Here you can find information about entering Indonesia, visa, visa on arrival and visa-free entry. In addition, everything you need to know about duration, costs and regulations.
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Indonesia trip planned? Then you should take care of a few organizational things during the planning process. In addition to travel health insurance, health precautions (vaccinations, travel aportheke) and a good travel credit card is the topic Visa and entry particularly important.
Because of the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19), many countries have changed their entry requirements or banned entry completely. Here you will find a continuously updated overview about Coronavirus in Southeast Asia and Indonesia.
The good news first: Unlike some other countries in Southeast Asia, the regulations for Indonesia are not particularly complicated, no matter if you want to travel individually as a backpacker or book a private Indonesia round trip.
As soon as all requirements are fulfilled, you can start your trip to the most beautiful destinations in Indonesia.
Indonesia visa – all options
Note: The entry regulations for Indonesia have been changed again and again in recent years. The status of the information in this article is as of January 2020. All information is checked regularly. Nevertheless, the information is without guarantee. Legally binding information can only be obtained directly from the embassies. If you notice any changes, please let us know. You help us and other travelers.
All tips for your trip to Indonesia
Indonesia visa application: which visas are available?
The following visa types are available for tourists:
- Free Entry Visa
- Visa on Arrival (VoA)
- Visit Visa
- Social Visa
Journalists and reporters also have their own visas.
Indonesia: Entry without a visa (Visa Free Entry)
You do not necessarily need to apply for a visa to travel to Indonesia. If you are satisfied with a 30-day stay without the option of an extension, you can get a Free Entry Visa, which is like a 30-day residence permit.
For a Free Entry Visa you need a passport valid for at least 6 months with at least two free pages and a return ticket.
Indonesia: Visa on Arrival
If you want to stay longer than 30 days, you can get a visa on arrival for 35 US dollars. This can be obtained at most Indonesian airports by paying the fee at the "VoA Payments" counter and handing in the corresponding receipt at the immigration counter. The Visa on Arrival is affixed directly to your passport and entitles you to a 30-day stay with the option of a single 30-day extension.
For the Visa on Arrival you need a passport with at least 6 months validity and at least two free pages and a return ticket. The latter is often asked for in reality.
Indonesia: Visit Visa
If it is clear to you that 30 days in Indonesia is not enough, you can apply for a Visit Visa at the Indonesian Embassy or Consulate before your trip. The Visit Visa entitles you to a 60-day stay, and can be extended up to five times locally – this makes a possible total stay of 6 months. For the application at the embassy you need:
- your passport valid for at least 6 months
- a copy of the first page of your passport with your personal data
- at least four free pages in your passport (depending on how often you expect to have to renew, maybe more)
- 2 colored biometric passport photos
- a copy of your return ticket
- the fee or. the receipt for the transfer of the fee
- the completed visa application form
- a proof of your income (e.g. a letter from your employer).B. a copy of your bank statement or proof of salary)
- if necessary. A stamped, self-addressed envelope when applying by mail
The fee for a Visit Visa is 50 Euro. An overview of all requirements for the Visit Visa can be found on the page of the Indonesian Embassy:
Indonesia: Social Visa
The Social Visa is a sub-type of the Visit Visa and is not relevant for most travelers. The term is still so present, because some time ago there were individual visa categories such as Tourist Visa and also the Social Visa – today they are all combined under the Visit Visa. For the Social Visa the same conditions apply regarding validity and extension. Only for internships or a semester abroad a Social Visa is relevant, because for this you need a so-called sponsor. This can be done by an Indonesian citizen from z.B. be a student of the university you want to visit.
Important information about your passport
It is important to note that your passport must be valid for six months at the time of travel. The passport must have at least two free pages.
With temporary passport to Indonesia
It is very important to know that a temporary passport is only accepted in connection with a visa for Indonesia. It is not possible to get a Free Entry Visa or a Visa on Arrival with a temporary passport!
You have to apply for a visa beforehand if you only have a temporary passport. Since the application for a visa usually takes much longer than the application for a new passport with express service (processing time 2-5 working days), this procedure is probably rather nonsensical in practice.
Indonesia visa for children
The child passport for children under 12 years old is accepted by the Indonesian authorities.
In the case of visa applications, a separate application must be submitted for children.
Your packing list for Indonesia
Based on years of experience, we have created a packing list for Indonesia that takes all eventualities into account. There is also an interactive PDF available for download as a checklist. You can also find the best tools (apps, software&) for your visa application here Internet pages) and selected gift ideas for travelers.
Things to know about the visa
What are the costs for the Indonesia visa??
The Free Entry Visa is free of charge. There is a US$35 fee for the Visa on Arrival, which can be paid locally in other currencies. For Visit Visa and Social Visa you have to pay a fee of 50 Dollars to the responsible consulate during the application process.
Indonesia visa: duration of processing
The duration of the application for a visa or social visa at the Indonesian representations can take 2 to 4 weeks, there is no exact information or guarantees about it. A visa on arrival takes only a few minutes of your time at the Indonesian airport.
How to extend my visa for Indonesia?
There is no extension for the Free Entry Visa, the Visa on Arrival can be extended once for 30 days. Keep in mind: 30 days are not always necessarily one month! After expiration of the visa or. the residence permit you have to leave Indonesia.
If you are in possession of a Visit Visa or Social Visa, you can stay in Indonesia for up to six months. The validity of both visas is initially 60 days, but they can be extended up to four times for 30 days.
For an extension, contact the local immigration authorities (Imigrasi). Here you can find an overview of all locations. You can extend a Visa on Arrival by handing in the application form and your passport at the Immigration Office and by handing in your fingerprint and photos. Afterwards you can pick up your passport with the approved extension there again. The whole procedure can take up to two weeks and involves at least two trips to the immigration office, so make sure you get an extension in time.
Alternatively, you can hire a local visa agent to do this for you, in which case you will only need to appear in person at the immigration office to leave your fingerprint.
To extend your Visit Visa after 60 days, you usually need a local person to act as your sponsor. This person fills out an additional form for you or goes directly for you to the immigration office. If you want to be on the safe side, it is advisable to hire a local visa agency, at the latest in the case of a Visit Visa.
For a social visa the procedure is the same, but the sponsor is available from the beginning and does not have to be searched for. A sponsor usually charges 300 for his effort.refund 000 Indonesian Rupiah (about 18 €).
A visa agency takes for the full extension service about 600.000 – 900.000 Rupiah (max. about 50 €). Visa agencies are plentiful in huge Indonesia, it is best to inquire locally where the nearest agencies are to be found.
Which documents are needed for the Indonesia visa??
In any case you will need
- a passport valid for at least six months at the time of entry, with at least two free pages
- a return or onward ticket
- if necessary still the visa fee.
For a Visit or Social Visa you need:
- a completed visa form, which you can get as a download from the website of the embassy or consulates in Frankfurt and Hamburg.
- two color biometric passport photos (3,5 cm x 4,5 cm)
- a copy of your passport and a copy of your round-trip ticket.
Sometimes they will also ask for your income or your salary. Assets are required to ensure that the authorities can finance your stay. You should have copies of your latest bank statements with you just in case. A social visa, on the other hand, requires you to have a local sponsor who is located in the same place in Indonesia where you are spending your stay.
If you apply for your visa by mail, you should of course enclose a stamped return envelope (at least as registered mail).
Re-entry and Visa Run: These are the rules in Indonesia
Indonesia has not set a limit for the number of entries allowed per year, nor a minimum time between two entries. This means that visa runs are legal and are practiced in reality, but usually with at least one day between two entries. There is no law against leaving every 60 days and picking up a new visa on arrival. It is only important that you do not exceed the allowed length of stay of your visa. Your Indonesian visa expires as soon as you cross the border.
Visa overstayed – what now?
As in most other countries, an overstay is explicitly not recommended. Therefore, pay attention to the duration or. Extending your visa meticulously so that 30 days is not automatically a month! Every day you overstay your approved visa means an illegal stay. For this you have to pay a fine per day, if you stay longer you might be deported and banned from entering the country.
Which visa do I need for a business trip/internship/semester abroad??
A business visa must also be applied for at the embassy or consulate prior to travel. You need to submit a visa application and the standard documents (passport valid for six months, return ticket, visa fee).
You will also need a letter from your employer and an invitation from the Indonesian company, both addressed to the Indonesian Embassy. In this letter, information about the duration and purpose of your stay should be provided.
If you are doing an internship or your semester abroad in Indonesia, you need a Social Visa, i.e. a Visit Visa for "social and cultural purposes". The following documents must be submitted for this purpose:
- Letter of invitation and copy of ID from an Indonesian sponsor. The sponsor should be in the same place as you, so if you do your internship in Java, your sponsor cannot live in Sulawesi.
- Proof of sufficient funds, z.B. on the basis of bank statements or salary slips
- Letter of guarantee about financial liability of one parent
- Certificate of admission from the Indonesian university or. Internship contract with the Indonesian company
- For students: Enrollment certificate of your German university
- A "Surat Rekomendasi. This is a letter of recommendation from the Indonesian Embassy. How to get it, and what you have to submit for it, you can read here.
Lost overview? Visa agencies help!
If you are interested in applying for a Visit Visa or a Residence Permit. Social is too bureaucratic, visa agencies such as Visabox can help you with the application process. The agencies will tell you exactly what documents you need to submit and will not submit the application to the Indonesian authorities until everything is in order. You may not save money, but time and nerves.
Indonesia: Tips for entering the country
Entry by air, land or sea
Whether airport, seaport or overland, you have many options to enter Indonesia. However, not all of the above options are available to you everywhere.
- At which airports/seaports/border stations you can get a Free Entry Visa, you can read here.
- At which airports/seaports/border stations you can get a visa on arrival, you can find here.
Cruise in Indonesia: what to consider
Actually nothing, Indonesia is generally rather uncomplicated in terms of entry. In the context of your cruise, Free Entry Visa, at most a Visa on Arrival, should be completely sufficient. Just make sure that your passport is still valid for six months, then the cruise in Indonesia is no problem at all, because a onward journey is assured.
Entry requirements for Indonesia
There are not many customs regulations worth mentioning. Cash only has to be declared if it is worth more than 100 million Rupiah (equivalent to more than 6000 €), and of course you have to be careful when buying souvenirs, as the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species applies.
On the part of the traveler a certain attention is rather important with the topic medicines / drugs. Indonesia has one of the strictest anti-drug legislations in the world. If you are in need of narcotic or psychotropic medication, please obtain a translation of the prescription and the original packaging from your doctor. If you are unsure, consult the Indonesian embassy before traveling. She can issue you a permit for import, with which you are on the safe side.
At this point it should be superfluous to mention that importation and possession of drugs are strictly prohibited. Even the possession of small amounts of drugs is punishable by imprisonment, the death penalty can also be imposed on foreigners.
Do I need an onward ticket or a return ticket when entering Indonesia??
Definitely yes. It is partly already asked for when you check into the plane to Indonesia. If you cannot prove that you are leaving the country on demand, you will most likely be refused entry. The Indonesian authorities use this procedure to make sure you leave the country again.
The best travel credit card for Indonesia
With the right credit card you can save a lot of money on your travels. Here you can find out which cards you can use to withdraw cash worldwide free of charge as well as to pay in local currency without additional costs. And who is currently the only provider that reimburses you for foreign fees at the ATM, for example in Thailand or Vietnam.
Embassies and consulates
Indonesian embassies and consulates
Germany
The Indonesian Embassy is located in Berlin. There are also consulates general in Frankfurt and Hamburg and honorary consulates in Bremen, Kiel, Munich and Stuttgart.
Telephone: 030/47807 200
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m
Phone: +49 69/247 0980 (telephone consultation hours Monday to Friday 14:30 – 16:30)
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Friday 09:30 a.m. – 12 p.m
Phone: +49 40/5132570
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m
Austria
The Indonesian Embassy is located in Vienna.
There is also an Honorary Consulate in Reifnitz am Worthersee.
Switzerland
The Indonesian Embassy is located in Bern.
Representations in Indonesia
German representations in Indonesia
The German Embassy is located in Jakarta.
There are also honorary consulates in Surabaya (Java), Medan (Sumatra), Denpasar (Bali) and Medan.
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Jakarta (Java)
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
Address: Jalan M. H. Thamrin Nr. 1, Jakarta 10310
Web: Homepage of the Embassy
Phone: +62 21 39 85 50 00 (on-call service for emergencies +62 811 152526)
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 7:15 a.m. – 3 p.m., Friday 7:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m
Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Makassar (Sulawesi)
Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany
Address: Jl. Hertasning Baru Halmin Residence Blok A No 10, Makassar 90222
Telephone: +62 411 86 51 41
Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Medan (Sumatra)
Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany
Address: I. Abdullah Lubis 47 A, 20154 Medan
Phone: +62 61 415 23 23
Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Sanur (Bali)
Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany
Address: Jalan Pantai Karang 17, Batujimbar-Sanur/Bali
Phone: +62 361 28 85 35
Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Surabaya (Java)
Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany
Address: Jl. Dr. Wahidin 27, Surabaya 60264
Telephone: +62 31 563 18 71
The Austrian Embassy is located in Jakarta.
There are also consulates in Bandung, Surabaya and Yogyakarta.
The Swiss Embassy is located in Jakarta.
Apply for Indonesia visa in Singapore or Bangkok
You can apply for your Visit Visa for Indonesia without any problems, if you are already traveling. The application procedure is the same, so of course you have to have your documents ready when you get there. Indonesian embassies of neighboring countries are located here:
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Bangkok
The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Thailand
Address: 600-602 Petchburi Road, Ratchatewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Web: Homepage of the embassy
Phone: +66 2252 3135 40
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 4 p.m
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Singapore
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Singapore
Address: 7 Chatsworth Road, Singapore 249761
Web: Homepage of the embassy
Phone: +65 6737 8020
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 09:00 – 12:30 and 14:30 – 17:00
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuala Lumpur
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Malaysia
Address: 233, Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
Web: Embassy Homepage
Phone: +60 32116 4016
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9 am – 5 pm
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Manila
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Manila, the Republic of the Philippines
Address: 185 Salcedo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City, 1229 Metro Manila
Web: Homepage of the embassy
Phone: +63 892 5062 68
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am – 12pm and 2pm – 5pm
Note: Visa rules change from time to time. Even if I try to keep an eye on everything, the information here is without guarantee. So check official sites before you travel.
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About the author
Since 2006 Stefan travels the countries of Southeast Asia and often spends several months there. In 2013, he founded Fascination Southeast Asia and since then has also written several eBooks and books on the subject (u.a. the insider travel guide "555 tips for Bangkok"). Between his trips he lives and works in Dusseldorf.
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0 comments
Hello. Thanks for the great info. I have a question regarding 2 entries in short succession. Probably in 2018 the rules were changed. I want to go from Flores to East Timor for a few weeks and then back to Bali. Is this possible now or will I get problems? Thank you raphael
Hi
I have a question about the Social Visa
– do I have to show a flight ticktet when I apply for a visa ?
– and how is the proof with the tickets in general: I have neither something on paper (boarding card/ticket) nor do I have an e-ticket . Have a return flight in January and only one booking& payment confirmation or is a screenshot sufficient as a printout? .
Thanks already for the answer&
How long will it take if I apply for my Visit Visa in Singapore first? Can I get this immediately or does it need to be edited for a long time as well?
Greetings silke
I just want to get an updated info (20.02.2020) give how we (Germans and Swiss) obtained the Visit Visa from the road. We applied for it in Kota Kinabalu (Borneo Malaysia). We had the return ticket and the digital bank statement, two passport photos and the passport with us. We could then fill out the application there and she printed out everything we had digitally. We could send it to her via WhatsApp. The consulate has free WLAN. Then we paid the fees, 210 MYR per person. It was said that it was approx. 7 working days. After 2 days she has already written to us that the visa is ready to be picked up and that’s it. We had our 60 days visa in our passport. On the consulate we spent approx. 1 hour filling out everything, but we also had no waiting time which may not always be the case. So it went super fast with us.
Greetings from Borneo
hello good evening, i have permanent residence in germany and have mongolian passport. How is it viseum for Mongolian citizens??