As British tourists gear up for trips to Indonesia, the Foreign Office has issued a timely update to its travel advice, emphasizing the importance of passport validity. With over 335,209 UK
citizens flocking to Indonesian hotspots like Bali, Lombok, and Jakarta last year, ensuring passport compliance is paramount.
On Wednesday, April 23, the Foreign Office underscored the necessity of having a valid passport when traveling to the Southeast Asian nation.
The revised guidance cautioned, "To enter Indonesia, your passport must have an 'expiry date' at least 6 months after the date you arrive and have at least 2 blank pages. Check with your travel provider or the nearest Indonesian Embassy or Consulate to make sure your passport and other travel documents meet the requirements."
Post-Brexit, British travelers have grown accustomed to passport validity requirements, including having at least three months of validity beyond their intended return date from the EU and issuance within the last decade before travel. However, the stipulation for two blank passport pages may catch some holidaymakers off guard. This mandate, not unique to Indonesia, is enforced by other countries like Italy, South Africa, and India, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Travelers with fewer than two blank passport pages must renew their passports to avoid potential travel disruptions. Additionally, the Foreign Office has cautioned against travel to certain areas within Indonesia. These include locations within 6km of the crater of Mount Ruang in Northern Sulawesi, which erupted on April 16, 2024, and areas within 3km of the crater of Mount Marapi in West Sumatra.
Furthermore, all travel within 5 km of the Mount Sinabung crater in Karo Regency, North Sumatra, is discouraged, along with travel within 5 km of the crater of Mount Semeru in Lumajang Regency, East Java. Tourists are advised to maintain a distance of at least 500 m from the Besuk Kobokan riverbank in the southeast area of Mount Semeru along the Besuk Kobokan river (approximately 13 km from the crater). Photo by Adrian Pingstone, Wikimedia commons.