Before we talk about Indonesia Visa, it is worth noting that Indonesia is renowned for its biodiversity as well as its diversity of cultures. The Coral Triangle, where Indonesia is located, is home to more than 3,000 different species of fish, or around seven times as many.
Most likely, you do not require an Indonesian visa at all if you plan to visit Indonesia. This is due to Indonesia’s lax visa requirements. Only citizens of a few countries must apply for visas for stays of up to 30 days. Several additional people may also apply for an Indonesian visa upon arrival.
When Do You Need an Indonesia Visa?
You need a visa to travel to Indonesia if you are from one of the following countries:
| Afghanistan | Cameroon | Central African Republic |
| Colombia | Congo | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Djibouti | Equatorial Guinea | Eritrea |
| Ethiopia | Guinea | Guinea-Bissau |
| Iran | Iraq | Israel |
| Kosovo | Liberia | Micronesia |
| Montenegro | Niger | Nigeria |
| North Korea | Sierra Leone | Somalia |
| South Sudan | Sudan | Syria |
| Yemen |
For stays of up to 30 days, people from the nations not listed above can enter Indonesia without a visa. You must also apply for an Indonesian visa if you are from a “visa-free” nation but plan to stay in Indonesia for more than 30 days.
Do I Need a Visa to Transit in Indonesia?
You do not require an airport transit visa for Indonesia if you are ordinarily exempt from obtaining one.
However, you must apply for an Indonesian visa if you are from one of the nations mentioned above unless:
- You will transit in Jakarta (CGK) and
- You have a confirmed onward flight ticket for a flight to a third country within 24 hours, and
- You do not leave the international transit area of the airport and
- You have the necessary documents (visa, passport, etc) for the next destination
Or
- You will transit in an airport other than Jakarta (CGK) and
- You have an onward flight ticket within 8 hours and
- You do not leave the international transit area of the airport and
- You have the necessary documents (visa, passport, etc) for the next destination
Types of Indonesian Visas
Indonesian visas are divided into the following types, based on the purpose and duration of your trip:
- Tourist Visa (Embassy and On Arrival)
- Multiple-entry Visa
- Business Visa
- Limited Stay Visa
Indonesia Tourist Visa
The 30-day maximum length of the tourist visa for Indonesia is for a single entry. Some nationals are eligible for an on-site Indonesia tourist visa (see above). Once in Indonesia, you can extend this visa to allow you to stay for a maximum of 60 days. If you want to travel, have fun, or visit Indonesia, you can apply for this kind of visa. A tourist visa does not permit employment or business transactions.
Only if you are from a nation that requires a visa or if you intend to remain for longer than 30 days do you need to apply for an Indonesia tourist visa. Otherwise, the majority of people do not even need to apply for an Indonesian tourist visa.
Indonesia Multiple-Entry Visa
People who intend to enter Indonesia for official government activities, business or commercial operations, or family visits are awarded an Indonesian multiple-entry visa. The duration of this visa is either six months, a year, or two years. You must obtain authorization from the Indonesian Directorate General of Immigration to obtain this sort of visa.
Indonesia Business Visa
A sort of multiple-entry visa that can be granted for up to a year is the business visa for Indonesia. A business traveler can use it to enter Indonesia more than once and remain for up to 60 days at each entry.
You can participate in meetings, training, negotiations, and other business-related activities with a business visa, but you cannot obtain a job in Indonesia.
Indonesia Limited Stay Visa
The Limited Stay Visa for Indonesia is a type of “long-stay” visa, despite the name. This is the type of visa you need if you want to work, study, join a family member, or retire in Indonesia. For example:
- Indonesia Work Visa
- Indonesia Student Visa
- Indonesia Family Visa
- Indonesia Retirement Visa
- Indonesia Digital Nomad Visa
Your company, school, or family member must apply for a Letter of Visa Authorization at the Directorate General of Immigration in Jakarta, Indonesia, for you to apply for one of these visas. The Indonesian Embassy or Consulate will issue you the visa once they get a notification that the Directorate General of Immigration has approved it.
Documents Needed for an Indonesia Visa Application
When you apply for an Indonesia visa, you must have several documents which support your application. The Indonesian visa requirements differ depending on the visa that you are applying for.
How to Apply for an Indonesia Visa
You can apply for an Indonesia visa in one of the following ways:
- At an Indonesian Mission abroad (Embassy or Consulate) before you travel
- On arrival at the airport in Indonesia
Applying for an Indonesia Visa at an Embassy or Consulate
The process for an Indonesian visa application is:
- Find the Indonesian Embassy or Consulate responsible for your jurisdiction. You can find the Diplomatic Missions of Indonesia here.
- Contact them or visit their website to learn about the visa application requirements.
- Make an appointment, if necessary.
- Collect the required documents for the Indonesia visa application. You have to submit your passport along with the documents.
- Pay the Indonesia visa fee. The method of payment changes depending on the specific Embassy or Consulate. Some require you to pay through a bank, while others accept cash. The visa fees are non-refundable. See “Indonesia Visa Fees” below.
- Submit the documents to the Indonesian Embassy or Consulate. In some cases, you may be allowed to submit the documents by mail.
- Wait for the Embassy/Consulate to process your visa application.
- Once they have a decision, you should go back to pick up your passport and documents. If you applied by mail, the Embassy/Consulate will mail them to you. If the decision was positive, you will receive your Indonesian visa.
Please note: Although the method described above is a rough outline, each country has its unique process. Contacting the Indonesian Embassy or Consulate in your area should therefore be your first course of action.
Indonesia Visa on Arrival
Please note that the Indonesia VOA is only issued for short-term touristic purposes.
How Long Does It Take to Process an Indonesian Visa?
The Indonesian Embassy/Consulate processes your visa application in 3 to 5 business days. However, the length of the processing period varies depending on the particular diplomatic station where you are submitting and the format of your application. You will need to wait longer to receive the visa if you submit a postal application.
The following nations’ processing times will be extended because the Embassy or Consulate must obtain approval from Jakarta’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
- Afghanistan
- Cameroon
- Guinea
- Israel
- Liberia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- Pakistan
- Somalia
- Syria
Indonesia Visa Fees
The Indonesia Visa fees are as follows:
- Single-entry Tourist Visa: USD 50
- Multiple-entry Tourist/Visit/Business Visa: USD 100
- Limited Stay Visa:
- Six months: USD 50
- One year: USD 90
- Two years: USD 160
- Visa on Arrival: USD 35
How to pay the Indonesia visa fee?
The Indonesia visa fee cannot be paid in any other way than the ones listed below. The Embassy or Consulate you are applying to, as well as whether you are applying in person or by mail, will determine this. Fortunately, the Indonesian Embassies/Consulates’ websites provide information on how to make the payment. You can pay with a credit or debit card sometimes and with a money order other times.
Note: Depending on the nation in which you apply as well as any new immigration laws, the visa fees may change.
Duration of an Indonesia Visa
An Indonesian tourist visa is valid for 30 days and allows for only one entrance. Before it expires, this kind of visa can be renewed for an additional 30 days.
Additionally, Visas on Arrival are renewable and valid for 30 days.
An Indonesian visa with multiple entries is good for a full year. On each entry, you are only permitted to stay for 60 days.
Visas with a limited stay are available for six months, a year, or two years.
If you are a citizen of one of the nations exempt from visa requirements, you can visit Indonesia without a visa and remain there for up to 30 days (just like with a VOA or tourist visa), but you cannot request an extension.
Extension of Indonesia Visa
Before your existing visa expires, you can request for an extension to Indonesia at the Indonesian Immigration Office. There is a charge that you must pay, which will be the same as your first visa fee (i.e: USD 35 for Visa on Arrival; USD 50 for Embassy Tourist Visa). Up to four extensions, each lasting 30 days, may be requested.
If you entered through the Visa Waiver program, you are not eligible to request an extension of your stay (without a visa).
If you stay longer than what is permitted, you will be charged for each extra day. The daily overstay fee is roughly USD 70.
Indonesia Visa for US Citizens
US citizens do not require a visa to enter Indonesia. You simply need a return or onward ticket in addition to your passport, which must still be valid for another six months. For a maximum of 30 days, you can stay in Indonesia without a visa. A fine will be assessed when you leave if you stay longer than is necessary.
You need a visa if you intend to stay in Indonesia for more than 30 days. You can apply at an Indonesian Embassy or Consulate in the US or one of the airport’s Visa On Arrival booths.
The Visa on Arrival will also be valid for 30 days, but you can extend it before it expires, and you get another 30 days. You are not allowed to extend your stay in Indonesia if you initially entered without a visa.
Indonesia Visa-Free Countries
If your country is listed in the table below, you do not need a visa to visit Indonesia for up to 30 days:
| Albania | Algeria | Andorra |
| Angola | Antigua and Barbuda | Argentina |
| Armenia | Australia | Austria |
| Azerbaijan | Bahamas | Bahrain |
| Bangladesh | Barbados | Belarus |
| Belgium | Belize | Benin |
| Bhutan | Bolivia | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Botswana | Brazil | Brunei |
| Bulgaria | Burkina Faso | Burundi |
| Cambodia | Canada | Cape Verde |
| Chad | Chile | China |
| Commonwealth of Dominica | Comoros | Costa Rica |
| Cote D’Ivoire | Croatia | Cuba |
| Cyprus | Czech Republic | Denmark |
| Dominican Republic | Ecuador | Egypt |
| El Salvador | England | Estonia |
| Fiji | Finland | France |
| Gabon | The Gambia | Georgia |
| Germany | Ghana | Greece |
| Grenada | Guatemala | Guyana |
| Haiti | Honduras | Hong Kong SAR |
| Hungary | Iceland | India |
| Ireland | Italy | Jamaica |
| Japan | Jordan | Kazakhstan |
| Kenya | Kiribati | Kuwait |
| Kyrgyzstan | Laos | Latvia |
| Lebanon | Lesotho | Liechtenstein |
| Lithuania | Luxembourg | Macau SAR |
| Macedonia | Madagascar | Malawi |
| Malaysia | Maldives | Mali |
| Malta | Marshall Islands | Mauritania |
| Mauritius | Mexico | Moldova |
| Monaco | Mongolia | Morocco |
| Mozambique | Myanmar | Namibia |
| Nauru | Nepal | Netherlands |
| New Zealand | Nicaragua | Norway |
| Oman | Palau | Palestine |
| Panama | Papua New Guinea | Paraguay |
| Peru | Philippines | Poland |
| Portugal | Puerto Rico | Qatar |
| Romania | Russia | Rwanda |
| Samoa | San Marino | Sao Tome and Principe |
| Saudi Arabia | Senegal | Serbia |
| Seychelles | Singapore | Slovakia |
| Slovenia | Solomon Island | South Africa |
| South Korea | Spain | Sri Lanka |
| St Kitts and Nevis | St Lucia | St Vincent and Grenadines |
| Suriname | Swaziland | Sweden |
| Switzerland | Taiwan | Tajikistan |
| Tanzania | Thailand | Timor-Leste |
| Togo | Tonga | Trinidad & Tobago |
| Tunisia | Turkey | Turkmenistan |
| Tuvalu | Uganda | Ukraine |
| United Arab Emirates | Uruguay | USA |
| Uzbekistan | Vanuatu | Vatican City |
| Venezuela | Vietnam | Zambia |
| Zimbabwe |
I believe this page has fed you richly on how to go about applying for an Indonesian visa. You can start right away with planning your first or next trip to Indonesia today!
RECOMMENDED
