Bali & Indonesia Visas
Visa-free, Visa on Arrival, or a B211A — which one you actually need
Indonesia's visa rules changed several times over the past few years, so double-check the current rules before booking flights. Broadly, there are three routes most travelers use to enter Bali, depending on nationality and how long you plan to stay.
Quick facts
Visa-Free & Visa on Arrival (VOA)
Many nationalities get short-stay visa-free entry, while others use the Visa on Arrival, purchased on landing or online in advance (roughly 500,000 IDR), valid for 30 days and extendable once for another 30 days at an immigration office or via an agent. This covers the large majority of short tourist trips.
B211A social/cultural visa
For stays longer than 60 days, or for remote work where you want more legal breathing room, the B211A visa (arranged through a local agent before arrival) typically grants 60 days and is extendable twice more, for up to 180 days total.
Overstay penalties
Overstaying is taken seriously: fines accrue per day, and overstaying more than 60 days can mean detention and deportation. Track your exact expiry date — agents and immigration offices in Denpasar/Kuta handle extensions, usually for a fee on top of the government cost.
Every Indonesia visa type at a glance
| Visa type | Length of stay | Extendable | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa-exempt (bebas visa) | Up to 30 days | No | Nationals of ASEAN and a short list of reciprocal countries, short tourist trips |
| Visa on Arrival (VOA / index C1) | 30 days | Once, +30 days | Most tourists — bought on landing or online in advance, ~90+ eligible nationalities |
| Single-entry visit visa (C2) | Up to 60 days | Yes | Longer single tourist/social trips arranged through an agent before arrival |
| Multiple-entry visit visa (D1/D2) | Up to 1 year (visits ≤60 days each) | — | Frequent short trips in and out of Indonesia, e.g. regional business travel |
| Social-cultural / remote-worker visa (C312, ex-B211A) | 60 days | Twice, up to 180 days total | Long stays, remote work for a foreign employer, digital nomads |
| Business visa (C2/D12) | 60 days–1 year | Varies | Meetings, conferences, scouting business opportunities — no local employment |
| Second Home Visa | 5 or 10 years | — | High-net-worth long-stayers who can show ~$130,000 USD in funds or Indonesian property |
| Working KITAS (E23) | 1–2 years | Yes | Foreigners employed by an Indonesia-registered company with a local sponsor |
| Investor KITAS (E28) | 1–2 years | Yes | Foreigners investing in an Indonesian company as director or shareholder |
| Retirement KITAS (E33) | 1 year | Yes, annually | Retirees, typically 55/60+, with proof of pension or fixed income |
| Student visa (E30) | Course duration | Yes | Enrolled at a recognized Indonesian school or university |
Official index codes (C1, C312, E33...) have changed more than once since the 2023 immigration reform — treat the codes as a starting point for your own search, not gospel, and confirm with a visa agent or immigration.go.id before booking anything.
Practical tips
- —Check requirements for your specific passport before booking — rules differ by nationality and change periodically.
- —A local visa agent (widely used, ask other expats/nomads for referrals) is far less stressful than the immigration office queue for extensions.
- —Keep digital and physical copies of your visa/passport — hotels and some activities ask for them.
- —Indonesia is not a place to test overstay leniency — pay attention to your exit date.
