1

Will be interested in hearing the replies to this.

I once tried something similar with Thailand... was coming down from China and Laos and picked up a tourist visa for Thailand in Vientiane. It was my plan to enter Thailand for only a few days (via a 15 day stamp), travel down to Malaysia and then on to India for 2 months - planned to use the Thailand Visa when I came back. But unfortunately the border folks insisted on marking the visa used and stamping me in for 60 :(

2

"But I want to enter Sumatra on a 30 day VOA and save the 60 day visa for the other islands."

Do you mean you would like to stay in Indonesia for up to 90 days...the sum of the 30 day VOA and your 60 day visa in advance? If so, the answer is no. Visas cannot be combined here.

Get your 60 day visa in Penang, and that is also renewable here in Indonesia for up to four additional renewals, each renewal good for another 30 days.

3

Do you mean you would like to stay in Indonesia for up to 90 days...the sum of the 30 day VOA and your 60 day visa in advance?

No. I would like to go to Sumatra for 30 days then fly from Padang to KL. Then to Kuching and from Kota Kinabalu to Jakarta using the 60 day Indo visa.

What about getting a 60 day Indo visa in Kuching or KK? When I was there several years ago the 60 day visas were not being issued at either of those Indo consulates.

Jon

4

You will need to show a ticket out to get a 60 day visa now, even in Penang. Since you are flying into KL why not get a 60 day visa there.

Alternatively go to Jakarta before leaving Indonesia the first time.

Note - you can easily extend a 30 day visa once for another 30 days.

Paul

5

Jon, I’m still a bit confused. In your first post you wrote,

“I plan on being in Penang, Malaysia before heading to Sumatra. I easily obtained a 60 day Indo tourist visa last time I was in Penang several years ago and would like to do so again.”

Now you write,

“I would like to go to Sumatra for 30 days then fly from Padang to KL. Then to Kuching and from Kota Kinabalu to Jakarta using the 60 day Indo visa.”

If that’s the case, a 30 day VOA for your 30 days in Sumatra will be fine, then as you say, fly on to KL. While in KL get your 60 day Indonesia visa in advance. This 60 day visa must be used within 90 days from date of issuance, so unless you plan on being in Kuching or Kota Kinabalu for a long time (a period which would exceed 90 days from the date of issuance on your 60 day visa in KL), you’ll be fine, and your 60 day Indonesian visa will kick in immediately upon arrival at Jakarta.

If your original question was, can you get a 60 day visa right after using a 30 day VOA, then yes is the answer. That is no problem. However, you can't enter Indonesia on a 30 day VOA while an unused 60 day Indonesian visa is present in your passport. That 60 day visa is immediately set into motion when you get your entry stamp at immigration upon arrival.

6

As above:

ASFAIK, you can not have 2 valid visas in your passport at the same time.

If they notice that you already have an unused and still valid 60 day one, you are not supposed to be able to get and use a 30 day VOA.

You could only get away with this if they overlook the 60 day visa in your passport.

7

"you can not have 2 valid visas in your passport at the same time."

You can not have 2 valid Indonesian visas in your passport at the same time.

"You could only get away with this if they overlook the 60 day visa in your passport. "

It’s not a matter of getting away with it, rather the intent of 30 days in Sumatra using a 30 day VOA, followed by some time in Malaysia and then onward to Jakarta using the 60 day visa would be impossible as both the 30 day VOA and the 60 day visa would be used visas once the OP flew out of Sumatra to Malaysia.

8

OK. So I should get a 30 day VOA on arrival in Sumatra. No problem.

But I'm not planning on staying in KL long enough to get a visa (probably no time at all in KL).

So what about getting the 60 day visa in Kuching or Kota Kinabalu? Another possible option would be Singapore.

And as far as extending a 30 day VOA, I heard it wasn't so simple - you need a sponsor and can only extend the visa when there are a few days remaining.

Thanks.

9

I extended one in Medan - no sponsor but you have to do it towards the end of your current visa - you may be able to convince them that you will be moving around too much to do it later. Also it takes 3 days - one to make the application, pay the next day and pick it up on the third. You can use agents.

Many TTers have reported you can get a visa in Singapore and have used agents to expedite the process.

Paul

10

Thanks for the Singapore contact info. I emailed him but would you happen to know the cost?

I emailed a different agent several years ago and the cost was $100. If that's still the case, might be worth a couple of days in KL to get a much cheaper visa.

Jon

11

170 SGD for the 60 day visa according to Mr.Yusof himself. Pretty steep...

Maybe I can reverse my trip into Sumatra and go from Medan to Penang then get the 60 day visa after using the 30 day VOA.

Jon

12

"170 SGD for the 60 day visa according to Mr.Yusof himself. Pretty steep..."

That depends on how you value your time. The guy isn't hurting for business, that's for sure.