Jakarta Travel Guide: Some Tidbits
1. Entry Requirements
Citizens of Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Morocco, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam do not need a visa to enter in Indonesia. A free of charge stay permit for 30 days is given upon presentation of a passport.
Citizens of Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Libya, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Panama, People’s Republic of China, Poland, Portugal, Quatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States of America need to obtain a visa on arrival (VoA). The visa is valid either for 7 or 30 days upon arrival by air in Jakarta and a few other international airports or by ship at a limited number of Indonesian sea ports.
Visitors carrying passports from the above countries have to get their passports stamped with the visa at one of the VoA Counters before proceeding to the Immigration Clearance Desk. An official bank is usually available for you to pay the fees near the VoA Counters. A six-day visa costs US$10 whereas a 30-day costs US$25. Payment can be made in all major currencies or by a credit card.
Nationals of other countries and territories have to apply for a visa at one of the Indonesian Consulates or Foreign Missions overseas before traveling to Indonesia.
If you plan to stay for more than 30 days in Indonesia, regardless what citizenship you hold, you will have to apply for the appropriate visa before traveling to Indonesia. There are basically four types of visa issued by the Indonesian government:
- Tourist visa or travel visa that is valid for a period of three months which permits a stay of no more than 60 days within the period.
- Transit visa that is also valid for a period of three months and allows the holder to visit Indonesia for up to 14 days.
- Social/cultural visit visa that is valid for either 60 days or 3 months and issued for a social/cultural visit, such as visiting relatives/friends; social organizations; cultural/educational exchange visits.
- Business visa which can be granted for either single or multiple entries. In the case of single entry business visa, the duration is the same as tourist visa. Multiple entry visa is valid for a maximum of sixty days to one year.
Indonesian immigration imposes strict penalties on those who exceed their permitted duration to stay in the country. Overstay visitors incur to pay a penalty of US$20 per day/person (for under 60 days’ stay) or a 5 (five) year imprisonment or a fine of Rp25 million for over 60 days’ stay. So, be aware of your actual length of stay in the country.
For further information on the visas and entry requirements please contact the Indonesian Embassy or Consulate in your respected country.