Bali urges tourists to plan visa and immigration services early as offices close for holidays

Immigration offices in Bali will remain closed on several days over the Christmas and New Year period, affecting tourists who need to extend visas or access immigration services. As reported by The Bali Sun, authorities have advised foreign visitors to plan their stay permit extensions well in advance to avoid overstaying penalties.

Both Christmas and New Year are public holidays in Indonesia, and government services will be shut during the joint annual leave period. As a result, immigration services will be unavailable on December 26, 28 and January 1, followed by weekend closures on January 3 and 4.

The Denpasar Immigration Office confirmed the holiday shutdown in a public notice. It said, “Due to Christmas Day, we would like to inform all immigration applicants that the Denpasar Immigration Office on Thursday and Friday ,25th and 26th December, will be closed.”


The office added, “The Office will be open normally on Monday, 29th December 2025. All foreign nationals, please be advised to plan your stay permit extension accordingly. Stay permits must be extended on working days prior to expiration.”

With limited working days available, tourists and long-stay visitors have been urged to submit visa extension applications early. Immigration officials said leaving extensions to the last day increases the risk of errors, delays or overstay violations, especially during holiday closures.


Indonesia introduced a new Hybrid Application System in May 2025, requiring applicants to complete an online form and then attend an in-person appointment for biometrics and document checks. Authorities said delays and mistakes under the new system have led to some travellers unintentionally violating immigration rules.

Indonesian Immigration reiterated its strict stance on overstaying. In a social media post, the agency said, “Overstaying your permitted stay in Indonesia will result in a fine of Rp 1,000,000 per day, starting from the very first day of overstay. There is no way to avoid this fine; you must pay it whether you want to extend your stay or leave Indonesia.”

It added, “Fine will be charged if you’re overstaying for more than 60 days; more than that, then you’ll be deported.”

Immigration authorities also highlighted common mistakes made during visa extensions. These include applying too late, submitting incomplete documents, failing to update personal details, incomplete payments and relying solely on agents. Officials stressed that travellers remain legally responsible for their own applications.