If you are thinking of visiting Indonesia as a tourist, you may not even have to apply for an Indonesia Tourist Visa at all. That’s because the Indonesia visa policy is very lenient, and the majority of people are exempt from tourist visa requirements.
Who Needs an Indonesia Tourist Visa?
You only have to apply for an Indonesia tourist visa if you are from one of the following countries:
| Afghanistan | Cameroon | Central African Republic |
| Colombia | Congo | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Djibouti | Equatorial Guinea | Eritrea |
| Ethiopia | Guinea | Guinea-Bissau |
| Iran | Iraq | Israel |
| Kosovo | Liberia | Micronesia |
| Montenegro | Niger | Nigeria |
| North Korea | Sierra Leone | Somalia |
| South Sudan | Sudan | Syria |
| Yemen |
If you are not from a country listed above, then you can enter Indonesia for up to 30 days without a visa. You need your passport and proof of a return flight ticket. If you enter under the visa exemption, you are not allowed to extend your stay. You must depart within 30 days or face a fine on your way out (approximately USD 70 for each day you have overstayed).
How to Apply for an Indonesia Tourist Visa?
You can apply for an Indonesia Tourist Visa in one of the following ways:
- On arrival at the airport in Indonesia (only for citizens of certain countries)
- At an Embassy or Consulate of Indonesia near you.
What is the Indonesia Visa on Arrival?
The Indonesia Visa on Arrival is a type of tourist visa. It will only allow the holder to stay in Indonesia for up to 30 days. Everyone who is eligible for the Indonesian VOA is also allowed to enter the country without a visa at all for a maximum of 30 days.
So, why should you bother to apply for a Visa on Arrival for Indonesia?
Well, if you enter Indonesia without a visa (i.e. under the visa waiver program), you cannot extend your stay under any circumstances. You must leave before the 30 days are up.
However, if you apply for a Visa on Arrival, then you can apply for an extension of your visa and stay longer (for a fee).
Applying for Indonesia Tourist Visa at an Embassy/Consulate
If you are not eligible for an Indonesia Visa on Arrival, you have to apply for an Indonesia Tourist Visa at an Embassy or Consulate of Indonesia abroad. The process for an Indonesian Tourist Visa application is:
- Find the Indonesian Embassy or Consulate responsible for your jurisdiction. You can find the Diplomatic Missions of Indonesia here.
- Contact them or visit their website to learn about the visa application requirements.
- Make an appointment, if it’s required.
- Collect the required documents for the visa application.
- Pay the Indonesia visa fee. Some Embassies/Consulates require you to pay through a bank, while others accept cash. The visa fees are non-refundable. See “Indonesia Tourist Visa Fees” below.
- Submit the required documents at the Indonesian Embassy or Consulate. You can submit them in person or by mail if the specific Embassy/Consulate allows this option.
- Wait for the Embassy/Consulate to process your Indonesia Tourist Visa application.
- Once they have processed the visa application, you should go back to pick up your passport and documents. If you applied by mail, the Embassy/Consulate will mail them to you. If the decision was positive, you will receive your Indonesian visa.
Indonesia Tourist Visa Processing Time
Normally, it will take about 3 – 5 working days for the Embassy/Consulate to process your Tourist Visa application. However, the exact processing time can differ depending on which Embassy/Consulate you are applying in.
If you are from the following countries, the Indonesia visa processing time will be longer since the Embassy/Consulate has to request permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia in Jakarta:
- Afghanistan
- Cameroon
- Guinea
- Israel
- Liberia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- Pakistan
- Somalia
- Syria
Indonesia Tourist Visa Fees
The Indonesia Tourist Visa fees are:
- For a Single-entry Tourist Visa: USD 50
- For a Multiple-entry Tourist/Visit/Business Visa: USD 100
- For an Indonesia Visa on Arrival: USD 35
Note: The visa fees are subject to change, based on new immigration rules as well as the country in which you apply and the local currency.
How to Pay the Indonesia Tourist Visa fee?
The payment method for an Indonesia visa fee depends on the Embassy or Consulate you are applying in and whether you’re applying by mail or in person. The Indonesian Embassies or Consulates of different countries have instructions about the payment method on their websites.
There is no single acceptable method of visa application.
What Is the Duration of an Indonesia Tourist Visa?
The validity of a Tourist Visa for Indonesia is 30 days and for a single entry. You can extend an Indonesia Tourist Visa for another 30 days before it expires.
Indonesia Visas on Arrival are also valid for 30 days and a single-entry and they are extendable.
If you want to stay longer or you travel to Indonesia often, you have to apply for an Indonesia multiple-entry visa. This type of visa is issued to business travellers, as well as visitors. It is valid for one year, and you can stay in Indonesia for a maximum of 60 days in each entry.
Indonesia Tourist Visa Extension
You can extend both the Indonesia Tourist Visa and Indonesia Visa On Arrival beyond their initial 30 days. You have to apply for a visa extension at the Immigration Office in Indonesia within the 7 days before the visa expires.
The Tourist Visa extension fee is the same as the initial visa fee you paid (USD 35 for Visa on Arrival; USD 50 for Embassy Tourist Visa).
Note: If you are exempt from visa requirements, and you enter Indonesia without a visa, you cannot apply for an extension of stay. You must leave Indonesia before the 30 days are up. If you do not, when you depart, you will have to pay an overstay fee, which is approximately USD 70 per day.
Can I Work with an Indonesia Tourist Visa / Visa on Arrival?
The Indonesia Tourist Visa, as well as the Visa on Arrival, are strictly for leisure, visit, and recreation activities. You cannot take up paid employment with either of them. If you want to work, you will have to apply for an Indonesia Work Visa.
If you want to stay longer than 30 days, such as for a family visit or studying purposes, you have to apply for the respective visa:
- Indonesia Family Visa
- Indonesia Student Visa
- Indonesia Business Visa
Visas that are issued for a longer period of time usually require prior authorization from the Directorate General of Immigration in Indonesia.