Bali reduces traveller’s time with automated immigration gates

Friday, March 15, 2024

Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport now boasts 30 automated entry gates, significantly streamlining the entry process for visitors. Officially operational since March 6, these gates are designed to reduce immigration processing times to between 15 and 25 seconds per individual, as announced by Indonesia’s Immigration Directorate General.

To access these automated lanes, foreign travelers are required to possess biometric passports and pre-register their visit online. The Ngurah Rai immigration office, through an Instagram announcement on March 7, highlighted the efficiency, ease, and security of using the automated gates. Travelers need to upload personal details, their passport photo, and a self-portrait to an official immigration website prior to arrival.

This facility extends to Singaporeans and nationals from other ASEAN countries visiting for up to 30 days, who do not need a visa for their stay. Silmy Karim, Indonesia’s director-general of immigration, stated at the inauguration ceremony that this technological advancement in immigration services aims to boost tourism, economic advancement, and overall national development.

Karim also noted that the airport typically welcomes 14,000 to 16,000 daily visitors in off-peak times, a figure that can surge to 20,000 during peak travel seasons. The year 2023 saw 236,203 Singaporeans visiting Bali, marking a significant increase from 129,089 in 2022, according to the Indonesian statistics agency BPS.

Singaporean visitors are expressing enthusiasm for the more streamlined entry process. Fionn Yeo, a 23-year-old financial advisor, mentioned a 15-minute wait at a manned counter due to not pre-registering, observing the faster and more abundant automated gates. Esther Lim, a 30-year-old finance manager, recalled a one-hour wait during a January visit, exacerbated by misleading signage and understaffed manual counters. She, along with many others, looks forward to utilizing the automated gates on future visits.

This initiative is not exclusive to Bali; Singaporeans can also enjoy expedited immigration clearance through electronic gates in Malaysia, Taiwan, and Britain, fostering a more seamless international travel experience.

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