Updated April 16th, 2023
This quick guide will explain the differences between the Visa on Arrival (VoA) and the newly available Electronic Visa on Arrival (eVoA), how and where to extend it, costs associated with the extension, and more.
What is a Visa on Arrival?
A Visa on Arrival, or VoA for short, is a permission granted by Immigration Authorities to a foreign person to enter a country at the time of arrival – usually by way of an airport or seaport. While each country has different conditions, Indonesia offers travelers from most countries a Visa on Arrival period of 30 days. Some nationalities are granted a free VoA, while others must pay.
When arriving to Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport, travelers must first queue at the Visa on Arrival Payment counter. After payment for the visa, travelers continue to queue at the immigration counters before finally entering the country officially.
Visa on Arrival Bali Cost
The VoA cost is Rp. 500,000, or USD35.. It is best to prepare the exact amount, as any change given will be in Indonesian Rupiah and may not have the best exchange rate.
What’s the difference between a VoA and the eVoA?
The VoA is granted on arrival, as the name implies. And while the Electronic Visa on Arrival implies the same thing, it is actually applied for and received digitally prior to your arrival in Bali.
eVoA Bali Cost
The eVoA cost is also Rp. 500,000 and must be paid online with a credit or debit card. The system only accepts Mastercard, Visa and JCB cards.
Each traveler, even infants, need their own eVoA. It is worth noting that no data can be changed after applying, and the fee is non-refundable. The government website frequently has issues, making for a somewhat frustrating experience. We highly recommend using an agent to save you time and help ensure that no mistakes are made. Visa-Indonesia.com is a professional and reputable visa agency with a very reasonable price for handling your eVoA. We have been using them for a while and love their helpful support staff, who are willing to answer any and all questions we had.
How to Extend a VoA
To extend your VoA, you’ll need to visit the immigration office closest to you not once, not twice, but three times for the extension.
First visit – Apply for your extension in the morning. While immigration opens officially at 8am, we strongly recommend arriving at 7am and getting your queue ticket. If you arrive at 8am, you could potentially have to wait for hours. Yes, hours!
Second visit – When finishing your application, you’ll be told when to return to have your fingerprints and photo taken. Again, the early bird gets the worm. Show up as early as possible to avoid long waits. A friend recently told us that he showed up at 8:15am, received the number 98 and the system was at 17. At 3-5 minutes per person minimum, well, you do the math. Parents with children and senior citizens do have a separate queue that might not be as long of a wait. Be sure to mention at the information counter if you fit into either of these categories.
Third visit- When you finish with your photo and fingerprint, your receipt will have a date to pick up your passport. Passport pickup is in the afternoon. While you can’t come on a date earlier than stamped on your receipt, you can come on a date later – so don’t stress if you already have plans because you can come a few days later and it’s not a big deal.
If this sounds like a hassle, that’s because it is!
If extending your VoA by yourself is something you wish to avoid, then plan accordingly. We always recommend using a reputable visa agent to save time and effort, even if the cost is a little more it will be worth it!
How to Extend an eVoA
The eVoA can be extended online and the main selling point is that you don’t need to visit immigration for the extension unless the new system is experiencing errors, which happens often enough for us to simply recommend using an agent, in which case you still would not need to visit the immigration office.
How much does the extension cost?
The official cost of the extension is Rp. 500.000, this the same for both the VoA and eVoA. Using an agent will cost you a bit more, but as mentioned above, the additional cost is well worth it when you consider what you could be doing if you didn’t have to visit the immigration office – surfing, diving, or just having a lazy beach day.
When should I start the extension?
As soon as you know you want to stay longer you should start the process. We recommend beginning the process at least a week before your current visa expires, just in case. This will help you avoid potential overstay fees of Rp. 1.000.000 per DAY. If your visa extension is rejected, which is not common when using an agent, you allow yourself time to a book a flight out.