Jakarta. Immigration authorities in Bali are preparing for a potential rise in visa overstays after flight cancellations to several Middle Eastern destinations left hundreds of foreign passengers stranded over the weekend.

The disruptions followed escalating tensions stemming from Israeli and US strikes on Iran, prompting airspace closures in parts of the region and forcing airlines to suspend routes from Bali.

Affected routes from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport include services to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Iran. As a result, many passengers have been unable to depart the island, with no certainty on when flights will resume.

Bugie Kurniawan, head of the immigration office at Ngurah Rai Airport, said authorities would assist foreign nationals whose visas are nearing expiration or have lapsed due to the emergency, to prevent immigration violations such as overstaying.

“We are closely monitoring these global developments. Our top priority is ensuring that despite flight schedule disruptions, immigration administrative processes for passengers continue to be handled properly and in accordance with procedures,” Bugie said in Bali on Sunday.

The immigration office has increased personnel at international arrival and departure terminals to anticipate longer queues and is coordinating with airport authorities and international airlines regarding schedule changes and route diversions.

Passengers whose stay permits are close to expiry — or have expired due to the flight disruptions — are urged to report immediately to the immigration office or airport service counters for further guidance.

Bugie said cases would be handled in accordance with prevailing laws and regulations, taking into account force majeure conditions arising from international flight disruptions.

Immigration authorities pledged that each case would be managed professionally, prioritizing legal certainty and public service standards.

“We urge international travelers, particularly those transiting through the Middle East, to regularly check their flight status via official airline applications and coordinate with airlines before heading to the airport,” he added.

As of Sunday, at least five flights from Bali to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha had been canceled since Saturday, affecting more than 1,600 passengers. The impacted carriers include Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, and Emirates.