Indonesia Visa Guide 2026: VoA, e-VoA, and New ENTRY Rules

(INDONESIA) Indonesia’s entry process in 2026 is faster if you prepare digitally: most short-stay visitors use Visa on Arrival (VoA) or e-VoA online, and everyone must complete the All Indonesia app mandate before arriving at major ports.

These rules affect tourists, family visitors, and short business travelers landing in places like Bali and Jakarta. They matter because missing a digital step can turn a simple arrival into long lines, extra fees, or refusal at the desk.

Choosing the correct permission to enter

Indonesia now runs a split system: a small visa-exempt group, a larger VoA group, and everyone else needing an eVisa before travel.

• Visa-free entry (VEA) is limited to 13 places: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Timor Leste, Thailand, Vietnam, Suriname, Colombia, and Hong Kong SAR. The stay is up to 30 days and can’t be extended.
• If you aren’t on that list, the next question is whether you qualify for Visa on Arrival (VoA). Indonesia keeps VoA eligibility for 97 countries, and immigration updates the list over time. The safest check is Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration at the official immigration information site.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the practical shift for 2026 is that travelers increasingly treat VoA as a digital product first, because e-VoA online reduces time at the airport.

VoA versus e-VoA online: what you’re buying

Visa on Arrival (VoA) is designed for short visits. It gives 30 days and you can extend it once for another 30 days for a total of 60 days.

• The fee is 500,000 IDR (plus service fees). You’ll pay the same 500,000 IDR again if you extend.
• VoA works at major airports, seaports, and selected land borders, including Bali’s Ngurah Rai and Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta.

Plan to carry:
– Passport valid at least 6 months from arrival, with 2 blank pages
– Return or onward ticket
– Accommodation proof
– A passport photo for online applications

VoA and e-VoA are for tourism and similar visits. They don’t allow work, and immigration enforcement includes deportation for misuse.

How to apply for e-VoA online (the queue-skip option)

If you qualify for VoA, applying online usually makes arrival smoother. Indonesia asks you to submit the application at least 48 hours before arrival.

Use the government portal at Indonesia’s official eVisa and e-VoA portal and follow these steps:

1. Create an account and select e-VoA.
2. Upload your passport biodata page and photo.
3. Add your travel and stay details.
4. Pay online and wait for the approval email.
5. Save the email or QR proof for immigration checks.

Many travelers print the approval and also keep a phone copy. At the airport, you still clear immigration, but you avoid the purchase counter and most payment delays.

If you buy VoA at the airport

Airport VoA remains common, especially for last-minute trips. The process is simple, but lines surge at peak arrival banks.

Expect a sequence like this:
– Join the VoA payment line and pay 500,000 IDR
– Receive the VoA sticker or electronic confirmation
– Move to immigration inspection
– Collect bags and pass customs checks

Bring a card that works internationally, and keep a backup payment method. Some travelers still prefer cash, but electronic payments are widely used.

The All Indonesia app mandate: the new gatekeeper step

Since September 1, 2025, Indonesia requires all travelers—foreign and Indonesian—to complete the All Indonesia app mandate for entry at major ports. It replaces older health and customs processes and merges immigration, health, customs, and quarantine declarations into one flow.

• Travelers can complete it up to 3 days before arrival and show a QR code at checkpoints.
• The app supports English, Bahasa Indonesia, and Chinese.
• It is used at major gateways such as Bali, Jakarta, Surabaya, and Batam.

Treat this as part of your boarding-ready checklist, not an airport task. Completing it ahead of time reduces the chance you get stuck trying to find Wi‑Fi while a line builds behind you.

Bali’s tourism levy: an extra payment

Bali has its own entry charge on top of your visa. Since February 14, 2024, Bali requires a 150,000 IDR tourism levy for many visitors arriving to the island. Transit passengers are exempt.

• Pay online before arrival via Bali’s official Love Bali levy payment portal.
• You’ll receive a QR voucher. Checks are described as rare, but airports and local officers can ask for proof, so keep it handy.

What happens at the airport in 2026, including autogates

When you arrive, authorities expect you to present your passport, visa status, and digital declarations quickly. Prepared travelers report total arrival times near 30 minutes, while unprepared arrivals can sit in lines much longer.

Indonesia also promotes faster clearance through autogates. In 2026, travelers are encouraged to pre-register for Bali autogates on their first visit through the same online ecosystem used for visas. The goal is short, automated passport scans that cut down manual desk checks.

A practical arrival set for Bali or Jakarta:
– Passport meeting the 6-month and 2 blank pages rule
– e-VoA online approval or airport Visa on Arrival (VoA) purchase plan
– All Indonesia QR under the All Indonesia app mandate
– Bali levy QR if Bali is your entry point
– Copies of your passport stored offline

Extending a VoA stay and avoiding overstay trouble

If you want the full 60 days, apply for the extension about 1 week before your first 30 days end. Extensions are handled at local immigration offices and cost 500,000 IDR.

Overstays are expensive and can escalate fast. Indonesia charges 1,000,000 IDR per day in fines, and enforcement can include detention or bans. U.S. travelers, including United States 🇺🇸 citizens, have faced overstay enforcement, so don’t treat the fine as a routine fee.

Longer stays: C1 visit visas, KITAS, and remote work limits

If you need more than 60 days, plan ahead with an eVisa rather than trying repeated short stays.

• The C1 Visit Visa (211A) starts with up to 60 days and can be extended twice by 60 days each, reaching up to 180 days total. Applications run through the same portal and are described as taking 5–10 working days.
• For work, family, retirement, or longer remote stays, Indonesia uses KITAS (Limited Stay Permit) structures, typically 6–12 months and renewable.

Important limits:
– Indonesia’s remote worker approach still bans local employment; income must come from abroad.
– Authorities treat paid local work as a violation.