Been waiting for Bali’s borders to reopen to return to the island? With the Single Entry B211 Visit e-Visa, you can now enter Indonesia legally and seamlessly with the help of a trusted visa agent.
When Bali’s borders closed back in April 2020 (only residents and KITAS holders could enter), the beaches were empty, the waterfalls returned to their most natural states, and that pesky Canggu traffic was a thing of the past. We’ll be honest: it was pure Bali bliss.
But then reality kicked in, and for almost two years now, Bali’s business owners have struggled beyond belief. Local families haven’t been able to feed their own children, and rural villages are still bursting at the seams, since thousands of workers returned home after losing their jobs in the tourism industry. It’s glaringly obvious that Bali needs its visitors back.
Thankfully, Bali reopened for tourism purposes on 14th October 2021, however, there are a few conditions. First, you must apply for the B211 Visit Visa before entering Indonesia – a visa that allows you to spend up to six months in Bali. The free “Visas on Arrival” are still unavailable, but anyone wanting to come to Bali for either business or tourism can now apply for this B211 Visit Visa, letting you fly into Indonesia legally and seamlessly. Here’s all you need to know.
SINGLE ENTRY B211 VISIT e-VISA TO BALI: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
Whether you want to holiday in beautiful Bali, or you’re an expat that needs to return to the island, anyone is eligible to apply for the Single Entry B211 Visit e-Visa, providing you meet all the visa requirements. It is currently the best possible option for non-residents and foreigners to enter Indonesia and stay in Bali for an extended period of time.
The Single Entry e-Visa is valid for 60 days and allows for four 30-day extensions, totalling a six month stay period. The visa is called a B211 Visit Visa, also referred to as the “Business Visa”. Until recently, this visa was for business reasons only, however, the government has now added “tourism” under the list of accepted activities for a number of approved nationalities.
Note: in order to obtain this visa, you must have a sponsor in Indonesia – a process that can be easily completed with the help of a visa agent in Bali (you can send us a DM on Instagram for our recommendations on tried-and-tested visa agents).
HOW TO APPLY FOR THE SINGLE ENTRY B211 VISIT E-VISA
Single Entry B211 e-Visa applications can be submitted online by a visa agent (send us a DM on Instagram for our recommendations), which means you do not have to visit the Indonesian embassy in your home country, nor when you arrive in Indonesia. There are, however, some required documents in order to apply:
- You’ll need to supply a scanned copy of your passport.
- You’ll need proof of full vaccination, and a negative PCR test result.
- You may be asked to show your bank statement in English.
- Proof of travel insurance that covers Coronavirus-related emergencies.
- And finally, you’ll need to show proof of the e-Visa payment to start the application process.
HOW MUCH DOES THE SINGLE ENTRY B211 VISIT E-VISA COST?
Depending on which visa agent you use, the price of the B211 Visit e-Visa is approximately $300. This includes the agent fee, the visa fee, and other documentation that’s required, including sponsorship, guarantee letter, and sometimes, the promise of an approved visa application within five working days.
Once you arrive in Indonesia, you can then choose to extend your e-Visa after your initial 60-day stay period. You can extend the visa four times, 30-days each, totalling a six-month stay. The price of each extension is approximately $50, and each extension application must be made two-weeks before the date of visa expiry. You should use the same agent for your extensions that you use for the initial application, since they will remain on your visa as your sponsor.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE B211 VISA
So, you want to get back to Bali but you’re unsure if it’s the best decision? Here, we’re answering the most frequently asked questions surrounding the new e-Visa, and everything else quarantine and Coronavirus-related.
1. Which agent is best to use to apply for the visa?
There are plenty of legitimate visa agents here in Bali who can assist with the application of your visa, but not all visa agents are made equal, and unfortunately, there are lots of scammers out there. Send us a DM on Instagram for our recommendations on tried-and-tested visa agents.
2. Do I need to have a Coronavirus test before arriving?
Yes. On arrival into Indonesia, you will need to show a negative PCR (swab) test. The test must have been completed within 3x 24 hours of departure. Currently, all arrivals into Indonesia must also show proof of complete vaccination too.
3. Do I need to be vaccinated to visit Indonesia?
Yes. Proof of full vaccination is required for all arrivals into Indonesia.
4. Do you have to quarantine to go to Bali?
Yes. When you arrive internationally into Indonesia, you first have to quarantine for 7 days (6 nights) in either Jakarta or Manado, before flying onwards to Bali. For some countries, you will be able to quarantine in Bali as soon as flights become available (currently there have been no international flights landing in Bali since March 2020). You can quarantine in a hotel of your choice from a list of official quarantine-approved hotels that range in price and luxury – see Jakarta quarantine hotels here and Bali quarantine hotels here. You will have a PCR swab test taken on Day 1 upon arrival at the airport, and another on Day 6 at your hotel. If your results are negative, you are free to travel onwards to Bali.
5. Can I fly direct to Bali?
Currently there are no international flights flying direct to Bali. However, once they become available, if you are from the list of approved countries below, then yes you can fly direct to Bali and quarantine in Bali. For all other countries/nationalities, you will need to fly into Jakarta first (the capital of Indonesia) and then fly domestically to Bali after serving your 7-day quarantine period. The flight time from Jakarta to Bali is just under two hours.
6. Which countries can fly direct to Bali?
Currently there are just 19 countries that can fly directly to Bali to quarantine on the island (instead of in Jakarta). These countries are WHO Level 1 and 2 with a positivity rate of less than 5%. The approved countries are as follows:
Saudi Arabia, UAE, New Zealand, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Lichtenstein, Italy, France, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Hungary and Norway.
7. Which countries are banned from entering Indonesia?
Currently there are no bans on international arrivals – all nationalities may enter Indonesia providing they hold a valid visa.
8. Is Bali a safe place to be during the pandemic?
Just like any other country, Indonesia (and Bali) does still have active cases of Coronavirus, so we suggest you take all the necessary precautions that you would in any other country. Saying that, Bali is blessed with lots of outdoor spaces, breezy private villas and secluded beaches, so social distancing is just part of normal Bali life! So the simple answer is yes, Bali is still safe for those who are vaccinated, fit, healthy and following correct hygiene and social distancing procedures.
9. What is the current Coronavirus situation like in Bali?
The situation is changing daily, but you can track Indonesia-specific statistics here, and you can also follow the Bali Covid-19 Update Facebook group for daily (and accurate) updates. You can also read our full guide to Coronavirus in Bali here.
10. Do I need to collect my visa from an embassy?
No. You will receive your e-visa via email, so you no longer need to visit the Indonesian embassy in your country.
11. Can I book my flight before getting my visa?
Typically, you’ll need to book your return flight before you apply for your visa, since this is sometimes one of the requirements when applying. However, with the regularly-changing rules, many visa agents are allowing visa applications without proof of a booked flight. Once your visa is approved, you’ll then have 90 days to enter the country, meaning you have plenty of time to print your e-visa, arrange your flights, quarantine hotel and health insurance, and also get your PCR swab test results (3x 24 hours prior to departure) before jumping on your flight to Indonesia. The only thing left to do? Pack your bags and dust off your passport!
See you in Bali soon!
