Indonesia Gives Stranded Foreign Tourists Emergency Stay Permits After Krakatau Flight Disruptions

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September 8, 2026 — Indonesia has introduced a temporary immigration measure for foreign travelers who are unable to leave the country because of flight cancellations and disruptions caused by the Mount Anak Krakatau eruption.

Foreign nationals affected by the volcanic ash-related flight disruption can receive an Emergency Stay Permit (Izin Tinggal Keadaan Terpaksa, or ITKT). The permit is issued free of charge and is designed to prevent travelers from facing immigration problems or overstay penalties when their departure is delayed for reasons outside their control.

What happened?

The eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau caused widespread disruption to air travel in Indonesia from September 5 onward. Volcanic ash affected several airports and air routes, resulting in cancellations, delays and flight diversions.

According to Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration, 520 flights were cancelled between September 5 and September 7, affecting approximately 86,760 passengers.

For foreign travelers, the disruption created a separate problem: some passengers could be unable to leave Indonesia before their existing visa or permitted stay expires.

Indonesia’s immigration authorities have therefore introduced a special procedure for affected foreign nationals.

What is the Emergency Stay Permit?

The Emergency Stay Permit (ITKT) is a temporary immigration measure for foreigners who cannot depart Indonesia because of circumstances considered beyond their control.

For travelers affected by the Anak Krakatau flight disruptions:

• The permit can be issued for up to 30 days.
• It is free of charge.
• It can be extended if airspace restrictions and flight disruptions continue.
• The measure is intended to prevent affected travelers from being penalized for remaining in Indonesia longer than originally planned.

Indonesia’s immigration authorities have described the measure as a humanitarian response to a force majeure situation and say it is intended to provide legal certainty for foreign passengers whose flights have been cancelled or diverted.

Do tourists have to pay an overstay penalty?

No, not if the additional stay is caused by the qualifying flight disruption and the traveler follows the immigration procedure.

Indonesia has specifically waived the administrative overstay fee for foreign nationals affected by the Anak Krakatau-related disruption.

This is important for travelers whose visa, visa-free stay or other permitted period of stay is approaching its expiry date. Simply staying beyond the permitted period without contacting immigration is not the same as receiving an emergency permit.

If your flight has been cancelled and you are concerned that your permitted stay will expire before you can leave Indonesia, contact the nearest immigration office as soon as possible.

Where can stranded travelers apply?

Immigration offices across Indonesia have started processing applications for the emergency permit.

At Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, two dedicated service counters have been opened for affected foreign nationals.

As of September 7, the Soekarno-Hatta Immigration Office had already processed 26 applications.

Other immigration offices that had processed applications included offices in Central Jakarta, North Jakarta, Depok, South Jakarta, Ngurah Rai, Juanda, Bekasi and Tangerang.

The authorities have also prepared immigration services at alternative airports being used to handle diverted flights.

What if my flight was diverted to another Indonesian airport?

This is one of the reasons the new measure is particularly useful.

Indonesia has been redirecting some flights away from airports affected by volcanic ash. Alternative airports mentioned by immigration authorities include Kertajati, Ahmad Yani, Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) and Juanda.

Immigration authorities have prepared additional personnel and procedures at these airports so that foreign passengers can still receive the necessary immigration services.

Kertajati is a particularly notable case because immigration staff were temporarily deployed there to support international passenger processing.

What about Bali?

Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport has not been directly closed because of the Anak Krakatau eruption.

However, Bali travelers have still been affected because aircraft operating from Jakarta and other Indonesian airports were disrupted.

On September 7, Bali immigration reported that it had adjusted the immigration records of 94 foreign passengers affected by the cancellation of Citilink flight QG-500 between Denpasar and Dili.

The aircraft was unable to depart from Jakarta, which caused the international flight from Bali to be cancelled.

Immigration officials checked the affected passengers’ stay status and reported that none had become overstayers as a result of the cancellation.

For travelers arriving in or departing from Bali, the airport’s immigration services remained operational normally at that time.

If you are planning to travel around Bali, our guides to Bali Airport and Bali for First-Time Visitors can help with the practical side of your trip.

What should you do if your visa is about to expire?

If your flight has been cancelled because of the Anak Krakatau disruption and your permitted stay is approaching its expiry date, do not simply wait and hope that the situation is resolved before your immigration deadline.

1. Check your new flight status. Confirm whether your airline has rebooked you and when you can realistically leave Indonesia.
2. Contact immigration. If the delay could cause your permitted stay to expire, contact the immigration office responsible for your location or departure airport.
3. Explain that your departure was disrupted by the volcanic event. Keep your cancelled ticket, airline notification, rebooking confirmation and other evidence.
4. Ask about the ITKT emergency stay permit. Eligible travelers can receive a temporary permit without the normal administrative overstay charge.
5. Keep your documentation. Save your original ticket, cancellation notice and new itinerary until you have left Indonesia.

The emergency measure does not mean that every foreign visitor can automatically extend their stay for any reason. The immigration authorities still review applications and determine eligibility.

Do you need to leave Indonesia immediately?

Not necessarily.

The purpose of the emergency permit is precisely to give affected foreign nationals legal status while they wait for their flight situation to be resolved.

The permit is valid for up to 30 days and can be extended if the circumstances continue, subject to the applicable immigration rules.

However, travelers should not treat the measure as a general visa extension. It is specifically connected to circumstances that prevent departure, such as the current flight disruption caused by the volcanic event.

What happens now that Jakarta airports have reopened?

Several airports affected by Anak Krakatau ash have now reopened.

Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma and Husein Sastranegara resumed operations from early September 8, while Budiarto Curug and Pondok Cabe also reopened later that morning.

However, the reopening does not mean that all flights immediately return to their original schedules. Airlines still need to inspect aircraft, reposition aircraft and crews, and deal with the backlog created by the previous closures.

Two airports in Lampung remained subject to further assessment according to Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation.

For this reason, passengers should continue checking their airline directly even if the airport itself is officially open.

For general information about moving between Indonesian destinations, see our Indonesia Transport Guide.

What should foreign travelers remember?

The most important point is simple: if a volcanic eruption or related flight cancellation prevents you from leaving Indonesia before your permitted stay expires, contact immigration rather than allowing your stay to expire without explanation.

Indonesia has introduced a specific emergency mechanism for travelers affected by the Anak Krakatau disruption, including a free temporary stay permit and a waiver of the normal overstay administrative charge.

At the same time, the situation remains fluid. Even after airports reopen, flight schedules can change as airlines work through cancellations and aircraft inspections.

Bottom Line

Foreign tourists stranded in Indonesia because of the Anak Krakatau flight disruption can receive an Emergency Stay Permit valid for up to 30 days, free of charge, with the possibility of an extension if the disruption continues.

Indonesia is also waiving overstay fees for eligible travelers affected by the volcanic event.

If your flight has been cancelled and your visa or permitted stay is close to expiring, keep proof of the cancellation and contact Indonesian immigration as soon as possible. Do not assume that an airline rebooking automatically protects your immigration status.

Jakarta’s main airports have now reopened, but flight operations are still recovering from the disruption. Travelers should continue checking their airline before going to the airport.

Sources

• ANTARA — Foreigners affected by Krakatau eruption get emergency stay permits
• ANTARA — Immigration prepares services at alternative airports
• ANTARA — Bali Immigration adjusts records for foreigners affected by Anak Krakatau
• Indonesia Ministry of Transportation — Affected airports reopen