In lieu of the Covid-19 pandemic, there are many tourists in Bali who cannot go home because their country is in lockdown and the travel restrictions issued all over the world also makes coming back home a little more complicated than usual. This presents a concern to a whole lot of short-term and long-term tourists in Indonesia as they now how to wonder how the issue is going to affect the legality of their stay in Indonesia and what they can do to remedy their situation.

Unfortunately, there are also so much information circling around social media about such matters and it is sometimes confusing to know which ones are a fact coming from actual reliable sources and which ones are actually #fakenews from bored people and just spreads unnecessary fear.

With this, it is helpful to know that the Directorate General of Immigration of Indonesia has an official Twitter and Instagram accounts that they use to announce the most updated regulation in terms of immigration due to this coronavirus outbreak. We advise you to always refer to the information issued in their accounts via Twitter and Instagram.

We listed below a few of the most recent pertinent information released via official channels. Please read through to see how your case might be affected.

1. Travel Ban

 Starting 2 April 2020, foreign visitors are not allowed to enter Indonesia due to the emergency situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the Regulation of Minister of Law and Human Rights Number 11 of 2020, the country temporarily prohibited all foreign visitors from entering/transiting within the territory of the Republic of Indonesia. Exceptions are granted for:

1. Foreigners who hold temporary Stay Permit (KITAS) or permanent Stay Permit (KITAP)
2. Foreigners who hold Indonesian Diplomatic Visa or Service Visa
3. Foreigners who hold Indonesian Diplomatic Stay Permit or Service Stay Permit
4. Medical, food and humanitarian aid support workers
5. Crews for transportation
6. People whose travels are associated with essential work for national strategic projects such as infrastructure or construction

Following requirements for exceptions apply:

1. Proper Health Certificate (in English) issued by your local government’s health authority
2. Foreigners must have stayed for 14 days in areas which are not affected by Corona outbreak before entering Indonesia (provide immigration stamp or boarding pass as evidence)
3. Statement of willingness to enter quarantine for 14 days in facilities provided by the Indonesian government

2. Automatic Stay Permit Extension for Stranded Foreigners in Bali

If you are one of the many thousands that entered Indonesia via temporary visa/entry grants such as social visa, visa exemption or is a work permit/KITAS holder, and your visa/stay allowance is expiring, you need not to worry at this stage of breaking the regulations. The General Directorate of the Immigration of Indonesia has issued an announcement on 24 March 2020 stating that foreigners who cannot return to their country due to the COVID-19 outbreak will be granted an Automatic Stay Permit Extension for every visa holder such as tourist visa, social visa, business visa, work visa and even visa exemption.

Since most of the Immigration offices are closed, here are some important highlights of this announcement for your reference:

1. Applicants do not need to come to the Immigration office to apply as the visas will be automatically extended by the system
2. There are no fines
3. Valid only for foreigners who entered Indonesia after 5 Feb 2020
4. This Automatic Stay Permit Extension is free of charge

This regulation has helped so much in this heart wrenching situation. Indonesia for a few years now has a visa exempt policy that usually (unlike a real visa/visa on arrival) can’t be extended, however the authorities have now come up with an emergency policy.

Foreigners that are stranded in Bali at this time have quite some options to spend their quarantine in the quiet ends of the island, especially because all Bali villa rental prices have gone way low now. While ensuring that your safety and health is the priority, take this chance to pick a nice cozy villa for a couple, or a modern one for your small family.. Options are endless. If you are interested and need more information, please do not hesitate to contact us here.

3. No New Visas will be Issued

Effective from 20 March 2020, the Indonesian government has suspended its visa exemption policy for short-stay visit, visa-on-arrival and diplomatic/service visa-free facilities for all countries, until further notice.

This means all foreigners/travelers who wish to visit Indonesia and Bali must obtain a visa from Indonesian missions in accordance with the purpose of their visit. Upon submission, applicants must provide health certificates issued by relevant health authorities from their respective countries.

With so many things going on around us lately, it is always better to be aware and careful of whatever decision we make and to ensure that our decisions are based on truthful news. In this link, you can find the FAQ prepared by the Directorate General of Immigration of Indonesia. We do hope the above information can be useful to you.

Stay safe, stay healthy, maintain social distancing and make it a habit to wash your hands.