Indonesia's visa system confuses a lot of travelers because the rules have changed several times in the past few years and the official information can be unclear. Here is a clear, practical breakdown of how it works in 2025 — including exactly what to expect at the airport and what to do if something goes wrong.
Note: visa rules change. Verify the current rules on the official Indonesia immigration website (imigrasi.go.id) before you travel. What's written here is accurate as of mid-2025.
Do you need a visa to visit Indonesia
It depends on your nationality.
Citizens of most ASEAN countries (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, and others) enter visa-free for 30 to 90 days depending on their country.
Citizens of most other countries — including the US, UK, Australia, Germany, France, Netherlands, Canada, Japan, South Korea, India, China, and most of Europe — can get a Visa on Arrival (VoA) at major Indonesian international airports and seaports.
A small number of nationalities are not eligible for VoA and need to obtain a visa in advance at an Indonesian embassy. Check the official list if your country is not among the ones mentioned above.
Visa on Arrival: the practical details
VoA is available at Ngurah Rai Airport (Bali), Soekarno-Hatta Airport (Jakarta), Juanda Airport (Surabaya), and several other entry points. It cannot be obtained at land borders or smaller regional airports.
Cost: IDR 500,000 per person (approximately USD 30-32 at current rates). Payment is accepted in Indonesian Rupiah only at most counters — a currency exchange is available before the VoA queue, or you can pay by credit card at the electronic payment machines if available.
Duration: 30 days from entry. You can extend it once for another 30 days, giving you a maximum of 60 days on a VoA-based stay.
Process at the airport: Join the VoA queue (marked separately from the immigration queue), pay the fee, receive a stamp in your passport, then join the regular immigration queue. At a busy time in Bali, the total process takes 30-60 minutes. Bring cash in case card machines are down.
The eVisa option
Indonesia's eVisa (Visa on Arrival in electronic form) allows you to pay and fill out the forms before you fly. Go to molina.imigrasi.go.id to apply. Same fee, same 30-day duration with one possible extension. The advantage: you can skip part of the airport queue with pre-approval. Apply at least 3 days before travel to allow processing time. Not all nationalities have access to the eVisa — check the list on the official site.
Social and business visit visa
If you're staying longer than 60 days, working remotely, or entering on a business trip, the relevant visa is the B211A Social/Cultural Visit Visa. This is applied for at an Indonesian embassy before travel, allows 60 days on arrival, and can be extended multiple times up to 180 days total. It's the most common visa for long-stay visitors and digital nomads.
What not to do on a tourist visa
You cannot legally work for a local employer on a tourist visa or VoA. Remote work for a foreign employer is a legal gray area in Indonesia — technically not permitted but rarely enforced. Paid content creation, running business meetings on behalf of an Indonesian company, or conducting commercial transactions are also problematic. If you're traveling for business purposes, the business visa is the right instrument.
Key entry requirements beyond the visa
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned departure date. No exceptions — airlines will deny boarding if your passport expires within 6 months.
You'll be asked to show a return or onward ticket at immigration. Some officers are strict about this; others don't ask. Don't rely on the "other officers" version — have your return ticket or onward travel booking ready.
Proof of accommodation for the first night is occasionally requested but rarely enforced.
The Customs Declaration
Indonesia requires all visitors to fill out an electronic customs declaration on the Silacak or e-CD system. You can fill this out on your phone before landing. The declaration asks about items you're bringing in — electronics, currency above USD 10,000, food items, medications. Most travelers have nothing to declare, but fill it out anyway. You'll scan a QR code at customs.
If you're visiting for a Florish tour and have questions about entry logistics, contact our team — we work with international guests regularly and can answer specific questions about your situation.
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