Indonesia Visa Free for Business Meeting?

[peakhour]

Hi All

I am visiting Indonesia (Surabaya) for the first time next week. I read the visa information for Australian passports online, and it's not spelled out clearly whether visa free status applies to business trips of less than 30 days.

I rang the consulate and they said as long as I have the usual 6 months validity, return ticket and a letter from the company in Indonesia, the visa free status applies.

Can anyone please confirm their recent experience of this being the case?

Thanks a lot.

Peakhour

 

[ermen]

Australians visiting Indonesia <30 days should be visa free now (finally!).

Results from https://www.ExpertFlyer.com

Visa, Health & Passport:






Information as of  22MAY17 / 0510 UTC
National Australia (AU)         /Embarkation Australia (AU)
Destination Indonesia (ID)
Indonesia (ID)


Passport required.
- Passports and other documents accepted for entry must be
valid for a minimum of 6 months from the arrival date.
Passport Exemptions:
- Passengers with an emergency or a temporary passport.


Visa required, except for Nationals of Australia for a maximum
stay of 30 days. (SEE NOTE 63643) (SEE NOTE 71956)
NOTE 63643: This does not apply to passengers with an
emergency passport.
NOTE 71956: This does not apply when traveling for
journalism visits.
Visa required, except for Passengers with an APEC Business
valid for travel to  IDN  for a
maximum stay of 60 days. (SEE NOTE 41496) The card is valid
for the countries listed on the back of the card.
NOTE 41496: This only applies when entering Indonesia via
the following airports: Balikpapan (BPN), Bandung (BDO),
Batam (BTH), Denpasar-Bali (DPS), Jakarta (Halim Perdana
Kusuma (HLP) and Soekarno-Hatta (CGK), Kupang (KOE), Lombok
(LOP), Makassar (UPG), Manado (MDC), Medan Kuala Namu
(KNO), Padang (PDG), Pekan Baru (PKU), Semarang (SRG),
Surakarta (Solo) (SOC), Surabaya (SUB) or Yogyakarta (JOG).
- OR
Visa Issuance:
Visa required, except for Nationals of Australia can obtain a
visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days(SEE NOTE 43284)
(SEE NOTE 46597) if their passport contains at least half an


NOTE 43284: Passengers can apply for a visa on arrival at
Balikpapan (BPN), Banda Aceh (BTJ), Bandung (BDO), Batam
(BTH), Denpasar-Bali (DPS), Jakarta (Halim Perdana Kusuma
(HLP) and Soekarno-Hatta (CGK), Kupang (KOE), Lombok (LOP),
Medan Kuala Namu (KNO), Makassar (UPG), Manado (MDC),
Padang (PDG), Palembang (PLM), Pekan Baru (PKU), Pontianak
(PNK), Semarang (SRG), Surabaya (SUB), Surakarta (Solo)
(SOC) or Yogyakarta (JOG).
NOTE 46597: This does not apply to passengers with an
emergency or a temporary passport.
Minors:
- Minors traveling together with nationals of Indonesia


- All children, even when included in their parent's


Additional Information:
- Passengers exceeding their permitted stay will be fined
(Note: The day of arrival in Indonesia is counted as the
first day of stay).
- Extensions of stay are possible depending on the type of
visa.
Warning:
- Passengers with an APEC Business Travel Card must travel
with a passport. The passport number and nationality must
match those stated on the card.
- Visas must be used within 90 days after date of issuance.
.


Indonesia (ID)


Vaccination against yellow fever required if arriving within 6
days after leaving or transiting countries with risk of yellow
.


Exempt from Yellow Fever vaccination:
- Children under 9 months of age.
- Passengers transiting countries with risk of yellow fever
transmission if not leaving the transit areas.
Recommended:
- Malaria prophylaxis: malaria risk exists throughout the year
in most areas of the five eastern provinces of East Nusa
Tenggara, Maluku, North Maluku, Papua and West Papua. In
other parts of the country, there is malaria risk in some
districts, except in Jakarta Municipality, in cities and
urban areas as well as within the areas of the main tourist
resorts. Human P. knowlesi reported in the province of
Kalimantan. Recommended prevention in risk areas: C.


- CHECK LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES ON TRAVEL
INFORMATION

 

[peakhour]

Thank you!

Australians visiting Indonesia <30 days should be visa free now (finally!).

Results from https://www.ExpertFlyer.com

Visa, Health & Passport:






Information as of  22MAY17 / 0510 UTC
National Australia (AU)         /Embarkation Australia (AU)
Destination Indonesia (ID)
Indonesia (ID)


Passport required.
- Passports and other documents accepted for entry must be
valid for a minimum of 6 months from the arrival date.
Passport Exemptions:
- Passengers with an emergency or a temporary passport.


Visa required, except for Nationals of Australia for a maximum
stay of 30 days. (SEE NOTE 63643) (SEE NOTE 71956)
NOTE 63643: This does not apply to passengers with an
emergency passport.
NOTE 71956: This does not apply when traveling for
journalism visits.
Visa required, except for Passengers with an APEC Business
valid for travel to  IDN  for a
maximum stay of 60 days. (SEE NOTE 41496) The card is valid
for the countries listed on the back of the card.
NOTE 41496: This only applies when entering Indonesia via
the following airports: Balikpapan (BPN), Bandung (BDO),
Batam (BTH), Denpasar-Bali (DPS), Jakarta (Halim Perdana
Kusuma (HLP) and Soekarno-Hatta (CGK), Kupang (KOE), Lombok
(LOP), Makassar (UPG), Manado (MDC), Medan Kuala Namu
(KNO), Padang (PDG), Pekan Baru (PKU), Semarang (SRG),
Surakarta (Solo) (SOC), Surabaya (SUB) or Yogyakarta (JOG).
- OR
Visa Issuance:
Visa required, except for Nationals of Australia can obtain a
visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days(SEE NOTE 43284)
(SEE NOTE 46597) if their passport contains at least half an


NOTE 43284: Passengers can apply for a visa on arrival at
Balikpapan (BPN), Banda Aceh (BTJ), Bandung (BDO), Batam
(BTH), Denpasar-Bali (DPS), Jakarta (Halim Perdana Kusuma
(HLP) and Soekarno-Hatta (CGK), Kupang (KOE), Lombok (LOP),
Medan Kuala Namu (KNO), Makassar (UPG), Manado (MDC),
Padang (PDG), Palembang (PLM), Pekan Baru (PKU), Pontianak
(PNK), Semarang (SRG), Surabaya (SUB), Surakarta (Solo)
(SOC) or Yogyakarta (JOG).
NOTE 46597: This does not apply to passengers with an
emergency or a temporary passport.
Minors:
- Minors traveling together with nationals of Indonesia


- All children, even when included in their parent's


Additional Information:
- Passengers exceeding their permitted stay will be fined
(Note: The day of arrival in Indonesia is counted as the
first day of stay).
- Extensions of stay are possible depending on the type of
visa.
Warning:
- Passengers with an APEC Business Travel Card must travel
with a passport. The passport number and nationality must
match those stated on the card.
- Visas must be used within 90 days after date of issuance.
.


Indonesia (ID)


Vaccination against yellow fever required if arriving within 6
days after leaving or transiting countries with risk of yellow
.


Exempt from Yellow Fever vaccination:
- Children under 9 months of age.
- Passengers transiting countries with risk of yellow fever
transmission if not leaving the transit areas.
Recommended:
- Malaria prophylaxis: malaria risk exists throughout the year
in most areas of the five eastern provinces of East Nusa
Tenggara, Maluku, North Maluku, Papua and West Papua. In
other parts of the country, there is malaria risk in some
districts, except in Jakarta Municipality, in cities and
urban areas as well as within the areas of the main tourist
resorts. Human P. knowlesi reported in the province of
Kalimantan. Recommended prevention in risk areas: C.


- CHECK LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES ON TRAVEL
INFORMATION

 

[theblank]

Can anyone please confirm their recent experience of this being the case?

The australian doctor called as a witness for the defence in the cyanide coffee murder trial, was detained and deported because he entered on the new free Visa, instead of the correct visa class. But you would remember that the only reason that he got caught was because the prosecutors made that nepharious accusation in court to discredit his testimony. It would seem then customs had no choice to work to rule when he was leaving.

If I remember correctly, it was stated that if he had of taken up the Visa On Arrival at entry, he would have been fine as thats available for business or tourist, but the new free Visa is for tourist only.

If I was you, I would ring the consulate again and ask why you are different than his guys situation, I am sure they are aware of it.

If you are not experienced with dealings with Indonesia, you would be familiar with consistency of interpretations is often not consistent. The only one that will matter is the customs officers in front of you.

 

[nicky286]

Hi

Just giving you update, if you are on business trip unless you holding APEC card, you need to pay for the visa on arrival.

They giving visa free 30 days only for TOURIST

Thank you

 

[theblank]

Just giving you update, if you are on business trip unless you holding APEC card, you need to pay for the visa on arrival.

Sounds right to me,

The good thing about this is you dont have to apply for a business visa before you go, and thats probably what was meant to be conveyed to OP and there is a misunderstanding between both him and consulate. The easy part about all of this is if he turns up to passport control, ticked the Business trip declaration, the officer will point him to the VOA desk just behind them. There wont be any drama at all.

They accept most currencies for VOA, its either $50 or $55 australian, you need to have the correct denominations, or you will lose out on the conversion when they give you change.
Its not worth paying in USD $30 (?) unless you already have the notes as it costs too much to buy it.