Bali Visa Requirements

Bali is part of Indonesia, an independent republic with its own immigration system. Unlike a US territory, Indonesia operates a Visa on Arrival (VOA) programme for citizens of 86 countries — meaning you pay a fee at the airport on arrival rather than obtaining a visa in advance.

The Visa on Arrival costs $35 USD (or the equivalent in major currencies) and grants a 30-day stay from the date of entry. Payment is accepted in cash (USD preferred) or by credit card at designated VOA counters at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar.

Countries eligible for the Bali VOA include Japan, South Korea, China, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and most other EU nations. Citizens of eligible countries do not need to apply in advance — simply join the VOA queue on arrival.

On arrival at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), follow the signs to the VOA counters before reaching the main immigration hall. Join the VOA queue, pay the $35 USD fee (cash or card), and receive your VOA stamp. The process typically takes 15–40 minutes depending on the queue.

To speed up the process, Indonesia offers an e-VOA (electronic Visa on Arrival) that allows you to pay online before departure at molina.imigrasi.go.id. With an e-VOA, you skip the cash queue and proceed directly to the e-VOA immigration counter. The cost is the same ($35 USD) plus a small processing fee.

After receiving your VOA stamp, proceed to the main immigration counter. Have your passport, a completed arrival/departure card (distributed on the flight or available at the airport), and proof of onward travel (a return or connecting flight booking) ready. Indonesian immigration may ask for proof of sufficient funds — having $1,000 USD per person as a rough benchmark is standard.

The arrival card asks for your address in Bali — your hotel name and address is sufficient. Keep the departure card portion safe: you must surrender it when leaving Indonesia.

The VOA is extendable once for an additional 30 days, bringing your total stay to 60 days. Extensions are processed at any Indonesian Immigration (Kantor Imigrasi) office. The main office for Bali is the Imigrasi Denpasar office in Renon, Denpasar. Extension requests are typically submitted 7–14 days before the original VOA expires.

The extension fee is $35 USD, payable in Rupiah at the prevailing rate. The process involves submitting your passport, a completed extension form, a copy of your passport biodata page and VOA stamp, and sometimes a reference letter from your accommodation. Processing takes 3–5 business days.

Beyond the 60-day VOA limit, staying longer in Bali requires a different visa class — typically the B211A Social/Cultural Visa (up to 60 days, extendable up to 180 days) or the new Indonesia Digital Nomad Visa (E33G), which allows remote workers to stay for up to 5 years without paying income tax on foreign-sourced income.

You fly into Ngurah Rai International Airport (IATA: DPS) near Kuta, Bali. Direct and one-stop flights operate from Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, and other major hubs throughout Asia-Pacific. The airport is about 15–30 minutes from Seminyak, Kuta, and Jimbaran, and 45–90 minutes from Ubud depending on traffic.

Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your intended departure date — this is a requirement for entry and is strictly checked by airlines at check-in.

Unlike some destinations, Indonesia does not have a mandatory travel insurance requirement for VOA entry. However, purchasing comprehensive travel insurance before arrival is strongly recommended — Bali's private hospitals are good but expensive for uninsured visitors.

Carrying a small amount of USD cash for the VOA fee is helpful even if you plan to pay by card — card readers at the VOA counter occasionally experience connectivity issues. Having $40 USD in cash as a backup avoids delays.