Bali is a place that fully embraces its potential as a tourism magnet. This beautiful island gets millions of visitors every year, and the authorities have made tourism easy with their Visa on Arrival (VOA) policy.
Travel eSIMs you may like:
If you’re from one of a list of specific countries, you can get a visa for Bali at the airport, without visiting an embassy. The process is designed to be straightforward, but travel always goes smoother with a little bit of advance planning.
So let’s take a look at the process for getting the Bali Visa on Arrival so that you know what to expect at the airport.
What Is a Visa on Arrival?
You probably won’t be shocked to hear that the Visa on Arrival means a visa that you can obtain when you arrive.
That means you don’t need to apply for your visa before getting on the plane. You can complete the process by bringing the necessary documents with you and applying at the airport itself.
Who Can Get a Visa on Arrival?
The VOA scheme isn’t open to everyone. You need to be a citizen of one of the countries that Indonesia has a Visa on Arrival arrangement with.
Who are they? It’s actually quite a long list, but it includes:
- Australia
- New Zealand
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Canada
- Japan
- India
- EU countries
- Russia
- Brazil
- South Korea
- South Africa
- Mexico
If you’re not sure whether your country qualifies, don’t worry. You can enter your country on this website and it will tell you whether you can get a VOA or not.
For those who don’t qualify, it’s not the end of the world. You’re not banned from Bali; you just can’t get a VOA. Instead, you’ll need to apply for a C1 tourist visa or similar before getting on a plane.
How Long Can You Stay?
The standard VOA lets you stay in Indonesia for up to 30 days.
Once you enter the country, this can be extended for up to 60 days, but that’s the limit. If you want to stay in Bali longer, you’ll need to apply for a visa and explain why you want to stay and how you intend to support yourself.
What Documents Do You Need?
To get your VOA, you’ll need:
- A passport that is valid for at least six months after the date of your arrival in Indonesia
- A return or onward ticket showing that you plan to leave the country
- Payment for the visa fee
- Details of your accommodation in Bali
- A passport-sized photo in digital form
- Proof of sufficient funds to cover you for your stay. Around US$1000 is usually enough for a 30 day stay.
- A completed All Indonesia Arrival Card. This is a health and customs declaration you must complete within three days before your arrival. Once complete, it will give you a QR code that you need to save and show to customs. It’s also a good idea to keep a paper copy in case you have problems with your phone.
What To Do After Landing
If you’re going straight to Bali from outside Indonesia, you’re probably going to arrive at Ngurah Rai International Airport. Here’s what to do:
- Follow the Visa on Arrival Signs
The signs are clearly marked and will direct you to the immigration desk where you can get your visa. Don’t go directly to immigration unless airport staff tell you to do that.
- Pay the Fee
Currently, the fee for a VOA is 500,000 IDR, which is about US$35. Don’t forget, there’s also a tourism levy of 150,000 IDR, which is around US$10. You can pay by card or cash at the counter.
- Immigration Inspection
Don’t worry, you can keep your trousers on. Normally, an immigration officer will ask for your passport, your visa receipts, and possibly your supporting travel documents.
They may ask you some questions, too. You can expect to be asked about the purpose of your visit, where you’ll be staying, and how long you plan to remain in Indonesia.
For most people, these questions are just a formality. Most of the time, the interview lasts only a couple of minutes, and then you’ll be given your visa and sent through immigration.
Can You Apply Online?
You can, and arguably, you should.
Bali offers an e-VOA that lets you apply before you leave for the island. This helps to reduce waiting times and means you can get your visa approved before getting on the plane. The Indonesian government wants to encourage everyone to get the e-visa, so they make it really easy. You can apply and pay online and get authorized to enter the country quickly so that you have one less thing to deal with at the airport.
That’s not the only part of your trip you can take care of before you arrive. Buying an eSIM from ZenSim means your phone will automatically connect to the strongest local network the moment your plane arrives. That way, you’ll have access to maps, translation tools, emails, and helpful articles like this one that can help you with the whole immigration process.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
It’s not super hard to get a VOA, provided you’re eligible for one. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to make mistakes. First time visitors often make simple errors that can delay your entry to the country. Things like:
- Not having enough time left on your passport
- Forgetting to book your onward or return travel
- Joining the wrong queue for immigration
- Assuming every nationality qualifies for a Visa on Arrival
- Forgetting to fill out the All Indonesia Arrival Card
That’s another reason why it’s a good idea to apply for the e-VOA. Filling out the form at home in your pyjamas is a lot less stressful, and you’ll have more time to make sure you get everything just right.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash to pay for a Visa on Arrival?
Usually, no. The desk at the airport takes credit cards as well as cash. However, systems can sometimes go down, so it isn’t a bad idea to have cash as a backup in case card payment isn’t working.
Can I extend my Visa on Arrival?
Usually, yes. A standard 30-day VOA can be extended once, giving you a total of 60 days.
What if I overstay?
It can actually be pretty serious. Overstaying can result in fines and immigration penalties, including a ban from entering Indonesia again. Make sure you know how long you’re allowed to stay for, and don’t take chances.
Can I work on a Bali Visa on Arrival?
No. And be aware that the Indonesian authorities take a pretty broad view of what constitutes work. It’s not just paid employment. If you create content professionally from Indonesia, work in a bar in exchange for drinks, or make a promotional social media post in exchange for a massage, that all counts as work and can invalidate your visa. Don’t take any chances.
Entering Bali the Easy Way
If you’re eligible, the Visa on Arrival is one of the easiest ways to enter Bali. In fact, it’s even easier now that the process can be done online.
Just don’t make the mistake of taking it for granted. Make sure you check on your eligibility and that you have your documents in order, and you should sail through the immigration process quickly and efficiently.
Of course, it’s never a bad idea to have a backup plan. Buying an eSIM before you arrive means that you’ll always be connected, and that can help you out of a jam. Check out our plans that can cover all of Asia so that you’ll always be connected wherever you go.
Travel eSIMs you may like:
Written by
Ryan Frawley
Travel writer and serial border crosser.
I've visited more than 30 countries so far, which sounds impressive until you see how long my travel wish list still is. When I'm not chasing cheap flights, figuring out eSIMs, or getting lost in places I can't properly pronounce, I'm usually writing about travel, remote work, and how to make both a little easier.
If you've ever searched "Can I work remotely from there?" at 2 a.m., we're probably on the same wavelength.
Get amongst it
Join the community
We will reach out when we launch new products, about our sustainability projects, specials, new innovations or maybe even cool sh*t we think is inbox worthy.
