Planning a holiday to Bali soon? You may be pleasantly surprised to find that you will be saving US$35 per family member. That’s USD 35 each to spend in Bali,but that’s the idea behind the news announced this week. More people inclined to spend more because Bali is even cheaper than before! That means higher tourist numbers, with a target of 20,000,000 visitors by 2020. May we just add that not all these people expected to visit Indonesia will pass through the Bali hub. See other Ports of Entry below.
After several premature announcements by the Minister of Tourism, Indonesian President Joko Widodo signed a presidential regulation on June 9, 2015 expanding visa free status to an extended list of nations. So check if your passport is eligible and if you will have that much extra spending money – list below.
In selecting the eligible countries one of the major determining factors, according to the Government, was reciprocity of treatment in the immigration policies of other nations.
The citizens of the eligible countries can obtain a free-of-charge visa-on-arrival valid for a 30 day stay in Indonesia but this visa cannot be extended or converted into another type of immigration permit.
Important change
Those eligible for the free visa facility are allowed, during the 30 days of their stay, to perform government service for their home country, participate in educational activities, social cultural affairs, tourism, business, family visits, journalistic duties or participate in a transit stay on route to a third country.
The new presidential decision supersedes Presidential Decision Number 18 of 2003 and Presidential Decision Number 43 of 2011.
Is your country listed here?
An attachment to the Presidential Decree lists 30 additional countries, besides the existing 15, whose travellers are eligible to enter Indonesia without a visa for 30 days:
Austria - Bahrain – Belgium – Canada – Czech Republic - Denmark – Finland - France – Germany - Great Britain – Hungary – Italy – Japan – Kuwait - Mexico – Netherlands - New Zealand – Norway – Oman - People’s Republic of China – Poland – Qatar - Russia – South Africa - South Korea – Spain - Sweden – Switzerland - U.A.E. – USA
VOA in your passport
Free Visa only at these Entry Ports
Visa free facilities for citizens of the above named countries can only be granted by immigration offices in the following locations:
Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta
Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali
Kualu Namu Airport in Medan, North Sumatra
Juanda Airport in Surabaya, East Java
Hang Nadim Airport in Batam
Port of Sri Bintan in Bintan
Port of Sekupang in Batam
Port of Batam Center in Batam
Port of Tanjung Uban in Riau
Based on the above information, international cruise passengers arriving at the Balinese ports of Benoa, Celukan Bawang, Padang Bai or Tanah Ampo will not be allowed the new free visa facility.
Australian tourists will still be able to purchase a 30-day visa on arrival in Indonesia for US$35.
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