Foreign Office issues new warning to Brits travelling to popular destination

The Foreign Office has issued a fresh update to its travel advice, alerting British tourists planning a trip to Indonesia to ensure their passports are in order. Last year saw 335,209 UK citizens soaking up the sun and culture in popular Indonesian destinations such as Bali, Lombok, and the bustling city of Jakarta.

On Wednesday, April 23, the Foreign Office highlighted the importance of passport validity for those travelling to the Southeast Asian nation.

The updated 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."

Since Brexit, British travellers have grown accustomed to ensuring their passports have at least three months of validity beyond their intended return date from the EU and that they were issued within the last decade prior to travel. Yet the requirement for two blank pages in the passport may catch some holidaymakers off guard. This rule is not unique to Indonesia; other countries, including Italy, South Africa and India, also enforce this regulation, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Travellers with fewer than two blank pages in their passports will need to apply for a renewal to avoid any travel disruptions. The Foreign Office has issued a warning to those travelling to Indonesia, advising against visiting certain locations. These include areas within 6km of the crater of Mount Ruang in Northern Sulawesi, which erupted on 16 April 2024, and within 3km of the crater of Mount Marapi in West Sumatra.

Additionally, all travel within 5 km of the Mount Sinabung crater in Karo Regency, North Sumatra is discouraged, as well as all travel within 5 km of the crater of Mount Semeru in Lumajang Regency, East Java. The southeast area of Mount Semeru along the Besuk Kobokan river (approximately 13 km from the crater) is also off-limits, with tourists advised to maintain a distance of at least 500 m from the Besuk Kobokan riverbank.