bali scraps visa free travel

• Australia News

Aussie tourists will no longer require a visa to visit Bali in 2024 after Indonesian government scraps visa-on-arrival process

Aussies will once again be able to travel to the island of Bali visa free in 2024 after the Indonesian government back flipped on a decision to scrap visa-free travel to the holiday hot spot. 

The Indonesian government has backflipped on a decision to introduce travel visas for Aussie tourists visiting Bali, with the island once again set to become visa-free for visitors in 2024.

The change means travellers will save about $50 each on a processing-on-arrival visa.

Indonesia had earlier rolled out the controversial visa-on-arrival program in June this year, which meant Aussies had to pay for a 30-day visa after touching down in Denpasar.

The country’s tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno confirmed to local media last week that the government was looking at reintroducing visa-free travel for 20 countries in 2024, including Australia and New Zealand.

“The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy proposed 20 countries with the highest number of foreign tourists outside of countries that have visa-free visits,” he told The Bali Sun newspaper. 

Tourists from countries not on the updated list will still have to pay up for the 30-day visa. 

The decision is only the latest move by the Indonesian government to reevaluate international tourism to Bali, which dwarfs the tourism industry in other parts of the Asian nation.

Earlier this year, the tourism ministry created a new campaign targeting Aussies that was designed to push tourists to go “beyond Bali” and visit other Indonesian islands.

The ministry has also successfully enacted a new tourist tax to help preserve the island’s environment and culture from over-tourism. 

The levy of 150,000 Indonesian Rupiah (which equates to about $15 AUD) will need to be paid on arrival by every international tourist beginning 2024, with the fee being charged in local currency to remain unaffected by international exchange rates.

As the go-to destination for holidaymakers, Bali’s natural habitats have increasingly depreciated in recent years owing to transgressive behaviours of tourists themselves.

Governor of Bali Wayan Koster said the revenue from the new tax would be monumental in promoting the island’s recovery and help protect its many “fragile ecological systems”.

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The Indonesian government has confirmed it will not reinstate visa-free travel for Bali-goers amid ongoing instances of poor behaviour by foreigners.

A slew of rude and disrespectful acts from visitors (including some filming a porno on top of a sacred mountain ) has become quite the topic on Indonesian social media where videos of bad tourist behaviour are frequently uploaded.

Previously, Aussies could enter Indonesia visa-free for 30 days, but Indonesians heading to Australia had to pay a $140 application fee for an Australian tourist visa and fill out a 17-page survey with an array of questions. One of which was “Have you ever committed an act of genocide?”

The Indonesian government is only allowing visitors from fellow ASEAN nations to visit visa free, while travellers from 92 countries, including Australia, will have to apply for a $50 visa-on-arrival or get one online.

Indonesia’s immigration director-general Silmy Karim said that the country could consider reinstating visa-free travel on a country-by-country basis, depending on if the country will extend the same right to Indonesian travellers.

“If the visa-free policy is revived, we will have to justify it by reviewing these three criteria; a reciprocal aspect, benefits to Indonesia and security considerations,” Karim said.

Indonesia’s tourism minister said the government learnt from the pandemic that it was not necessary to offer a visa-free system to attract tourists.

“There has been no significant impact on tourism. As of today, we have received 8.5 million foreign visits (this year), even without (visa-free) from these 159 countries,” he said.

“We have not reactivated the visa-free regime. It will be replaced with a better policy.”

The Balinese government recently handed out a list of ‘dos and don’ts’ for incoming tourists. These include showing respect for local religious symbols, dressing modestly and behaving politely.

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Bali set to scrap its visa for Australians, saving travellers money

Planning a getaway for 2024 this hotspot is about to get cheaper amid plans to axe visa requirements for australians..

More than a million Australian travellers have chosen to holiday in Bali in 2023. Source: AAP / Sergi Reboredo

• Indonesia's tourism minister is proposing visa requirement changes which will save Australians money.
• Twenty nations will be newly exempt from the visa requirements under the proposed changes.
• All tourists will still be forced to pay Bali's new tourism tax, effective 14 February.

Badly behaved in Bali: Here are the new rules for Australian tourists on appropriate behaviour

Who will be exempt from Bali's visa requirement?

What about the bali tourist tax.

Why Australians could soon be banned from getting around Bali on a motorbike

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Indonesia issues decree officially instating paid visas for travellers to the country including bali.

Indonesia has officially scrapped visa-free travel for Australians, declaring that Aussie tourists will need to fork out to visit Bali for the foreseeable future.

The country’s Ministry of Law and Human Rights issued an edict dated June 7, stating that visa-free entry had been officially suspended for 159 countries.

­Indonesia suspended visa-free travel for Australians during the COVID pandemic.

Before that, Australia was one of 169 countries that could enter the country visa-free for 30 days.

The recent ministerial decree has made the shift from the old visa rules to new rules official.

Immigration Director-General Silmy Karim said visa-free travel might be reinstated at a later time.

However, Australia would have to scrap the $140 application fee and tourist visa for Indonesians for this to happen.

Currently, Australians can pay Rp500,000 on arrival for a 30-day visa or apply online for an eVisa via Indonesian Immigration. This includes a small processing fee.

The online option has to be completed 48 hours before arrival.

However, Australians have encountered issues applying for eVisas online. Posts on the popular Bali Bogans Facebook page reveal that some have been scammed applying for eVisas using sites that are not legitimate.

More than one million Australians travel to Indonesia each year and Aussies account for more than a quarter of tourists in Bali.

Recently, the island has cracked down on bad behaviour by tourists.

In response, Bali introduced new “how to behave” guidelines for tourists that are issued on arrival.

The card includes a list of dos and don’ts which warn against climbing sacred trees, littering, behaving aggressively and taking indecent photos.

Balinese Governor Wayan Koster said the new measures were launched following a number of incidents among travellers.

“There has been an increase in the number of foreign tourists in Bali who are behaving inappropriately, or taking actions that don’t adhere to their visa,” he said early this June.

“For example, some visitors don’t wear modest, reasonable and proper attire when visiting holy places and tourist attractions in Bali.”

Recently a video of a naked German tourist made headlines after she wandered through a Hindu dance ceremony.

On June 4, Perth man Drew Donal Ireland, 28, was involved in a violent dispute with a local woman over 1,500,000 rupiah.

Australian Bodhi Risby-Jones was released from an Indonesian prison on June 6 after a drunken, naked rampage in the conservative Aceh province.

In 2023 alone more than 130 people have been kicked off the island, at least six of them were Australians.

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The West Australian

• Breaking News
• Western Australia

Indonesia officially scraps visa-free travel during crackdown on naughty Aussies

Indonesia has officially scrapped visa-free travel for Australians, declaring that Aussie tourists will need to fork out to visit Bali for the foreseeable future.

The country’s Ministry of Law and Human Rights issued an edict dated June 7, stating that visa-free entry had been officially suspended for 159 countries.

Indonesia suspended visa-free travel for Australians during the COVID pandemic.

Before that, Australians could enter the country visa-free for 30 days.

The recent ministerial decree has made the shift from the old visa rules to new rules official.

Immigration Director-General Silmy Karim said visa-free travel might be reinstated at a later time.

However, Australia would have to scrap the $140 application fee and tourist visa for Indonesians for this to happen.

Currently, Australians can pay Rp500,000 on arrival for a 30-day visa or apply online for an eVisa via Indonesian Immigration. This includes a small processing fee.

The online option has to be completed 48 hours before arrival.

However, Australians have encountered issues applying for eVisas online. Posts on the popular Bali Bogans Facebook page reveal that some have been scammed applying for eVisas using sites that are not legitimate.

More than one million Australians travel to Indonesia each year and Aussies account for more than a quarter of tourists in Bali.

Recently, the island has cracked down on bad behaviour by tourists.

In response, Bali introduced new “how to behave” guidelines for tourists that are issued on arrival.

The card includes a list of dos and don’ts which warn against climbing sacred trees, littering, behaving aggressively and taking indecent photos.

Balinese Governor Wayan Koster said the new measures were launched following a number of incidents among travellers.

“There has been an increase in the number of foreign tourists in Bali who are behaving inappropriately, or taking actions that don’t adhere to their visa,” he said early this June.

“For example, some visitors don’t wear modest, reasonable and proper attire when visiting holy places and tourist attractions in Bali.”

Recently a video of a naked German tourist made headlines after she wandered through a Hindu dance ceremony.

On June 4, Perth man Drew Donal Ireland, 28, was involved in a violent dispute with a local woman over 1,500,000 rupiah.

Australian Bodhi Risby-Jones was released from an Indonesian prison on June 6 after a drunken, naked rampage in the conservative Aceh province.

In 2023 alone more than 130 people have been kicked off the island, at least six of them were Australians.

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• Travel Updates

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AFTER a year of backflips, the Indonesian Government has exempted Aussies from the $50 visa entry, but not all of us are being treated equally.

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BALI appears set to overtake New Zealand as Australians’ favourite overseas holiday destination after Indonesia finally came good on a promise to remove the $50 visa entry fee.

After more than a year of backflips , Indonesian President Joko Widodo signed the official decree into law adding Australia to a list of 169 countries with “visa exemptions”.

But the implementation is proving a bit haphazard with some travellers reporting free entry at Ngurah Rai Airport and others still being charged the fee.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it had been given no firm date as to when the law change would take effect .

But a DFAT spokeswoman said the decision was welcome.

“Australia is one of 169 countries granted visa-free visits,” said the spokeswoman.

“Australian tourists will be able to take visa-free visits for up to 30-days.”

A statement from the Indonesian Government said implementing procedures were yet to be finalised.

“Once the regulation has been implemented at all immigration entry points, the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney will provide further announcement,” said the statement.

Other countries to win visa exempt status include Ukraine, Bangladesh, Albania, Malawi, Nepal, Paraguay, Samoa, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

Countries like New Zealand, China, the UK, the US and Russia already enjoy visa-free entry to Indonesia.

Co-ordinator of Bali tourism portal Bali.com, Cindy Lugten, said “happy messages” from people arriving on the Indonesian resort isle had been posted on Facebook.

“Early morning arrivals still had to pay for the visa while lucky late afternoon visitors were told to keep their money and enjoy their holiday in Bali,” said Ms Lugten.

“It might take a while before it is completely implemented at the other designated airports but Bali seems to be ready.”

She said tourism operators were very, very pleased with the exemption.

“Almost all of the questions we received at Bali.com were related to visa requirements,” Ms Lugten said.

“Now visitors can concentrate on more fun matters and use the money to support the local businesses.”

Of the 1.1 million Australians who travel to Indonesia each year, close to one million visit Bali.

Previous promises to include Australia in the visa-exemption list were retracted due to political tensions over the executions of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, and then the lack of reciprocal rights for Indonesians travelling down under.

Last December, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Rizal Ramli, again said Australia would be added but hopes faded when President Widodo did not issue a formal decree.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is currently in Bali, to co-chair a conference on people smuggling, trafficking and other related transnational crime.

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Local news:

Hassle free travel to Bali resumes for Australians as visas on arrival back, quarantine scrapped

Bali scraps quarantine requirement for visitors

Aussies are among those who can enjoy hassle free travel to Bali again after its government ditched the quarantine requirement for visitors from a raft of countries.

Indonesia has finally reactivated its visa on arrival program for foreigners visiting Bali from 23 countries, including Australia, the US , New Zealand and Canada .

The holiday island started welcoming back travellers from all countries last month , however, even fully vaccinated arrivals were required to isolate for five days.

Deputy Tourism Minister Angela Tanoesoedibjo on Monday said this rule has been waived.

“In line with President Joko Widodo’s directive, starting March 7 there will be no quarantine for international travellers who are fully vaccinated,” she said.

Visitors from those countries can skip quarantine as long as they are fully vaccinated and can provide confirmation they have booked a minimum three-night stay at a hotel.

Tourists from the list of approved countries will also be allowed to get visas on arrival, which will only set them back around $47.

Under the old rule, travellers needed to apply in advance to enter the country and cough up around $300 for a visa.

Travellers will still need to undergo a PCR test upon arrival and isolate if they test positive.

Visitors also require travel insurance that covers COVID up to $100,000.

More than six million tourists visited Bali in 2019, including 1.23 million Australians.

But tight COVID-19 lockdown and travel restrictions devastated tourism, which is usually worth 54 per cent of its economy.

In the first nine months of 2021, Bali only had 43 foreign arrivals, as hotels, bars, restaurants and beaches sat empty.

The no-quarantine requirement is set to be expanded across the country if COVID-19 case numbers continue to improve.

Indonesia, home to 270 million people, recorded nearly 25,000 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, with 254 deaths.

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Return Of Visa Free Travel To Bali Could Mean Tourists Spend More On Vacation

Posted on Published: January 16, 2024

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Indonesia is weighing up whether to reintroduce visa-free travel for top international tourists.

Visa-free travel was formally scrapped in 2023, though the legislation had been on pause since the outbreak of the pandemic. 

Currently, tourists from 97 countries are eligible for an Indonesian visa on arrival.

This can be applied on arrival at any of the county’s international airports, including Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport and specific seaports. The visa costs IDR 500,000 and is valid for 30 days. 

On this visa, tourists can take part in tourism activities, attend business meetings, and visit friends and family.

While the IDR 500,000 is in alignment with the price of other paid-for visa-on-arrival schemes around the world, the introduction of a paid-for visa for Bali’s top tourists has not gone down well with many Bali lovers. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi (@ditjen_imigrasi)

Before the pandemic tourists from Australia, New Zealand, the US, the UK and many countries in Europe did not need to pay for a visa on arrival.

These tourists, along with tourists from ASEAN nations were elligible for a free 30-day stay.

However, for tourists wishing to stay in Indonesia for more than 30 days, up to 60 days it was possible to pay for the visa on arrival so that the stay could be extended on time for an additional 30 days. 

In one of his last public speeches of 2023 Indonesia’s Minister for Tourism and Creative Economies, Sandiaga Uno, announced that the department was looking into the viability of reintroducing legislation that means the country’s top tourists would no longer have to pay for a visa on arrival for tourism purposes.

The return of visa-free travel to Bali would be a game changer for Bali lovers, especially budget-conscious holidaymakers. 

Minster Uno says that reintroducing visa-free travel for Bali to tourists may, counterintuitively, mean that tourists spend more while on vacation.

According to Minister Uno, if Indonesia grants visa-free status to the country’s top 20 visitor nations, it will generate between USD 20-25 billion (approx IDR 388 trillion) in foreign exchange.

In 2024, leaders in Bali want to attract more high-quality, high-spending, and longer-staying tourists to the island. 

The 20 countries the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economies is proposing the return of visa-free travel for are Australia, China (PRC), India, South Korea, the U.S.A., U.K., France, Germany, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, The Netherlands, Japan, Russia, Taiwan, New Zealand, Italy, Spain and two more countries in the Middle East as yet to be specified.

This is in addition to the nine ASEAN member nations that are already eligible for visa-free visits to Indonesia: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

It looks like things are all falling into place. Just as the conversation around the possible return of visa-free travel kicks off, more flights are being added to Bali Airport’s daily and weekly schedules.

Minister Uno has also just confirmed that more flight services will be connecting tourists from Europe, the Middle East, and China to Bali. 

Turkish Airlines has submitted a request to increase the Istanbul-Bali-Istanbul route to three times weekly.

Istanbul Airport is one of Europe’s biggest transit hubs, especially for tourists from Western Europe traveling to Asia. 

On top of this Bali Airport will see the launch of the Shanghai-Bali-Shanghai route with Juneyao Airlines on the 20th January 2024.

Finally, there are also suggestions to already increase the frequency of the Etihad Airlines Abu Dhabi-Bali-Abu Dhabi service that is due to commence in April 2024. 

With the general election just a month away, it is unlikely any new immigration legislation will be enacted in the next four weeks, though you never know! In the meantime, tourists planning their visits to Bali are encouraged to apply for a visa on arrival before touching down on the Island of the Gods. This can be done up to 48 hours before arrival in Bali online at the official Indonesia eVisa website. 

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Wednesday 17th of January 2024

Obviously maths or understanding of tourists spending aren't Uno's strong points.

He claims visa free would generate USD20 -25 billion.

Allow for 7 million tourists in 2024, staying the current average of 7 -10 days.

Using 25/10 it means an extra of around USD3,500 a person, or 350 a day!

Even if the visa free attracts more tourists - say 10 million - the extra daily spend per person would have to be USD250.

Thursday 18th of January 2024

Maaf. My last para is wrong. It doesn't take into account the any spending by extra tourists whether or not there's free VOA.

Tuesday 16th of January 2024

I feel that a 30 day extendable visa is too limited, it should be offered for a minimum of 90 days especially if Bali wants tourists to stay longer. It is also difficult and expensive to do an extension Regardless of whether you get a VOA or online. I though it was perfect back in the early 2000's, I can't recall the years as I have been going to Bali regularly since 1999.

Visa free entry to Bali is moat definitely the way to go as the costs to enter now are unnecessary for tourists too pay. Now people are heading to Thailand instead. My friends from uk were due to come to Bali next month, but due to entry costs and costs of spa treatments soring they are Now going to Thailand. Visa free for 90 days more people would come nit just fir Bali but for other islands as well

Anyway in EU are such third world visa practices unknown. - Just don’t travel to countries where is visa needed, visa mean that you aren’t welcome.

@Wayan Bo, but the money is welcome :)

Bali lost its lustre? Most tourists including myself and families are heading to Visa-free countries in droves like thailnd, some China cities, M'sia and India. If you stay greedy, you lose all forever.

Do New Zealanders need a visa for Bali? Indonesia reconsiders visa-free travel

Bali may become a visa-free destination for Kiwis once more, a change that would shave $52 off the cost of a visit.

Last week, Indonesia’ s Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno said the government was considering resuming visa-free travel for travellers coming from certain destinations.

New Zealand is one of 20 countries, as well as Australia , that would regain visa-free travel to Bali, the Bali Sun reported.

Uno said the 20 countries had been chosen according to the number of visitors from those places who travel to Indonesia.

“Earlier, it was decided to propose which countries would be proposed for visa-free visits. The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy proposed 20 countries with the highest number of foreign tourists outside of countries that have visa-free visits,” he said.

Uno claimed conversations were still ongoing but proposals would be finalised by January 2024.

Currently, a visitor visa costs Rp500,000 ($52.17) and lasts for 30 days, with an option to extend it for another 30 days.

Kiwis didn’t always have to get visas to visit Bali. The benefit was halted during the pandemic but was not reinstated when Bali opened its borders in February 2022. Officials formally scrapped the policy in June 2023 , when Indonesia (and Bali specifically) was facing an increase in unruly behaviour from tourists .

At the time, officials claimed Indonesia would not reinstate visa-free travel as the country did not need to incentivise tourists to visit, but instead wanted higher-quality tourists to visit.

Countries that are part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) have always had a visa-free travel agreement in place. This means citizens from Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia and the Philippines can travel to each other’s countries without a visa.

However, tourists from New Zealand and other countries have had to apply for a Visa On Arrival, either on arrival at the airport (VOA) or before landing (e-VOA). It applies to those visiting for tourism, certain business-related activities or those visiting family.

This is separate from the Golden Visa , which Indonesia also plans to introduce soon.

Planned to launch in June 2023, the visa is now expected to be available by the end of 2023.

This will allow non-citizens to enter the country for five to 10 years and own property in Bali, but it is not clear how much it will cost or what is required from applicants.

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