INDONESIA · BALI TRAVEL GUIDE
Bali Visa & Entry Requirements: Choose the Right Indonesia Route
There is no separate Bali immigration system: entering Bali means entering Indonesia. The correct route depends on your nationality, travel document, purpose and intended length of stay. Begin with those four facts before buying a visa service. A friend travelling on a different passport may have a different requirement even when you are taking the same flight and staying in the same hotel.
Make four checks before applying
First, use the passport you will actually travel on when checking eligibility. Second, describe the real purpose of the trip, including any work, paid activity, volunteering or commercial content creation. Third, count the intended stay from arrival using the immigration rules, rather than treating a visa validity date as a stay allowance. Fourth, check the document requirements for your own route and passport type.
For the B1 visa-on-arrival route, official immigration information specifies a national passport valid for at least six months and an onward or return ticket. Non-standard travel documents, emergency passports and unusual circumstances need individual checking; do not assume an ordinary-passport summary applies. Make sure names, dates and document numbers on an electronic application match the passport exactly.
Compare the main tourist routes
On smaller screens, swipe or scroll horizontally to read the full table.
| Route | Basic stay framework | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Visa exemption, where available | Depends on the traveller and applicable exemption | Eligible nationality, permitted purpose, entry point and extension restrictions |
| B1 VOA / e-VOA | Up to 30 days initially; one possible extension to a total of 60 days | Nationality eligibility, passport, onward ticket and IDR 500,000 government fee |
| C1 tourist single-entry visa | Up to 60 days initially, with possible extensions within the route's conditions | Apply before arrival; current document, funding and any sponsor conditions |
| Another visa or residence route | Depends on the permission granted | Work, longer residence and other activities need the appropriate purpose-specific route |
This table does not grant eligibility or promise an extension. Read the conditions attached to the actual permission you receive. A route described as single entry is not a reusable pass for multiple trips, and a visa application still awaiting approval is not the same as an issued visa. The immigration officer makes the entry decision.
Understand VOA and e-VOA
The B1 visa-on-arrival route is available to designated nationalities. The published government fee is IDR 500,000, with an initial stay of up to 30 days counted from arrival. A possible one-time extension can take the total to 60 days. Electronic application before travel and obtaining a visa on arrival are different ways of handling the eligible route, but both have conditions. Official B1 information.
Use the official Indonesian e-Visa service and allow enough time to resolve a payment or document problem. Check the total shown by the service rather than assuming a government fee includes every card or processing charge. If using an agent, understand what the agent is charging and retain access to the visa record.
Keep the issued confirmation available offline and review it before departure. If you discover a mismatch, contact the official service or appropriate Indonesian representation before travelling. Do not assume an airport employee can correct every error during a tight connection.
Consider C1 when the ordinary short stay does not fit
C1 is a tourist single-entry route with an initial stay of up to 60 days. Official current information lists a government fee of IDR 1,000,000 and potential extensions within the route's rules. It requires advance application and supporting documents, so it should be investigated while planning, not when your existing stay is about to expire. Official visa-category information.
Some official explanatory pages retain different wording about sponsor requirements. Follow the current portal requirements for your nationality and travel document, and seek clarification if the material presented to you conflicts. Avoid buying a service on a blanket promise that every traveller either needs, or never needs, a sponsor.
A longer tourist permission does not automatically allow employment or other commercial activity. If you plan a multiweek stay with work commitments, read Longer Stays & Costs and identify the correct permission before making a long rental commitment.
Keep the declaration and levy separate
The free All Indonesia arrival declaration integrates immigration, customs, health and quarantine reporting. It is completed within the three days before arrival. It does not replace a visa. Equally, an issued visa does not remove the declaration task.
The Bali tourist levy is a separate provincial requirement for foreign tourists unless an applicable exemption is confirmed. Its payment record is distinct from the arrival declaration's confirmation. Keep the different documents clearly labelled so you can show the one requested without searching through unrelated receipts.
Plan extensions around office attendance
Do not rely on descriptions of an entirely remote extension. Immigration announced that from 29 May 2025, foreign nationals extending their stay must attend an immigration office for photographs and an interview after the online filing stage. The rule also applies to VOA holders. Official extension-attendance announcement.
Check the office responsible for your accommodation and its current procedure while you still have time. Allow for holidays, appointments, document corrections and travel to the office. A booked holiday, a pending rental payment or an agent's assurance does not by itself extend your permitted stay.
Keep the receipt and record of any application and follow official instructions about its status. If your circumstances change, contact immigration promptly rather than waiting until departure. Do not plan around an overstay fee as though it were an optional extra night charge.
Prepare a clear entry folder
Save the passport and visa details, onward journey, first accommodation address and the separate arrival/levy confirmations securely. Have the accommodation's contact available if an address needs clarification. Carry access to funds through more than one method, and protect original documents against loss or water damage.
If Bali follows an international arrival elsewhere in Indonesia, enter the real first international entry details in the declaration and check the conditions of the domestic onward connection. A domestic flight to DPS does not turn a previous Indonesian entry into a new international visa entry.
Travelling with children needs the same attention to individual documents. Check the requirements for each passport holder and any additional parental or consent documents relevant to your circumstances. Do not assume one adult's application or payment automatically covers every member of a group.
Review again before departure
Recheck official requirements close to departure, especially if you booked many months earlier or changed your purpose, passport or itinerary. Requirements can change, and an older blog may describe a discontinued form or procedure. Use official immigration channels and the relevant Indonesian embassy or consulate for an individual case.
Once permission and paperwork are settled, move to the practical arrival plan: Airports & Transfers explains meeting your transport, while Travel Essentials covers connectivity and documents. Keeping those tasks distinct makes it easier to notice what is still missing.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a separate visa just for Bali?
No. Bali is part of Indonesia, so use the Indonesian immigration route appropriate to your nationality, travel document, purpose and intended stay.
Does an All Indonesia QR code mean my visa is approved?
No. The arrival declaration and visa are separate tasks. Keep the issued visa, declaration confirmation and any applicable Bali levy record separately.
Can I extend an e-VOA without visiting immigration?
Do not assume the extension is wholly online. Official rules effective from 29 May 2025 require photographs and an interview at an immigration office following online filing, including for VOA holders.
Can I use a 60-day visa to work in Bali?
A longer permitted tourist stay is not blanket work permission. Identify the route that matches your actual paid, business, volunteering or content-creation activities.
Do all C1 applications need a sponsor?
Official explanatory pages contain differing wording. Follow the current e-Visa requirements for your nationality and travel document, and ask immigration for clarification if the information conflicts.
