With its pristine beaches, lush rice terraces, vibrant culture and incredible food, it’s easy to see why Bali is such a popular destination. I’ve been lucky enough to visit Bali a handful of times, so I wanted to pass on some information on the visa on arrival process.
The Bali Visa on Arrival
The Visa on Arrival (VOA) is just a visa you need to enter the country, but one that doesn’t require you to apply ahead of time. These can be obtained at airports and any other major points of entry into Indonesia. For Bali, the VOA is typically obtained at the Ngurah Rali International Airport, also known as Denpasar International Airport.
Indonesia have now introduced an E-VOA, for you to easily apply ahead of time.
How Much Does the Visa on Arrival Cost?
The Visa on Arrival in Bali currently costs 500,000IDR for the 30 day, single-entry visa. It’s recommended to pay in cash. Any change owed to you will be given in Indonesian Rupiah.
The 30 day visa extension will cost you $35 USD / 500,000 IDR – plus additional fees for biometrics.
How to Get a Visa on Arrival in Bali?
You have two options for getting a Visa on Arrival. The traditional way to obtain a VOA is at the arrivals hall of the airport. The VOA desk is usually next to customs and is signposted. Here you’ll pay for the visa and receive a purple slip with your arrival date. You must keep this to exit the country so consider bringing a paper clip to attach it in your passport easily. Once you’ve got this, you’ll queue up at the immigration desks for stamps in your passport.
How to Get an E-VOA in Bali?
You can get an E-VOA for Indonesia from the official immigration site here. It costs the same but saves you queuing at the VOA counter and allows you to use the electronic gates at the airport.
Both E-VOA and VOA require you to have a valid passport for at least 6 months from the day you arrive in Indonesia. You must also provide proof of onward journey – particularly if you’re staying a while in Bali.
TOP TIP: there are typically queues at both VOA desks and the main immigration desk. SO I’d advise getting the E-VOA and getting out the plane quickly to avoid queues.
How To Extend Your Bali Visa
The visa on arrival in Bali is valid for 30 days. However, you can extend this for another 30 days, once! If you plan to be in Bali for longer than 60 days combined, it’s better to apply for different visas ahead of your journey. I used the B211A for 6 months with no issues. I know people who have done visa runs, to places like Malaysia, but some have had issues getting back into the country. Better to not risk it and come in on the correct visa.
If you applied for an E-VOA, you can extend your visa online, via the account you used for the initial visa. This is more convenient and costs the same price as extending a standard VOA. However, the drawback to this is not all points of entry accept the E-VOA. If you’re travelling to a popular tourist place like Lombok or Bali, you’ll be fine with E-VOA. Other less frequently used ports of entry might not accept it.
Unfortunately, if you entered Indonesia with a VOA from the airport, you must extend at an immigration office. This will include 3 visits to immigration; first to drop your passport and application form off, second for biometrics and interview, and third to pick up your passport.
If you’re trying to save money, you can do this process yourself. However, I was staying in Ubud – far from the three immigration offices – and decided to pay at agent to help the process.
My Experience Extending My Visa on Arrival
The Visa Extension Agency I used were brilliant and absolutely worth the extra cost. In total, the visa extension and agency cost came to a total of 830,000 IDR. The process consisted of me dropping off my passport at the extension office, along with my proof of onward journey. They took some details from me, and with this, they sorted out all the immigration forms. They took my passport to immigration the next and informed me (via whatsapp) a few days later on the date I should go to the Immigration office. There are three in Bali, with the closest one to Ubud being in Denpasar. The other two are in Nusa Dua and near Uluwatu.
The immigration office was open from 7:30am -12pm and 1-4pm. My advice is to get there early! I arrived at 7:45am and was finished by 8am! I know some people who have had to queue for hours.
Once you arrive at immigration, you’ll need to go to counter 4 (biometrics and interview counter) and collect a queue number. I was number 10 in line and was seen very quickly. Inside the room, they’ll ask you a few questions on why you’re in Bali, where you’re staying for your trip and when you’re leaving. They’ll also take photos and fingerprints. My passport was ready to collect from the Visa Extension Agency in Ubud two days later. I was happy to only have to go to immigration once, and it was worth paying extra to have the agency go to and from immigration the first and third time.
You have to start the application at least two weeks ahead of the visa expiry date.
Which Countries are Eligible for Bali Visa on Arrival?
The visa on arrival in Bali is only available to certain nationalities and this list is always subject to change. Currently there are 87 countries eligible. It’s best to check out their immigration site here to see if your country is on the list. Some countries include;
- Australia
- Canada
- China
- Hong Kong
- Japan
- Singapore
- South Korea
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom
- United States
Do Children Need a Visa on Arrival?
In short, yes. All children will need a visa on arrival to enter Bali regardless of their age.
If you’re looking for a longer stay in Bali or Indonesia, consider looking into the B211A Visa. This allows up to 6 month in Indonesia and is a fairly straightforward process.
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B211A Visa Bali: Everything You Need to Know
Nyepi: The Balinese Day of Silence
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