the application of the foreign national or guarantor, by attaching a certificate from a government agency or the Indonesian National Police, in accordance with Article 52 of Minister of Law and Human Rights Regulation Number 9 Year 2020 concerning the Requirements and Procedures for Imposing Zero Rupiah and Zero US Dollar Tariffs for Immigration Services.
The eruption of Mount Lewotobi has caused significant disruptions to both domestic and international flights. As of Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 4:00 PM WITA, I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali recorded 87 canceled flights in one day, with 66 of them being international routes, predominantly to and from Australia and Singapore. Meanwhile, 2,166 passengers at Komodo International Airport, Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, were also affected by flight cancellations during the same period. This situation has the potential to cause immigration issues, including visa or stay permit status and overstay for foreign nationals.
In response, the Minister of Immigration and Corrections, Agus Andrianto, commented, "This step is taken to provide legal certainty regarding the immigration status of foreign nationals due to natural disasters or force majeure conditions. The Directorate General of Immigration is committed to providing the best service and convenience for foreign nationals, even in emergency situations," Agus concluded.
Last updated 22 June 2025
