Thorn Tree travel forum

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2. PLEASE READ THIS THREAD CAREFULLY. Your question may well be answered. I suggest that comments on this thread be reserved for KNOWN visa changes. In other words, if you're guessing, DON'T put it here. If you have questions about your particular situation, please start a NEW thread.

3. Recommendations in this thread are contributed by the original posters. I am indebted to to following people: Hunwagner, RAK, RedApe, and many others too numerous to mention.

4. Please do not post irrelevant comments here. For example, "The visa system is stupid, etc....." This thread is intended to help people who plan a trip to Indonesia. Post your political comments on the Political Branch, or at the very least, please start a new thread. Thank you.

5. On the other hand, if you have new visa information (or something in here is incorrect), please add a comment. All this information comes from travellers just like you. Again, thank you.

6. All "rules" posted here can of course be altered by any Immigration officer at any time. Therefore, ALWAYS be polite, patient, and helpful. Any other attitude will be doomed to failure.

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Basic requirements for a tourist visa:
1. Your passport MUST be valid for at least six months after your date of entry.
2. If you get a visa-in-advance (VIA), you MUST use it within 90 days - otherwise, it's invalid.
3. A return or onward ticket. If you have a good story (such as, you're leaving by ferry to Singapore, AND you have proof of plenty of money, you might get away with no ticket. Tickets do NOT have to be valid within your visa time (your date of leaving could be later than your visa allows).
4. Sometimes you will be asked to provide bank statements. I would blank out all account numbers on such statements. Sometimes you will be asked for proof of cash.
5. Be sure to have at least 1 blank page in your passport. Otherwise you will be deported.
6. Children need visas as well, if they are travelling on a separate passport.

Limitations of visas:
1. For the most part, tourist visas of any kind CANNOT be extended in the country. You must leave on the visa expiry date, or face penalties of about $25US per day. If you overstay by more than, say, five days, you might face higher penalties, or even jail. Don't risk this. BTW, Timor is an independent country, so if you go there, obviously you have left Indonesia.
1a. You might be able to bribe someone to extend your visa without leaving the country. But you can't do this officially. Be warned.
2. Visas are SINGLE-ENTRY. If you leave Indonesia, you have to go thru the whole process again.
3. Visas are valid for exactly what they say - 30 days, for example, means arrival on September 1, and departure on or before September 30. CAREFULLY count your days. Believe me, Immigration will.
4. There is no limit on the time you must spend out of the country in order to get a new visa. HOWEVER: if you've been coming in many times, just doing a "visa-run" to Singapore, you might run into problems.

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SIMPLE VISAS:
Country Group A: United States, Australia, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Finland, Poland, Hungary, the UK, Italy, Japan, Germany, Canada, Taiwan, Switzerland, South Korea, Norway, New Zealand, France, and people from the north of Ireland with a UK passport.

Possibility 1: Get a visa-in-advance (VIA). The cost varies depending on the country of application, but seems to be about $60US. However, it's $125 Australian. Most of the time you have to pay this IN CASH. It's best to apply for this visa IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY. However, various cities in SEA seem to offer this visa to many nationalities. Using an agent seems to work better. Costs vary. Make local enquiries. For example, the Indonesian comsulate in Germany seems to prohibit any other than people with a German work permit from getting a visa there. Sample time: 7 days in Melbourne.

Possibility 2: Get a visa-on-arrival (VOA) for $25US for 30 days, or 3 days for $10US. Better to have the cash on you, in US dollars. Sometimes Singapore dollars are accepted. VOA can ONLY be obtained at these places:
AIRPORTS: POLONIA MEDAN, HANG NADIM BATAM, SIMPANG TIGA PEKAN BARU, TABING PADANG, SAM RATULANGI MANADO, PATTIMURA AMBON, SUPADIO PONTIANAK, SEPINGGAN BALIKPAPAN, SUKARNO-HATTA JAKARTA, HUSEIN SASTRANEGARA BANDUNG, JUANDA SURABAYA, FRANS KAISIEPO BIAK, NGURAH RAI DENPASAR, SELAPARANG MATARAM
SEAPORTS: BELAWAN MEDAN, BATU AMPAR BATAM, TANJUNG PINANG RIAU, BENOA and PADANG BAI BALI, TANJUNG PRIOK JAKARTA, TANJUNG EMAS SEMARANG, TANJUNG PERAK SURABAYA , AMBON MALUKU , BITUNG MANADO
LAND BORDER: ENTIKONG (WEST KALIMANTAN)

NOTE: These entry points are taken from the Canadian Embassy Web site, at:
www.indonesia-ottawa.org/FramePages/consular-visa-frame.htm
These entry point differ from other information obtained elsewhere. Be cautious if you're going to places like Ambon, Pontianak, Balikpapan, and Biak. There may be NO direct inward visa services in these places, in which case you would not be allowed to enter.

It appears that you can get a VOA at Mataram (Lombok), but ONLY for the following countries: USA, Australia, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Finland, Hungary, UK and Italy.

Country Group B: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region, Chile, Morocco, Peru and Vietnam.
Citizens of these countries do not need a visa to enter Indonesia.

Country Group C: Try to get a visa issued beforehand (VIA). You may find that you cannot enter Indonesia at all, depending on your country, or that there are restrictions on the length of time you can stay. This may impact your ticket purchase. Republic of Ireland is in this group, and is a special case: Republic of Ireland passport holders should apply at the Embassy of Indonesia in London (tel: +44 207 499 661).
http://foreignaffairs.gov.ie/services/traveladvice/01.asp

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SOCIAL/CULTURAL VISA (Sosbud):
Persons coming to Indonesia for short term stays, not as tourists and not for business, should apply for a Social/Cultural Visit Visa (Visa Kunjungan Sosial Budaya) at an Indonesian consular office overseas. A letter from a sponsor in Indonesia is required to issue the visa. This visa status is used by persons coming to study, for research or to visit family members (for example, expat college age children who want to stay longer than a tourist visa would allow). The maximum stay without going out of the country for the social/culture visa holder is 180 days. The initial visa is issued for a 60-day stay and can be extended in Indonesian in the Immigration office in the area you are visiting for one month for each of four allowed extensions (2+1+1+1+1=6). The extension must be done at least 7 days before expiration, and require filling out several documents each time, supplying photographs, and paying a fee of approximately Rp 200,000 each time. It is a nuisance, but much cheaper than flying to Singapore every two months for a visa renewal, which you would have to do if you entered on a tourist or business visa. For the last two extensions (in the 180 days), they must be done at the Department of Justice (Kehakiman). There are many additional complications, and the rules may change at any time. You should consult with Indonesian officials before considering this visa. Don't fall for that commercial sponsorship offer regularly posted-removed on this forum by an Indonesian "guide" - you will probably be quite dependent on your sponsor for extensions, so get it from a trusted friend only!

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You might try the following places to get a VIA (other than your home country, of course). The recommendations below could very well change. Usual time to grant a visa in these places is anywhere from one day (using an agent) to three or four days on your own.
1. Malaysia:
A. Kuala Lumpur Embassy Website 233 Jalan Tun Razak 50400 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Phone : +603.245-2011 Fax +603.2417908. Cost $40US (60 days).
B. Johor Bahru Consulate 723, Jalan Air Molek 80.000, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia Phone : 60-7 222-3396 Fax : 60-7 222-8348
C. Kota Kinabalu Consulate General Lorong Kemajuan, Karamunsing Peti Surat 11595, 88817, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia Phone : 60-88 218600, 218258,
218518, 219110, Fax. : 60-88 215170
D. Penang Consulate - Poorly recommended by several posters.
E. Kuching, Sarawak: Don't grant 60 day visa. That is what a consulate official told me when I picked up my 30-day visa from the consulate today. The 30-day visa cost me RM 160 (about us$42, Ouch!) and took only 1 day, although, the same official told me that the normal processing time is 3 days. I was NOT asked to show any proof of return-/onward travel. They didn't ask to show evidence of funds or anything else, for that matter.

2. Singapore (recommended by RAK) -
Name: Wahab.
Email: shohib@starhub.net.sg
Website: http://www.hana-express.com.sg
Phone : +65 - 9654 0870 (his mobile)
Company: HANA EXPRESS 163,Tras Street, #10-01, Lian Huat Building
He needs this for the visa:
> 1. Passport, must be valid minimum six months.
> 2. Two clean pages for visa stamping.
> 3. One passport size photograph.
> 4. Airline ticket out of Indonesia.
> 5. Fee of Sgd$160.00 nett.
> 6. Visa will be ready within a day.
The fee covers the actual visa costs at the embassy plus his own fee. Normally he picks up your passport etc. at your hotel (or I think he also uses a coffee shop in Orchard Road for people not in the central area) in the morning, and delivers it in the afternoon, same day. He and his staff already process many non-tourist visas every day. But of course it does cost more than doing it yourself at the embassy. And you might only get a 30 day visa if you do it yourself.

3. THAILAND - maybe.

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Additional notes:
1. For those getting a visa in Singapore, I much prefer to use an agent. They do mine the same day (now a business visa, and previously resident KITAS); they pick up from and deliver to hotels downtown; and I save a long of time and frustration at the embassy. My agent charges about S$45 on top of the actual visa charges I think - well worth it I think. Last time he did mine in 3 hours, a new record for me.
2. There are no restrictions on entering at one place, and exiting from another (If anyone knows any exceptions to this rule, PM me immediately - Thanks).
3. I was NOT asked to show any proof of onward-/return travel when I enterd Indonesia via Entikong (West Kalimantan) border crossing. In fact, I wasn't asked anything at all, the guy hardly had a look at my visa, just stamped my passport. I would be very surprised if somebody was asked such proof with a visa already in the passport (because you've already been granted a permit to enter the country), but I guess - with Indonesia - anything could happen.

Okay, that's it for now. Have a great time in Indonesia......JP Harrison
(kiteflyer88)

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I'd like to add that in the section which explians "visa on arrival", it should read; SEAPORTS: TANJUNG PINANG BINTAN
Also a VOA is available at the seaport of Teluk Sebong - Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal BINTAN.

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Hi!

As you say here that you can get a Visa for Indonesia in Thailand - MAYBE.

I guess that this is possible in Bangkok. Has anybody any experience with the Indonesian embassy in Bangkok (i.e. How long does it take and how much does it cost??)

I am Austrian (so I must have a visa before arrival) and my husband s French (he could get it on arrival).

Thanks for your help.

Simone & Guillaume

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#8, what I meant was that I have received conflicting reports about Bangkok - which might mean that the policy has changed, who knows? I'd appreciate some info on this from anyone who's tried it there......

One correction to the original post: "Country Group C" means "everybody else". In other words, if you're from any other countries than those mentioned in Group A or Group B, you fall into Group C. I must have been half-asleep when I wrote that.... JP

JP

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The land border at Entikong in West Kalimantan used to be a visa-free entry point under the old system, however when the new visa requirements were introduced it initially seemed to have been omitted from the lists of those places where VOA is available, and people who have recently crossed there obtained 30 day visas in Kuching.

If anyone gets a VOA either there we would be glad to hear.

The same applies to the seaports of Tarakan & Nunukan (coming from Sabah).

My info & thoughts:
on East-Indonesia.info: Indonesia, West Papua, Maluku, Ternate, Ambon, Saparua, Banda, Kei
on VirtualTourist.com: Papua New Guinea, Philippines, New Caledonia, Eritrea, Djibouti
on Thorn Tree: Seeing Orangutans, Kalimantan, SE Asia Islands FAQ thread & Samoa Warnings

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I've just returned from the Long Bawan area of East Kalimantan and have this update on the visa regulations in the area.

If you're flying into the area from Tarakan or somewhere else in Indonesia, a tourist visa is required just like anywhere else in Indonesia. HOWEVER, if you cross into the Long Bawan/Long Layu area BY LAND from Sarawak, Malaysia, there are the following rules that are unique to the area:

Arriving by road from Sarawak, Malaysia into Long Bawan: An Indonesian visa is required BEFORE you arrive. On arrival you must report to the immigration office in Long Bawan and show them your Indonesian tourist visa. Here they will give you a TWO-day "permit" to visit the Long Bawan area. Before your 2 days is up you MUST return via road to Sarawak, Malaysia. The immigration office is under pressure from locals to eliminate this restriction, so this may change soon.

Trekkers arriving by foot from Bario, Sarawak, Malaysia: Those interested in long-distance trekking can enter into Kalimantan WITHOUT an Indonesian tourist visa (you must bring a valid passport). The limitations of this option are that you must return to Bario on foot, and must not go to Long Bawan, which comes under the authority of the immigration office there. See the Kalimantan Travel Tips thread for more information.

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I would like to add to Hunwagner's comment (#10) that ENTIKONG (West-Kalimantan) DOES NOT have VOA facilities and therefore you must get your visa beforehand (in fact, you probably won't even be allowed to board the bus in Kuching (to Pontianak) if you don't have an Indo visa in your passport). Also, Kuching is not very good place to get the visa since they only issue 30-d visas & charge the same for those as the embassy in Kuala Lumpur does for 60-d visas (RM160, if I remember correctly).

"They misunderestimate me" - George W. Bush

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Hi
I would like to ask if it is simple to find a sponser in Indonesia....? Becaurse my plan was to stay in 3 months. But if it's really hard to get I will travel on after 2 month(wich is the lenght of my visa)....
Line

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Reply to #8 and #9

Here you are the details about getting a visa at the Indonesian embassy in Bangkok:

60 day visa ready in 3 working days (first day = day of submitting and 3rd day is day of retrieval).
Cost = 1600 THB
2 passport size photos required
Submittal from 9 to 12 am, retrieval between 2 and 3 pm
Ticket to and out of Indonesia required (a simple reservation will do)

Attention: June 2 and 3 are public holidays in Indonesia and therefore the Indonesian embassies are CLOSED.

Simone & Guillaume