Denpasar Immigration Office has confirmed closures affecting visa services in Bali over the Christmas and New Year holidays, potentially disrupting plans for tourists and long-stay visitors.
Bali Visa Extensions: What Tourists Need to Know About Holiday Closures
Expect delays and plan ahead: Indonesian immigration offices in Bali will be closed during peak holiday periods, impacting visa extensions and other services.
- Immigration offices will be closed December 25th, 26th, 28th, and January 1st, 3rd, and 4th.
- The Hybrid Application System requires online paperwork *and* an in-person appointment.
- Applying well before your visa’s expiration date is crucial to avoid fines.
- Indonesian Immigration enforces a zero-tolerance policy for overstays.
- Common application errors include late submissions and incomplete documentation.
Tourists in Bali planning to extend their stay permits or visas need to be aware of upcoming office closures. Both Christmas and New Year are public holidays in Indonesia, resulting in government service interruptions during the combined annual leave period.
Q: What should I do if my visa expires during the closure dates?
A: Apply for an extension *well* before December 25th to avoid overstaying and incurring fines. Indonesian Immigration strongly advises applying at least seven working days prior to expiration.
The Denpasar Immigration Office announced that its offices will be closed on Thursday, December 25th, and Friday, December 26th, 2025, due to Christmas. The office will resume normal operations on Monday, December 29th, 2025. Foreign nationals are advised to plan their stay permit extensions accordingly, ensuring they are processed on working days before their current permits expire.
Beyond the Christmas closures, Immigration Offices in Indonesia are also closed on weekends. This year, services will be unavailable on December 28th and January 1st, followed by closures on January 3rd and 4th for the first weekend of the new year. This limited availability means tourists and long-stay visitors with impending visa expirations have a shrinking window to submit their paperwork.
The recently introduced Hybrid Application System, launched in May 2025, requires applicants to complete an online form *and* attend an in-person appointment for biometric and document verification. The abrupt implementation of the new system initially caused confusion, with some tourists unknowingly violating immigration regulations. However, after more than six months, officials say there’s little excuse for errors.
Indonesian Immigration maintains a firm stance against overstaying visas. According to the agency, there is “nothing you can do to avoid an overstay fine.” A social media post clarified that overstaying results in a daily fine of Rp 1,000,000 (approximately $63 USD as of December 24, 2025), starting from the first day of the overstay. Fines escalate, and overstays exceeding 60 days can lead to deportation.
Common mistakes in visa extension applications, according to Indonesian Immigration, include applying too late and failing to update changes to stay details—such as a new address, a different sponsor, or updated passport information. The latter is more frequently an issue for those extending long-stay or socio-cultural visas than standard tourist visas.
Other common errors include incomplete documentation and incomplete payments. Immigration officials emphasize the importance of checking all requirements and ensuring all payments are processed before finalizing the application.
Tourists are solely responsible for their applications and should avoid relying on agents. Skipping the online portion of the Hybrid Application System is also a frequent mistake.
The bottom line: if you’re planning to extend your visa in Bali this holiday season, don’t delay. The combination of office closures and the complexities of the new Hybrid Application System demands proactive planning.
