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Passport and Visa
To enter Bali or Indonesia Each visitors are requested signed
passport that is valid for at least six months beyond his/her
scheduled departure date from Indonesia. Most nations of western
countries are granted a 60-days, non-extendible visa upon arrival
in Indonesia. Citizens from Asean (Association of Southeast
Asian Nations) do not require a visa, only a valid travel document.
Please check with your local indonesian embassy/consulate or
your country's embassy in Jakarta. For Visa requirements by
contacting the Embassy / Consulate in your country of origin
before commencing your vacation.
The government of Indonesia has changed its visa policy for
foreign tourists effective February 1st, 2004.
Visiting Indonesia Without Any Visa
Entering Indonesia without any visa is possible now only for
nationals of the following 11 countries and territories: Brunei
Darussalam, Chile, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Morocco, Peru,
the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Citizens of the above countries will be issued on arrival a
stay permit for 30 days free of charge upon presentation of
a passport which is valid at least for another 6 months. This
stay permit cannot be extended or converted into another type
of visa.
VISA on ARRIVAL (VoA)
This facility is available for nationals of the following countries:
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Poland,
South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Arab
Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States of America.
Citizens of these countries will be able to apply for a VoA
valid for either 3 or 30 days upon arrival by air in Bali, Jakarta
and a few other international airports or by ship at a limited
number of Indonesian sea ports. A 3-day visa costs US$10 and
a 30-day visa costs US$25.
The VoA cannot be extended or converted into any other kind
of visa. Also be aware that Immigration officials calculate
the 30-day period as follows: your arrival day is counted as
your first day, and you must leave the country on the 30th.
day!
Indonesian Ports of Entry to get your VOA
Airports:
Ngurah Rai in Denpasar, Bali
Soekarno-Hatta in Jakarta, Java
Polonia in Medan, Sumatra
Sultan Syarif Kasim II in Pekan Baru, Kalimantan
Tabing in Padang, Sumatra
Juanda in Surabaya, Java
Sam Ratulangi in Manado, Sulawesi
Halim Perdanakusuma in Jakarta, Java
Adi Sucipto in Yogyakarta, Java
Adi Sumarmo in Surakarta, Java
Selaparang in Mataram, Lombok
Sepinggan in Balikpapan, Kalimantan
Hasanudddin in Makassar, Sulawesi
El Tari in Kupang, Timor
Seaports:
Sekupang, Batu Ampar, Nongsa and Marina Teluk Senimba in Batam
Bandar Bintan Telani Lagoi and Sri Udana Lobam in Tanjung Uban
(Bintan)
Belawan in Belawan (Medan)
Sibolga in Sibolga (Sumatra)
Yos Sudarso in Dumai
Teluk Bayur in Padang (Sumatra)
Tanjung Balai Karimun (Tanjung Balai Karimun)
Tanjung Priok in Jakarta
Padang Bai in Padang Bai (Bali)
Jayapura in Jayapura (Papua)
Tanjung Mas in Semarang (Java)
Tenau (Kupang)
Pare-pare in Pare-pare (Sulawesi)
Soekarno-Hatta in Makassar (Sulawesi)
Other types Of Indonesian Visas
If your home country is not mentioned on the lists above or
if you are planning on studying, living, working or doing business
in Indonesia, you must apply for a visa overseas before arrival.
If you would like to stay more than 30 days in Indonesia, you
must also apply for an appropriate visa. A note of caution to
people from countries NOT mentioned in the lists above…
Let me just give an example here: if you are an American Green
Card holder who is a holder of an Indian Passport (a country
that is NOT listed above), you will have to apply for ‘permission'
by the Indonesian Immigration authorities in order to enter
Indonesia. The process is simple, but LONG. So, go to your local
Indonesian consulate at least 6 weeks prior to departure to
apply for your visa. The consulate will then send your credentials
to the Jakarta Immigration authorities, who will then scan your
details against a list of black-listers and once you are cleared,
you will get your visa… Because of Indonesian bureaucracy
this can take several weeks (avoid Indonesian holiday seasons,
as it will take even longer!). If you want to speed things up
you can always work with an Indonesian visa expeditor (many
are found in Bali), but it will cost you $$.
Visitor Visas
Sosial Budaya Visas single entry, but good for 60 days and then
extendable each month up to 6 months - valid for visits that
are social (like non-profit organizations), cultural, religious,
or medical in nature. This includes visiting family/relatives
and organizations, and exchange visits between academic, art,
or sports institutions. 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 Visas (#457) either single entry and extendable up
to 6 months or multiple-entry and good for up to 12 months -
typically issued to business people on short term work assignments
(like Bali export-import), consulting, or valid for attending
international conferences and seminars and carrying out journalistic
visits. This visa does NOT give you permission to work in Indonesia,
but it does permit you to do business there. In other words,
if you would like to work as a Doctor in an Indonesian hospital,
this is not the right visa – you would need a KITAS sponsored
by the hospital. 60 day Tourist Visa (#411) good for max 60
days to nationals of countries not eligible for a free visa
on arrival. Non-extendable, one has to leave the country and
return to get another stamp in one's passport. A round-trip
flight from Jakarta to Singapore costs around US$140, a round
trip form Denpasar to Singapore about US$230. After a number
of these stamps are placed in one's passport, the officials
at the airport may hassle you and accuse you of working. Maintaining
honesty and remaining patient is recommended.
Retirement Visa If you are 55 years or older you can apply for
this visa. There is a lot of paperwork, and requires your income
statement, health, insurance, and a minimum amount of spending
on accommodation plus the payment of taxes and other fees. One
CAN NOT 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. Visitor Visas for those
on Government Service good for 60 days issued to the employees
of foreign governments and international organizations on assignment
in Indonesia or private foreign contractors employed by the
Indonesian government.
Stay Permits – KITAS, KITAP, and any other visa that
begins with ‘KI'
Residency or work visa Sponsorship required by an Indonesian
company or recognized foreign company. Expensive, $1200/year
tax pre-paid, due at sign-up. Lots of redundant reporting to
various offices required. Residents are also need to pay Rp.1.000.000
tax every time they leave the country by air. (Rp.500.000 by
sea. )
Limited Stay Permits are given to individuals holding limited
validity entry permits including children and dependents of
foreigners on temporary resident visas and the Indonesian-born
children of an Indonesian mother.
Permanent Stay/Residency Permits are given to the Indonesian-born
children of foreigners holding permanent residency in Indonesia
and foreigners who successfully apply for permanent residency
in Indonesia
Special Dispensation for Ship's Crews (DAHUSKIM)
A special category of stay permit for foreigners employed as
crews on foreign registered ships and oil platforms.
Keep a Copy
Always keep a copy of your passport, driver's license,cerdit
cards, tickets and insurance policy somewhere separate. This
way you can prove who you are to your consulate in the event
of theft , get lost or fall out. Report to the police who make
out a report for your consulate. Verification of identity and
citizenship takes about three weeks and involving going to the
immigration office in Denpasar or at the airport.
Credit Card
Major credit cards are acceptable in most retail establishments,
at hotels and on airlines along with American dollar traveler.
In some cases, a service fee is included when charging a purchase
to your card.
Currency
The local currency Rupiah Notes 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000,
20,000, 50,000, 100,000. and the Coins 25, 50, 100, 500, 1000.
The Indonesian Rupiah offers very favorable rates of exchange
and buying power against most foreign currencies. Hotels, moneychangers,
and banks provide foreign exchange services. We recommended
to carry US$ cash or travelers cheques. However, when traveling
to the village, take Rupiah with you. Keep small change handy
when riding in public transportation or buying food and drinks
at warung. Please use of banks, whenever possible, when exchanging
currency. Always insist on an official receipt at the time of
the transaction and take your time to make sure the money received
matches the total shown on the receipt. Please note that some
of the banks and moneychangers refuse to accept foreign bank
notes that are soiled, torn or generally poor condition.
Driving License
If you wish to hire a car you must be over 18 years of age and
posses an International Driver's License or license from ASEAN
countries. If you are stopped by the police, it is always requested.
If you don't have one, you will bargain hard on how much of
bribe you are willing to pay\
Clothing
Balinese are generally modest in their modes of dress and believe
that the most basic sign of respect to another is correct attire.
Going to Bali, dress casually. Take light clothes, as the weather
is warm-to-hot throughout the year.
While shorts and sing lets are generally acceptable while shopping
or just walking, long trousers for men and dresses for women
are strongly suggested when visiting friends, calling on government
offices, or attending places of worship.
Custom and Tradition
Specific rules apply when visiting temples. Women are not allowed
to enter the temples during menstruation. Do not walk in front
of people praying. Kindly not to use flash camera or push your
camera into the priest's face. In special ceremony or Anniversary
Celebrations, a small donation is gratefully received.
Shorts and mini-skirts are also not allowed in and around temples.
It is a custom to take off the shoes in temples, on festivals
grounds and in private houses. We strongly recommended these
customs to show your respect for the religious traditions.
Embracing's and intimate touching are not well seen in public.
Nude or topless bathing is forbidden.
Electricity
Most hotels use 220 volts, 50 cycles and a round, two-pronged
slim plug. Bathroom shaver plugs usually have a transformer
switch. We suggest taking an adaptor for your appliance.
Getting Arround
Car Hire: You can find a car rental agency in all the major
tourist areas. Prices start from approx. US$ 30 a day for a
Suzuki-style jeep ( Jimmy and around US$ 45 for a new Kijang
jeep. Most of the rental cars are in decent shape, but you should
check thoroughly before signing any forms. Be sure to always
travel with your international drivers license.
Motorbike Rental: As with hire cars, you can find bikes
for rent almost everywhere. Prices usually start from around
US$ 6 a day for a standard 125 cc motorbike. Scooter, affectionately
called "Bebek's " ( Ducks ), start at around US$ 5
per day. You should always check the bike before parting with
your cash. In Indonesia you have to wear a helmet by law and
carry an international drivers license.
Bicycle/Mountain Bike: Cycling can be a cheap and enjoyable
way to get about, although you do have to be quite fit to ride
around the central, hilly regions. The northern coastal roads
are ideal for longer trips. You can find bike rental shops in
all the main tourist spots.
Bemo: Public transport mini-vans : by fast the cheapest
way to travel, although not the most comfortable.
Tours : A very relaxing way to see the sights, organized
tours relieve you of the hassle of trying to navigate your way
around. On the down side, however, you do have to follow itineraries,
so spur of the moment sight-seeing is not an option. Tours can
be booked at any of the travel offices or agents scattered around
the island.
Seaplane : For fun adventure and a fast way to get away
Island Seaplanes take you right to the "door" of your
destination. From Lombok to Moyo Island, all over Bali, Sumbawa
and even G-Land, this 7-seater Seaplane gets you there quicker
anything else. Departs from the Marina in Benoa Harbour |
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