Wondering which visa you need to visit Bali? Here we take you through the different types of Indonesian visas, and how to get them.
So, you’re planning a trip to Bali. Yippee! But first, you’ll want to work out which visa you need to enter Indonesia, and how to apply. Well, the good news is, if you’re visiting Bali for a short holiday as a tourist, you might be eligible for the Visa On Arrival, which is open to visitors from 86 different nationalities, does not require a pre-application, and is valid for a full 30 days.
But what about other Bali visas for travellers wanting to stay for more than 30 days, or for anyone not included in the list of Visa On Arrival countries? Well, there are plenty of different Indonesian visa options available, whether you’re visiting Bali for tourism purposes, a business trip, to start work, or even to visit relatives.
So, to help you work out which visa you need for Bali, here we delve into the different types of Indonesian visas out there, including the average costs, lengths of stay, the application procedures, and how to extend your Indonesian visa once you’re here in Bali.
VISA OPTIONS FOR TRAVELLERS VISITING BALI, INDONESIA
Visa-Free – for ASEAN passport holders
Length of stay: 30 days, non-extendable.
Price: Free
For citizens of ASEAN countries, travelling to Indonesia does not require any visa at all. The nationalities eligible for Visa-Free travel are: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
This visa does not require any prior application or approval. You can obtain this visa upon arrival in Bali (or anywhere else in Indonesia), and it is absolutely free. Please note: this visa is strictly for tourism, which means you cannot work or conduct any kind of business activity with this visa. Furthermore, the Tourist Visa is non-extendable and non-transferrable, meaning the absolute maximum length of stay is 30 days, and you must leave Indonesia before it expires.
Visa On Arrival – for tourists staying up to 30 days or more
Length of stay: 30 days, extendable for a further 30 days (totalling 60 days)
Price: IDR 500,000, or the equivalent amount in a different currency.
Much like the Free-Visa, the Visa On Arrival is for holidaymakers only, however, this visa allows you to extend your 30-day visa for an additional 30 days, totalling 60 days. For this visa, rather than going direct to the Immigration Queue once you disembark the airplane in Indonesia, you must first find the Visa On Arrival payment counter. The counter is situated approximately 100m before the Immigration Queue. Once you have your visa, you may continue to the immigration check points.
Currently just 86 nationalities are eligible for the Visa On Arrival. These countries are: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Colombia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor Leste, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA, Uzbekistan, Vatican and Vietnam.
Single Entry B211 Tourism e-Visa – for business trips & extended stays
Length of stay: 60 days, extendable for 2x 60 day extensions (totalling 180 days)
Price: Approximately $270, depending on which agent you use.
Whether you want to holiday in beautiful Bali for tourism, or you’re a business traveller visiting for a longer stay, anyone is eligible to apply for the Single Entry B211 Tourism e-Visa. It is currently the best option for non-residents and tourists to enter Indonesia and stay for an extended period of time, or for tourists of any nationality who are not eligible for the Visa On Arrival. The Single Entry e-Visa is valid for 60 days and allows for 2x 60-day extensions, totalling a six month (180 days) stay period. When you apply for this visa, you’ll need to state whether you require the “Business Visa” or the “Tourism Visa”.
In order to obtain the B211 Visa, you’ll need to apply through a visa agent. The price will therefore include the agent fee, the visa fee, and other required documentation, including sponsorship, a guarantee letter, and sometimes, the promise of an approved visa application within five working days if you require an Express Service. You can send us a DM on Instagram @honeycombersbali for our recommendations on tried-and-tested visa agents.
Once you arrive in Indonesia, you can then choose to extend your e-Visa after your initial 60-day stay period. The price of each extension is approximately $100, and each extension application must be made at least two-weeks before the date of visa expiry. We recommend using the same agent for your extensions that you use for the initial application, since they will remain on your visa as your sponsor.
KITAS – for anyone living or working in Indonesia
Length of stay: One year, with the possibility of extending annually.
Price: Approximately
For anyone wanting to live or work in Indonesia, you will need a KITAS (Kartu Izin Tinggal Terbatas) which is essentially a Residency Permit Card that allows for up to 12 months in Indonesia with the possibility to extend annually. A KITAS is designated for multiple reasons: as a work visa, a retirement visa, or for a spouse or family visa. While the Retirement KITAS and Spouse KITAS are relatively self-explanatory, in order to get a working KITAS, the process is a little more complicated.
First, you will need to find an employer who is willing to sponsor your KITAS (a costly and lengthy process) and also who has the rights to provide a KITAS (depending on the company, the position, and how many local staff are hired). Furthermore, working KITAS permits are only given to foreign workers in certain managerial positions, or in positions that cannot be undertaken by local Indonesian citizens. Therefore, you cannot get a KITAS to work as a waitress, barman or construction worker (as an example) but rather in less ‘manual labour’ positions such as a Manager or Director.
If your employer is able to sponsor your KITAS, the process can take up to two months (sometimes longer), and will require your presence in Indonesia to visit the immigration office for photos, an interview and biometric readings. Most employers will usually hire an agent to apply for a KITAS as the process is rather lengthy and complicated, and therefore the prices can range between $1500 to $4000 and more. Send us a DM on Instagram @honeycombersbali for our recommendations on tried-and-tested visa agents.
Digital Nomad Visa – not yet available
You’ve probably seen the fanfare online regarding Bali’s new “Digital Nomad Visa”, promising a five-year stay that’s also tax-free if you meet certain requirements. Unfortunately, this has not yet been approved by Indonesian government, and is simply a proposition by Indonesia’s Tourism Minister. While Indonesia’s government is indeed backing the drive to replenish Bali’s tourism industry post-pandemic, a tax-free Digital Nomad Visa is still just a pipe dream for now.
Second Home Visa – not yet available
Unlike the Digital Nomad Visa, the Second Home Visa has been approved by government and even the tariff has been published on the immigration website, however, it has not yet been implemented. But, what we know so far is that the basic requirements will include: a guarantee letter from a guarantor, a passport with a validity of at least six years, a statement of good behaviour from a competent authority, a health examination report, proof of at least USD $2000 for living costs, and proof of health insurance. Furthermore, this visa is specifically not for work purposes, and will be valid for up to five years.
