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.
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.
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.
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