Bali Visa Requirements

General

All visitors must possess a passport valid for at least six months after their arrival date in Indonesia. Immigration officials reserve the right to deny entry to any visitor who, in their opinion, is not properly dressed or groomed (long hair is okay), lacks the proper funds, or "may endanger the country's security, peace, and stability or the public health and morals." These unfortunate undesirables will receive a transit visa upon arrival that allows them to hang out at the airport until the first available flight out.

Tourist Visa

60 days (previously) valid, non-extendable. You have to leave the country and return to get another stamp in your passport. A round-trip flight from Jakarta to Singapore costs around US$140, a round trip from Denpasar to Singapore about US$230. Some expatriates have experienced that after a number of these stamps are placed in one's passport, the officials at the airport may hassle and accuse the frequent tourist of working. Maintaining honestly that one is a a tourist and remaining patient is recommended.

Presidential Decision No. 18 of 2003 dated 31 March 2003 states that for most countries the Tourist visa (short stay permit) now is valid only for 30 days, and now requires the payment of a fee (US$25.) This decree has been implemented since February 1st, 2004 and affects visitors from 21 countries. You may be able to contact your local Indonesian Embassy and arrange the visa prior to leaving; otherwise the fee will be payable at immigration upon your arrival. [more details]

Social Visa

Valid for visits that are social, cultural, religious, or medical in nature. This includes visiting family or relatives and social organisations, and exchange visits between academic, art, or sports institutions. 60 days valid, monthly extendable to a total of 6 months. One requires an Indonesian 'sponsor' and letter from this sponsor. One can only obtain such a visa outside of Indonesia. In Singapore there are agents who can arrange the 'Sosial Budaya' within a day. Usually it takes 3 days to get one.

Business Visa

Multiple entry. 60 days valid, monthly extendable to a total of 12 months. This visa is valid for the purposes of doing business activities in Indonesia, which do not involve taking up employment or acquiring money for payments of services. It is valid for conducting a temporary business assignment, i.e. inspecting company subsidiaries and carrying out emergency or urgent works. It is also valid for attending international conferences and seminars and carrying out journalistic visits.

Residency or Work Visa

Sponsorship required by an Indonesian company or recognized foreign company. Expensive, $1200 per year tax pre-paid; due at sign-up. Lots of redundant reporting to various offices required. Residents (KITAS holders) are also need to pay Rp 1.000.000 tax every time they leave the country by air. (Rp 500.000 by sea).

Retirement Visa

If you are 55 years or older you can apply for this visa. There is lots of paperwork, and requires statements of income, health, insurance, a minimum amount of spending on accomodation and the payment of taxes and other fees. You cannot work in Indonesia with this visa. After 5 extensions (each year) one can apply for an unlimited stay visa (KITAP) and a year after that for citizenship.

Overstaying your Visa Period

Means usually that you have to pay, around US$20 a day. If there are legitimate reasons for your overstay, like illness or transportation problems there might be exemptions. If possible report your overstay at the immigration office.