The Indonesian Immigration Service has announced important changes to entry rules. These may be useful for foreign tourists who aren't used to taking care of their passports.
Many know that Indonesia has strict rules regarding the condition of documents. If a passport is damaged (e.g., tears, heavy wear, loose pages, a damaged electronic chip in a biometric passport, or missing pages), border services may deny entry.
Previously, airlines, fearing strict checks, refused to register passengers with the slightest damage to their passports (this often affected Australian tourists). As a result, travelers had to urgently obtain 'temporary passports' or wait for the emergency issuance of a new document. According to the updated policy, tourists can enter the country using an 'emergency' (temporary) passport. With it, they can apply for a visa on arrival (VoA).
Thanks to the new rules, if a passenger is denied boarding due to a damaged passport, they can:
- obtain an 'emergency passport' through their consulate,
- fly to Bali and get a visa on arrival (if the document meets requirements).
In each country, the issuance of an 'emergency' passport is handled differently. An emergency travel passport is a temporary document issued urgently for travel abroad in exceptional circumstances, such as:
- urgent medical treatment abroad;
- death or serious illness of a close relative abroad;
- other emergencies (e.g., the need for urgent travel for humanitarian reasons).
Features of an emergency passport:
- Validity period – usually limited (e.g., 1 year or less).
- Expedited processing (sometimes within 1-3 days).
- Not suitable everywhere – some countries require a regular biometric passport.
How to obtain one?
1. Confirm the reason (medical certificates, death certificate, etc.).
2. Apply to the Ministry of Internal Affairs or the consulate.
3. Pay the state fee (usually higher than for a regular passport).
4. Receive the passport as soon as possible.
An emergency passport is unlikely to help you catch a flight if issues arise at check-in. However, it can save your holiday if everything is planned and booked. To avoid such drastic measures and unnecessary stress, check the condition of your passport before heading to Bali.
Indonesian border officials thoroughly check passports for:
- water damage, stains, pen marks,
- chipped plastic, torn pages,
- spine damage,
- missing pages.
Additionally, there must be at least one blank page in the passport. Its validity must be at least 6 months beyond the planned departure date from Indonesia. If in doubt, it's better to get a new document before your trip.
Sources: Indonesian Immigration Service
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