Indonesia waives overstay fees for foreigners stranded by Anak Krakatau eruption

Foreign travelers stranded in Indonesia after flight disruptions linked to the Anak Krakatau eruption will be able to stay legally without paying overstay fees.

The Immigration Directorate General introduced the Emergency Stay Permit, known as ITKT, after flights were canceled and diverted following the volcano’s eruption on Sunday, September 6. The permit allows affected passengers to remain in Indonesia while waiting for their flights to resume. It can be issued for up to 30 days and extended under applicable regulations.

Director General of Immigration Hendarsam Marantoko said the measure was intended to help passengers affected by the natural disaster and provide legal certainty while they remained stranded. “We understand the difficult situation and inconvenience experienced by passengers due to the flight disruptions. Therefore, the state is here to provide legal certainty,” he said in a written statement.

Hendarsam said immigration officers would continue monitoring the legal status of foreign nationals while taking a humanitarian approach during the emergency. The policy can also apply to other force majeure situations that disrupt international travel, not only the Anak Krakatau eruption.

Between September 5 and 7, the disruptions affected 528 flights, including 254 canceled arrivals and 266 canceled departures, according to Hendarsam. They affected 86,760 passengers. By September 7, the Soekarno-Hatta Immigration Office had processed 26 applications and added an immigration counter, bringing the total handling ITKT applications to two. Other applications were processed by immigration offices in Central Jakarta, North Jakarta, Depok, South Jakarta, Ngurah Rai, Juanda, Bekasi and Tangerang.

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We understand the difficult situation and inconvenience experienced by passengers due to the flight disruptions. Therefore, the state is here to provide legal certainty.