Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration has introduced special measures to assist international passengers affected by airspace closures in several Middle Eastern countries following escalating military conflict.
The closures, which affect Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Iran, have disrupted international flight operations, including routes to and from Indonesia.
Acting Director General of Immigration, Yuldi Yusman, said immigration authorities had increased preparedness at all Immigration Checkpoints (Tempat Pemeriksaan Imigrasi/TPI) to ensure services continue without disruption.
“The Directorate General of Immigration ensures that immigration services at the airports continue to operate optimally and conducively. Our focus is on maintaining smooth service and ensuring procedures for passengers affected by flight cancellations or diversions,” Yuldi said in a statement in Jakarta on Sunday, as quoted by Antara.
Based on monitoring reports as of 9:00 pm Western Indonesian Time (WIB) on Saturday, February 28, 2026, eight international flights at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Ngurah Rai International Airport, and Kualanamu International Airport were cancelled or delayed.
The disruption affected 2,228 passengers, consisting of 1,644 foreign nationals and 584 Indonesian citizens.
Immigration officers cancelled departure clearances, both manually and through the system, for passengers and airline crew affected by the flight disruptions.
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Government waives overstay fines and issues emergency stay permits
The Directorate General of Immigration has implemented a policy to waive overstay fines for foreign nationals affected by the situation.
Through Letter No. IMI-GR.01.01-133 dated March 1, 2026, immigration offices at airports were instructed to issue Emergency Stay Permits (Izin Tinggal Keadaan Terpaksa/ITKT) with a maximum validity of 30 days. The permits may be extended if required.
Under this policy, foreign nationals who overstay due to flight disruptions may obtain a Rp 0 overstay penalty.
Yuldi said affected travellers must provide official documentation to qualify for the waiver.
“Travellers who overstay can obtain a fare of IDR 0 by submitting a statement or declaration from the Aviation Civil Authority, the airline, or the airport authority,” he said.
The policy is intended to provide administrative protection and legal certainty for foreign nationals unable to leave Indonesia due to circumstances beyond their control.
Immigration strengthens coordination and advises travellers to monitor flights
Immigration authorities have also adjusted operational procedures at major airports to respond to changing flight conditions.
Yuldi instructed immigration officers to adjust personnel deployment in international arrival and departure areas based on flight dynamics. Officers were also told to coordinate closely with airport authorities, airlines, and other relevant agencies regarding schedule changes, route diversions, and cancellations.
Immigration offices continue to monitor developments through official aviation channels and verified data sources.
Yuldi advised international passengers, especially those transiting through affected Middle Eastern countries, to stay informed about their travel status.
“We urge international passengers, especially those on routes affected by transit through the Middle East, to always check their flight status through their airline’s official app and immediately coordinate with their airline or airport officials if they need immigration assistance,” he said.
The Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Services stated that these measures are designed to ensure immigration services remain orderly while supporting passengers affected by ongoing aviation disruptions linked to the regional conflict.
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