Thanks to the combination of the natural Southeast Asian landscapes and the abundance of traditional culture in Bali, the island has attained the position as the first place foreigners would think of about Indonesia. As a result, foreigners need to apply for a Bali visa so that their visit to the island will be convenient, regardless of their purposes and businesses.
About the Visa
While obtaining a visa such as the Bali Visa on Arrival (VOA), for example, in 2020 was made impossible due to the sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the same year, the scheme is now resumed after the pandemic has subsided. With the border restrictions lifted, visa issuance is now back in full force as Indonesia seeks to rejuvenate its suffering tourism industry in Bali.
While discussing the Bali visa, sometimes it’s easy for foreigners to mistake a visa for Indonesia’s KITAS (temporary stay permit) or KITAP (permanent stay permit). Although they seem similar, they are different!
As we know, visas are meant for foreign entry attempts to Bali. On the contrary, KITAS or KITAP can only be obtained once the foreign national is in Bali already and wishes to stay there for more than 6 months or so.
Rules and Regulations
If anything, Indonesia has one of the most lenient visa policies in the region. However, things have changed after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Initially, you can stay in Bali for tourism purposes without a visa for 30 days, for example. Other agendas, such as family visits, social visits, governmental duty, seminars/conferences, transit, and the like, do not require a visa at all.
Now, it’s a different case if you’re going to stay on the island for 30 days at maximum, regardless of the purpose.
After 2022, all foreign nationals are required to have a visa once they make their entry to Indonesia, especially Bali. But don’t worry, because you can apply for one once you’ve arrived!
Known as Bali Visa on Arrival (VOA), now this is the type of visa that you must obtain when visiting Bali. This visa originally existed as well before the pandemic as an option for foreigners to extend their visit.
There are other visas such as Single Entry Visas, Temporary Stay Visa for Work, Multiple Entry Visa, Second-Home Visa, Two-Year Temporary Stay Visa for Foreign Investors, and One-Year Temporary Stay Visa for Foreign Investors.
All of them are designed for specific purposes not covered by Indonesia’s VOA policy.
How to Get the Visa
Because obtaining a specific type of visa can have different requirements compared to other types, we will cover the way to obtain a VOA, arguably one of the most popular Indonesian visas after the pandemic.
To obtain a VOA, you need to prepare the following:
- A valid passport for 6 months after the entry date to Bali
- Return or onward ticket
Once they’re prepared, the following are the steps to apply for a VOA:
- Open this link to fill out the prepared application form
- Continue to the payment phase once all the data is correct
- Choose the payment method (debit/credit) by using Visa, MasterCard, or JCB
- Fill out the details on the payment page and verify the payment
After the payment is confirmed, an e-VOA will be sent to your email. Next, do the following:
- Download or print the e-VOA before your departure
- Visit the e-VOA booth after arriving in Bali
- Show the e-VOA to the Officer to obtain a VOA sticker attachment in your passport
Other visa types may have different procedures compared to VOA, so be sure to do proper research to obtain a visa that matches your visit purpose in Bali. Luckily, Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration provides complete information about obtaining a visa from each type, as seen here.
On the website, you can read the requirements and procedures for each visa since you may not need a VOA if your time of stay and agenda isn’t exactly covered in this type of visa.
Conclusion
So, which type of Bali visa would you like to get in the future if you visit the island? Be sure to get the one that you need, and don’t get mistaken when applying for Indonesia visa. Contact IZIN.co.id to find more info about obtaining your visa!
