Freelance journalist Troy Nankervis had spent six weeks in Bali but was stopped by customs at Denpasar Airport and told he couldn’t board his flight home to Sydney.
Under new rules introduced by Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration on May 29, travellers staying more than 30 days – even those with a visa on arrival – must complete the extension process in person at a local immigration office.
The process now includes a photo and fingerprint session before the visa is approved. Previously, travellers could complete the entire extension online.
Unaware of the change, Troy paid the renewal fee from a café in Ubud and assumed his visa was valid.
But at the airport, officials informed him the extension hadn’t been processed and without the in-person appointment, he wasn’t legally cleared to leave.
Despite pleading with authorities and showing proof of payment, he was told the rules were non-negotiable.
Stranded over the weekend with immigration offices closed, Troy missed multiple international flights and had to fork out more than $2,000 in extra accommodation and rebooked flights.
“I was completely blindsided,” he told news.com.au. “It ruined my travel plans and no travel insurance would cover the cost.”
The Indonesian government says the change aims to tighten visa compliance and reduce misuse. Hundreds of travellers have already been impacted, with online forums now flooded with warnings from others caught out.
Australian consular officials recommend tourists check visa requirements regularly, as rules can change with little notice.
Travellers staying more than 30 days in Bali must now:
# Start the visa extension online
# Visit an immigration office in person to finalise it
# Allow extra time and avoid waiting until the last minute.
Failure to do so could result in missed flights, denied departure and a holiday nightmare.
