"This step is taken to provide legal certainty regarding the immigration status of foreign nationals due to natural disasters or force majeure conditions,"
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Directorate General of Immigration at the Indonesian Immigration and Correctional Services Ministry has abolished overstay penalties for foreigners affected by the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in Flores Timur District, East Nusa Tenggara.

Immigration has also issued Circular Number IMI-568.GR.01.01 of 2025 from the Director General of Immigration, which facilitates the issuance of emergency stay permits for foreigners whose flights were disrupted by the eruption.

"This step is taken to provide legal certainty regarding the immigration status of foreign nationals due to natural disasters or force majeure conditions," Minister of Immigration and Correctional Services Agus Andrianto noted in a statement received here on Saturday.

Acting Director General of Immigration Yuldi Yusman has instructed the heads of immigration offices in the areas around Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki to waive overstay fees for foreign nationals whose stay permits expired due to the eruption.

Waivers for overstay penalties may be granted upon request from the foreign national or their guarantor, provided a supporting certificate from a government agency or the police is submitted.

This aligns with Article 52 of the Regulation of the Minister of Law and Human Rights Number 9 of 2020, concerning the Terms and Procedures for Imposing Zero Rupiah and Zero US Dollar Tariffs on Immigration Services.

Related news: Ministry sets up aid tents to serve Lewotobi victims

Meanwhile, emergency stay permits are being issued through a task force stationed at affected airports: I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, Komodo International Airport, and El Tari International Airport in East Nusa Tenggara.

"We have instructed the heads of immigration offices in the East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, and Bali regional offices to facilitate applications for emergency stay permits for foreign nationals affected by the eruption," Yuldi remarked.

The eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki on Tuesday, June 17, caused significant disruptions to both domestic and international flights.

As of Wednesday, June 18, at 4 p.m. local time, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport recorded 87 flight cancellations in a single day, 66 of which were international flights, mainly to and from Australia and Singapore.

As many as 2,166 passengers at Komodo International Airport were also affected by flight cancellations during the same period.

"This situation may lead to various immigration complications, such as irregularities in visa or stay permit statuses and instances of overstay for foreign nationals," Yudi stated.

Related news: Two Flores airports reopen after Mount Lewotobi eruption



Translator: Arie Novarina
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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