Immigration on Alert to Anticipate Impact of Middle East Airspace Closure

JAKARTA – The Directorate General of Immigration has increased preparedness at all Air Immigration Checkpoints (TPI) following the escalation of military conflict in the Middle East, which has resulted in the closure of airspace in several countries, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Iran. This situation has had a direct impact on international flight operations to and from Indonesia.

Based on monitoring reports as of Saturday (February 28, 2026) at 9:00 PM WIB, eight international flights at three major airports (Soekarno-Hatta, Ngurah Rai, and Kualanamu) were canceled or delayed. This affected a total of 2,228 passengers, consisting of 1,644 foreign nationals (WNA) and 584 Indonesian citizens (WNI).

The Acting Director General of Immigration, Yuldi Yusman, emphasized that his staff had taken swift action by canceling departures, both manually and through the system, for passengers and crew of affected airlines.

"The Directorate General of Immigration ensures that immigration services at the airport continue to operate optimally and smoothly. Our focus is on maintaining smooth service, orderly inspections, and ensuring procedures for passengers affected by flight cancellations or diversions," Yuldi emphasized.

The Directorate General of Immigration has instructed immigration officers at airports to respond to the current flight situation with the following steps:
● Adjusting personnel deployment in international arrivals and departures areas according to flight dynamics;
● Intensive coordination with airport authorities, airlines, and relevant agencies to address schedule changes, route changes, and flight cancellations;
● Continuously monitoring flight developments through official channels and credible flight data sources;

Policy for Handling Affected and Overstayed Passengers

The Directorate General of Immigration has also issued Letter from the Director General of Immigration Number IMI-GR.01.01-133 dated March 1, 2026. Through this letter, immigration offices overseeing airports are instructed to:

● Issue an Emergency Stay Permit (ITKT) with a maximum validity of 30 (thirty) days and can be extended if necessary according to the provisions;
● Impose a fee of IDR 0.00 (zero rupiah) for foreigners who overstay due to such circumstances, by attaching a statement/declaration from the Aviation Civil Authority (airline/airport authority).