REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- All international passengers in Bali province would receive an overstayed permit for maximum one month, following the closure of the airport due to Mount Agung's Eruption few days ago, the Transportation Ministry said.

Sugihardjo, the ministry's secretary general said in Jakarta, Tuesday, the authority would ease the procedure on extending the stay permit for the affected foreign passengers.

"During a conference at the Coordinating Ministry with (Bali) Governor and its deputy, we have agreed to help the international passengers earn their overstayed permits," he remarked.

The airport operator, PT Angkasa Pura I's secretary, Israwadi said, his company has contacted the Immigration Office to give an "exit pass" to the international passengers who have crossed the immigration counter.

The "exit pass" would be effective for one week.

"However if the passengers are seeking to extending their stays for one month, they have to submit their requests to the Immigration Office," Israwadi noted.

Meanwhile, for the international passengers that have not yet passed the immigration counter, they could directly file a request to the Immigration Office.

Earlier on Monday, the operator PT Angkasa Pura I announced the Bali I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport was closed due to the volcanic ashes of Mount Agung.

"Referring to the Notice to the airmen (NOTAMN) number: A4242/17 on Nov 27, herewith we inform you that due to the volcanic ashes of Mount Agung in Karangasem district, Bali, Indonesia, I Gusti Ngurah Rai airport will be closed on Nov 27 to Nov 28," Yanus Suprayogi, the operator's general manager said in a written statement.

Following the closure, all flights both arriving and departing en route from and to the airport will be cancelled until further notice, he reiterated.

However, on Nov 28, the authority later decided to extend the closure to Nov 29.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the airport operator has decided to extend the closure of the I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport from 7 a.m. local time on Nov 29 for 24 hours, Arie Ahsanurrohim, a spokesman of the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport office of state-run airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I, said.

"We conduct an evaluation of the latest developments on the volcanic ash situation and wind direction every six hours," he said.

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