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The Bali passport rule you need to know about

A must-read for anyone visiting Indonesia. - by Laura Barry
  • 04 Mar 2019
The Bali passport rule you need to know about

In 2017, 1.18 million Australians travelled to Indonesia for a holiday, and most of them were headed straight to Bali. It’s a tourist destination that has remained popular with Aussies due to it being close, convenient and relatively cheap.

However, Bali has introduced a new passport rule for visitors to the country, and many people will be surprised to find out that it has nothing to do with expiry dates or visas. It’s about how well you look after your passport.

performers in Bali

Traditional dancer in Denpasar, Bali.

Getty

According to a story that ran in The West Australian in January, a man with a nine-year-old passport (which was described as ‘slightly damaged’) was stopped from boarding a Batik Air flight from Perth to Bali on Christmas Day due to the condition of his passport.

Indonesian authorities have confirmed they are now imposing fines on airlines who allow passengers to travel to Bali with damaged passports, and tourist who arrive to the country with a damaged passport may be denied entry to the country and sent home.

temple in Ubud, Bali

Temple in Ubud, Bali.

Getty

What is an acceptable passport?

According to the Australian Passport Office:

“It is your responsibility to keep your passport intact and in good condition. Normal wear and tear will not affect its usability, but serious damage to your passport could prevent you from travelling overseas.”

“Contact with water or other liquids can cause serious damage. You must not tear or remove pages from your passport. It is critical that all the details and the photos on the personal data pages are legible and clear, and that there is no evidence of alteration or tampering with any aspect of the booklet.”

However, it seems that Bali border security and some airlines have a different opinion of what qualifies as normal ‘wear and tear’.  When in doubt, get in touch with your airline or a relevant embassy to double check.

You might also like:

Don't get caught out by this passport rule 

The major change coming to passport photos 

The top 20 safest airlines in the world 

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Laura Barry
Laura Barry
Laura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes, travel and lifestyle. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores.

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