Applying for a visa to arrive in Bali

How Much Does It Cost? Understanding Visa Types for Bali/Indonesia

Before deciding on the best visa for your needs, it’s essential to understand that there are three main types of visas in Bali/Indonesia. Choosing the right one depends on two key factors:

• Your Budget: Some people opt for the cheapest visas due to budget constraints, but this can be a mistake for those planning long-term stays.

• Your Purpose of Stay: Not everyone comes to Bali for just 2-3 weeks. Many wish to settle, assimilate, and even conduct business here.

Let’s start with the most basic type of visa:

VISA ON ARRIVAL (VOA)

The Visa on Arrival (VOA) is issued immediately when you land in Bali, right at the border control.

Current Situation

Due to the current influx of budget travelers from Russia and Ukraine, the Indonesian government is considering restricting this visa type for citizens of these two countries. This is not only because some travelers arrive due to conflicts but also due to their behavior on the island. Many of these tourists are trying to stay long-term and engage in illegal business activities without the necessary permits.

Although not everyone behaves this way, a significant number do. The number of deportations of VOA holders is currently at an all-time high. Common illegal activities include::

Most of these activities are prohibited on the island, not just for VOA holders but in general, which is why the local authorities are cracking down. If you plan to pursue similar activities, VOA is not the right choice.

This visa is exclusively for leisure and enjoying the local beauty.

Electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VOA)

A convenient addition to the regular VOA is the e-VOA, which can be obtained online in advance through the Indonesian immigration website here https://molina.imigrasi.go.id.

It follows the same rules as the regular VOA but can be arranged ahead of time. It’s recommended to apply 2-3 weeks before your intended arrival date in Indonesia.

Cost: USD 35

• Validity: 30 days

• Extension: Can be extended once for an additional 30 days without leaving the country

• Cost of Extension: Approximately 1,000,000 IDR (around USD 65) through a local visa agency.

• Total Duration: Up to2 months (30 days + 30 days)

TOURIST VISA EVISA B211

The most popular visa because it allows you not to leave Indonesia at all. Used by most tourists/expats for long-term residence in Indonesia.

This visa still does not allow you to engage in entrepreneurial activity. It does not provide any advantages for legal employment in Indonesia. Its main advantage is the POSSIBILITY NOT TO LEAVE Indonesia for a long time. Some of my friends live on it for years, simply renewing and issuing a new one while inside the country.

And this, in addition to saving time, significantly SAVES THE BUDGET. Any so-called visa run (a short flight out of the country and back in to activate the visa) requires at least $200 per person, even for a flight to neighboring Malaysia. If you take a VOA for $35 upon entry and extend it for $65 + $200 tickets for a visa run - the total amount will already be $300 for 2 months of residence. I have not yet included the cost of food on the flight, possibly a hotel for the night, the constant risk that the flight will be cancelled and the money for the ticket will not be returned. And this is a common occurrence in Indonesia.

Therefore, if you are planning to just visit the island for a month or two - VOA will be quite enough. But if you are moving, planning to stay longer and more than two months - save your precious time and money.