Bali New Visa Rules
Bali Tourists Impacted By Major Change To Visa Rules Effective Immediately
A major set of rule changes to the visa extension processing system has just been issued to tourists and long-stay visitors traveling to Bali and the Indonesian archipelago.
Effective 29th May 2025 all visa applications must begin with online registration, followed by in-person document verification and biometrics at an Immigration Office.
This new hybrid system feels like a return to the old way of visa extensions in Indonesia which required tourists, long-stay visitors, business travelers, and socio-cultural visa holders to visit an Immigration Office three times in order to complete the visa extension process.
In 2024 it became possible for tourist to extend their eVisa on Arrival, and many other visa categories entirely online marking a major shift for Indonesia Immigration towards a fully digitalised system.
Tourists must click ‘extend my visa’ and follow the steps on the screen. The site is available in English and is both mobile and desktop-friendly. When starting the extension application process applicants should have their passport at the ready.
Yusman explained, “The procedure also applies to foreigners who hold a visa on arrival or VoA.” It is also now possible for extension applications to be completed on a walk-in basis, though the same steps apply.
At the first walk-in visit to an Immigration Office applicants will be required to fill out the extension registration form and will be called back to the immigration office a maximum of two working days after the registration.
Similarly, once the online form has been completed, applicants will be called to their closest immigration office a maximum of two working days after online registration. These new rules are applicable to all immigration offices in Indonesia and all extendable visa categories.
Yusman told reporters that a priority service will be on offer for applicants who are elderly, disabled, pregnant, breastfeeding women, or those in an emergency situation.
The entire process can be completed on a walk-in basis, and within the priority service, the whole process can be completed with additional assistance from immigration officers, including the registration form and biometrics, in one visit.
Indonesia Immigration has revealed the key reason for the sudden changes in visa extension policy.
Between January and April 2024, Indonesia Immigration processed 1,610 immigration enforcement cases. In the same period in 2025, this has risen to 2,201 cases of immigration enforcement, which is a 36.71% increase.
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During the biometrics and document verification visit, applicants may be asked questions about their intentions for the duration of their visit and the reasons for visiting Indonesia.
While Indonesia Immigration has not stipulated that additional paperwork should be prepared, it is not uncommon for visa extension applicants to be asked about their onward travel plans, place of residence within Indonesia, and, in some cases, proof of financial means of support.
As Indonesia continues to crack down on foreigners breaking the law and abusing the visa system, more changes could be on the horizon. The most appropriate visas for holidaymakers traveling to Bali are the VoA and eVoA.
The VoA can be applied for prior to arrival in Bali, and the VoA can be acquired at Bali Airport. The visa costs IDR 500,000 is valid for 30 days, and can be extended once for 30 days following the new Hybrid Application System.
Bali Deports Tourist For Illegal Fundraising
Bali Deports Tourist For Illegal Fundraising To Support Local Stray Animals
Bali Immigration teams have confirmed the rapid deportation of a Swiss national who was caught engaging in illegal fundraising activities on the island.
Immigration teams across Indonesia are committed to cracking down on foreigners who engage in illegal activities and violate the conditions of their visas and residency permits.
The Denpasar Immigration Office has confirmed the prompt deportation of a Swiss national, known by his initials BFM, for engaging in illegal fundraising activities in the province.
BFM is said to have been fundraising for stray animals on the island, though he was unable to produce evidence of a connection with a legally registered international charity with the right to operate in Indonesia or an Indonesian-registered Yayasan or community group.
During the investigation, officers from the Intelligence and Immigration Division of Denpasar Immigration Office reviewed BFM’s documents and fraudulent fundraising efforts. On arrival, he entered Indonesia on a 30-day tourist visa.
The Head of the Denpasar Immigration Office, R. Haryo Sakti, told reporters that the fact that BFM entered Indonesia on a tourism visa, rather than a volunteer visa or a socio-cultural visa sponsored by an Indonesian yayasan, or Indonesian registered NGO “raises suspicions that the funds collected were also used for his personal interests.”
Sakti did not reveal how much money BFM has fundraised but cited that he had violated Article 75 (1) of Law Number 6 of 2022 concerning immigration.
As stipulated in law, BFM was subject to administrative action in the form of deportation and his name has been put forward to the Directorate General of Immigration to be added to Indonesia’s banned entry list, also known as the black list.
Sakti confirmed that the Central Immigration Office will process any subsequent proceedings regarding BFM and his deportation or any potential appeal.
Sakti told reporters “We want to maintain security and order in the region and ensure that every foreigner respects the laws and norms that apply in Indonesia.”
Tourists and international visitors to Indonesia must be extremely careful about the activities that they engage in while in the country, especially in Bali.
While many countries around the world permit foreigners to engage in volunteer activities while on a tourism visa, in Indonesia, any foreigner who wishes to do so must do so on a volunteer visa or the most appropriate visa for their specific activities and be supported and sponsored by a local organization.
Foreigners who wish to volunteer in Indonesia must apply for a C6 visa, also known as the volunteer visa.
This socio-cultural visa is a single-entry residency permit valid for up to 60 days. It can be applied for online at the Official Indonesia eVisa website.
Applicants must pre-arrange their volunteer activities with a registered charity, social organization, private institution, or government agency before applying.
Volunteers can only proceed with their C6 Visa application when they have at the ready their passport, which has at least 6-months validity remaining and two full pages free, a personal bank statement showing the last 3-months of activity, a recent color photography, a sponsorship letter from the organization with whom the applicant is set to volunteer with and a statement from that institution outlining the activities the volunteer will be taking part in during their time in Indonesia.
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This visa also permits volunteers to engage in social and cultural visits and tourism activities but strictly prohibits any income-generating work, investment, or business activities.
For more information regarding all the different categories of visa available to tourists, volunteers, long stay visitors, business travelers and socio-cultural visitors, prospective travelers must visit the official Indonesian eVisa website, and be sure to follow the Indonesia Immigration Instagram account.
Hints, tips and immigration advice is shared in English on a regular basis on this website.
Main Article: Bali New Visa Rules
Bali Builds Towards A New Future For Tourism
Bali Builds Towards A New Future For Tourism Strengthening International Ties
Indonesia and China have just signed a Memorandum of Understanding for developing the tourism sector across the two countries.
The new mandate is a sign that Indonesia is broadening its horizons and actively seeking to attract a more diverse demographic of tourists to iconic destinations like Bali and emerging travel hotspots around the country.
At present, Australian tourists are the most frequent international arrivals in Bali, followed by tourists from China and India.
Indonesia is on a mission to strengthen relationships with international governments to help develop the tourism sector nationally.
With Bali positioned as Indonesia’s flagship tourism destination, much talk of tourism development is centered on Bali.
In a statement issued following the signing of the new MoU the Indonesian Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana shared “We welcome this MOU, which will open up more opportunities for Indonesia to introduce its tourist destinations to the vast Chinese market, and vice versa.”
Indonesian President Parbowo and Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang signed the MoU at the Merdeka Palace on Sunday, May 25th. Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang is visiting Indonesia to conduct a series of diplomatic and trade meetings.
Demand for travel to Indonesia from Chinese tourists is increasing. In the first quarter of 2025, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Indonesia steadily increased. In total, 279,040 Chinese nationals visited Indonesia for tourism purposes until the end of April 2025.
The number of visits increased by 1.15 percent from the same period the previous year to 275,863. As the high season in Bali approaches, this figure is expected to grow further.
Minister Wardhana added, “Through this MoU, we hope to further strengthen bilateral relations and increase the contribution of the tourism sector to the economies of both countries.”
The MoU covers a range of tourism development directives, many of which will benefit all tourists in Bali, not only Chinese tourists traveling to Indonesia, and Indonesian tourists traveling to China. China will also be supporting Mandarin language training at several Tourism Polytechnics under the Ministry of Tourism in Indonesia.
Over the last year, more direct flights between China and Bali have been added to the schedule at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, including the new Guangzhou – Bali – Perth route that was launched in March 2025.
Operated by Indonesia’s TransNusa Airline, the new route is the first service to be operated between Guangzhou and Bali, and the extended service utilizes Bali as a transit point for those traveling between China and Australia.
Speaking at the launch of the flight route in March, the TransNusa Group Chief Executive Officer and aviation veteran, Datuk Bernard Francis shared, “We are always looking at developing new routes to benefit our passengers.”
“While traditional routes such as Bali to Perth and Bali to Guangzhou are important, we also strive to go the extra mile to provide fast as well as seamless connectivity to our passengers.”
Main Article: Bali New Visa Rules
He added, “From April 13th to May 31st, on a weekly basis, there will be three connecting flights from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport to Perth International Airport, Australia, while from Perth, there will be two connecting flights weekly via Bali to Guangzhou.”
Along with travelers from over 90 nations, tourists from China are eligible for Indonesia’s eVisa on Arrival. The eVisa on Arrival and Visa on Arrival are valid for 30 days and cost IDR 500,000.
It can be extended for another 30 days, offering tourists the opportunity to stay and explore all that Indonesia has to offer for 60 days.
The visa allows tourists to engage in tourism, social activities, and a very limited range of business activities but never to engage in income-generating work.
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