Online application for e_VOA for Bali

[RooFlyer]

Is it no via required, or just no charge?

 

[SYD]

They say it may be free sometime in the New year. seeing we are flying to DPS on March 15th my guess visa free will start March 16th.

Close. 15 Feb…

Is it no via required, or just no charge?

But otherwise Visa free!

Bali set to scrap $50 visa fee for Australians

Visa-free travel is on the cards, although there’ll be a new $15 tourism levy from February 2024.

www.executivetraveller.com

 

[StingyGeek]

Yes correct. And there are also two distinct processes you need to do.

1. Visa. You can apply online for EVisa and pay the money or wait until you get to the airport and pay for the visa VOA (same price) as soon as you get to the arrivals hall. The desk will be to your left and as others have stated not well signposted.

2. Customs Declaration. Then two days prior you apply for the customs declaration online and this is free. That's the link I gave upthread. It's much much easier to do this before you leave, otherwise after you've cleared immigration you have to use your mobile device and the airports wifi to complete it online. I don't know why people wait until then as you just want to get going.

Fast track is something different again and I'd thought it had been stopped. We sure didn't need it.

There are ATM's everywhere at the airport and even an area of multiple ATM's and outside in the streets.. Try to use a Bank one. Don't bother with a money changer even if 'authorised'. If you get your visa at the airport and pay cash then your change will be in rupiah.

It takes quite a walk once out of customs to get to the outside driver area, there are multiple SIM card sellers, ATM, tour touts, driving tours, duty free and so on. Just keep walking and winding your way round. You will know when you are in the pick up area, everyone is lined up layers deep and you have to find yours. Or grab a taxi.

Only use Bluebird Group taxis or hire a driver for the day with clear understanding of the total price.

If I can add:
1)Download and set up the bluebird App. Works great.
2) ATM cash typically better rate than money changers.
3) For mobile, add an esim to your phone. Many out there, I use Airalo. Just Download the app and you can set it up in advance. Very cheap, and starts to work the minute you land and turn off Aeroplane mode.

 

[Steven of Mysore]

My goodness, so much misinformation in these threads - one would think some of the posting people had never been to Bali airport. Okay:

1. There is a difference between the Visa on Arrival (VOA - bought at the airport) and eVisa (bought online before arrival) but they cost the same AND the eVisa DOES have a separate Immigration area at the airport (as of last week anyway). With an eVisa, only use the government site - contrary to an early post, QF does have out of date information from time to time - why is that not surprising? Get the correct address from your accommodation (AirBnB addresses tend to be inaccurate) I also don't print my eVisa, just have a PDF of it on your device (I use my phone) - they are scanning the QR Code anyway. https://molina.imigrasi.go.id/ I also find that chrome has problems with Indonesian sites but Firefox and Bing work fine.
1a: Indonesia has a proposal to provide another 20 countries (plus ASEAN) with Visa Free stays from early next year. Includes Australia, China, India, South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany. The proposal is before the President.
1b: The Indonesian tourist tax of 150,000IDR (Bali and five other destinations) commences on Feb 14 2024. How it is to be collected is being "discussed", hopefully not at the airport.

2. Fast track is illegal at the airport, so tred carefully. Those maroon shirted staff were the airport staff moving people to international and domestic transfers.

3. Anyone who fills out the customs declaration at the airport is nuts - poor Wifi and limited terminals. THERE IS NO PAPER ALTERNATIVE. Official Website Direktorat Jenderal Bea dan Cukai again, doesn't like Chrome. I filll out the form and then take a picture of the QR Code issued and just show that when going through customs - you DO NOT need to print anything. NB: There is a page asking for details of your phone IMEI. Unless you are staying longer than 90 days, scroll down and bypass this page.

4. ATMs - several at the airport - charges/FX rates depend on YOUR bank's relationship with the ATM owner. I get enough for a few days and then change cash at reputable FX dealers.

5. SIMs - very useful if you need data out and about but WiFi is in almost every restaurant, shop, cafe etc and of course if you are going to user Uber/GoJek etc. Plenty at the airport and I recommend Telkomsel.
8gb 200,000IDR
14gb 250,000 IDR
24gb 300,000 IDR
35gb 400,000 IDR

6. Airport transfers. Most of my guests arrange their transfers through me and I use an independent contractor (no %, just a service). I give him a bright red polo to wear and the villa name on an A4 pink sign - so easy to find in a sea of white shirts and white printouts - the first two pics shown above are NOT where the taxi/transfers are. I strongly suggest having your accommodation provide the transfer (it's not that expensive and saves all the hassles with taxi. Alternatively there are several transfer services just as you exit the customs hall, all are 'legit'. Here are reasonable prices for a people carrier (usual style) which is best for 5 plus normal luggage - 6 if just carry on bags. Canggu area IDR350,000 Umalas 300,000 Ubud 400,000 and Nusa Dua 300,000. If anyone wants Nyoman's contact details, just reply to me (If that is not allowed, please don't).

I have business in Bali and go to 4-6 times per year and use the above successfully everytime.
Happy travels

 

[marks]

Just saw this on the news.

Bali Visa on Arrival: Tourist 'tax' to be axed, saving Australian families hundreds

No tax or reduced to $15 in Feb?

Looks like another tax/fee on top of the visa. I'm sure we'll see next month. Many different stories at the moment.

Indonesia Tourism Board Explains How New Tourist Tax Will Protect Bali

The process of paying the tourism levy is straightforward and will certainly be best to complete before arriving in Bali.

thebalisun.com

 

[marks]

In Bali ATM with the family. Arrived 14:30 on VA45 from Brisbane.
Had eVOA done and the custom form done. Both printed. 10 minutes wait in the line and we had our stamps done in 10min. Plenty of people in the line to buy the visa still.
Maybe another 15 mins for all the bags and the customs form scanned and out. Very painless and not the 90+ mins just to get though immigration of the past.

Was recommended bytesim for an esim.

ByteSIM eSIM | International eSIM plans for travel abroad

Buy online an international travel eSIM and save roaming fees when you travel. It is fast and easy. ByteSIM is the best rated eSIM shop.

bytesim.com

Pick the length and data and the order is sent via email in a few seconds. It's not a local esim as you have to install and turn on data roaming for that sim. I got 7 days for 3gb was ~$6.67 AUD . You pay in USD. Support available via whatsapp which I used. (Missed the roaming thing). Will be using again.

Finally, pack aero guard. Can't find it here and the mozzies are smashing a few of us. The local repellent not fantastic at stopping them.

Cheers.

 

[Steven of Mysore]

In Bali ATM with the family. Arrived 14:30 on VA45 from Brisbane.
Had eVOA done and the custom form done. Both printed. 10 minutes wait in the line and we had our stamps done in 10min. Plenty of people in the line to buy the visa still.
Maybe another 15 mins for all the bags and the customs form scanned and out. Very painless and not the 90+ mins just to get though immigration of the past.

Was recommended bytesim for an esim.

ByteSIM eSIM | International eSIM plans for travel abroad

Buy online an international travel eSIM and save roaming fees when you travel. It is fast and easy. ByteSIM is the best rated eSIM shop.

bytesim.com

Pick the length and data and the order is sent via email in a few seconds. It's not a local esim as you have to install and turn on data roaming for that sim. I got 7 days for 3gb was ~$6.67 AUD . You pay in USD. Support available via whatsapp which I used. (Missed the roaming thing). Will be using again.

Finally, pack aero guard. Can't find it here and the mozzies are smashing a few of us. The local repellent not fantastic at stopping them.

Cheers.

It's all in the day of arrival.

 

[ksthommo]

From 14th February 2024 vistors to Bali will have to pay IDR 150,000 Tourist Levy on top of the VOA.
Welcome to Bali, the Island of Gods - Love Bali

 

[SYD]

From 14th February 2024 vistors to Bali will have to pay IDR 150,000 Tourist Levy on top of the VOA.
Welcome to Bali, the Island of Gods - Love Bali

I believe they’re scrapping the eVOA?

 

[Steven of Mysore]

I believe they’re scrapping the eVOA?

Still under discussion and it will not be for all.

 

[Steven of Mysore]

I believe they’re scrapping the eVOA

Just an FYI. The eVisa (not eVOA as that's a contradiction) will not be scrapped, there will be (probably/possibly) a schedule of countries (suggestion of 20) in addition to ASEAN, that will receive visa free access to Indonesia.

 

[SYD]

Just an FYI. The eVisa (not eVOA as that's a contradiction) will not be scrapped,

That‘s their terminology. You paid on arrival but you could pay in advance…

there will be (probably/possibly) a schedule of countries (suggestion of 20) in addition to ASEAN, that will receive visa free access to Indonesia.

Already announced that Oz (in general) is supposed to go fee free from Feb.

Bali set to scrap $50 visa fee for Australians

Visa-free travel is on the cards, although there’ll be a new $15 tourism levy from February 2024.

www.executivetraveller.com

 

[Steven of Mysore]

That‘s their terminology. You paid on arrival but you could pay in advance…

Already announced that Oz (in general) is supposed to go fee free from Feb.

Bali set to scrap $50 visa fee for Australians

Visa-free travel is on the cards, although there’ll be a new $15 tourism levy from February 2024.

www.executivetraveller.com

1. Two different visa processes eVisa and VOA
2. No it hasn't.

 

[SYD]

1. Two different visa processes eVisa and VOA

But it’s the same “visa” (money grab). One you apply and pay in advance the other you queue to pay cash to some guy at a desk before queuing again. Why would you wait until you land….

At least in CGK it’s less chaotic than DPS…

 

[oz_mark]

1. Two different visa processes eVisa and VOA
2. No it hasn't.

And one of the things you can get from the eVias process is an electronic Visa on Arrival (EVOA). I got one, and that's what they called it

 

[JohnK]

So I'm trying to apply for e-visa on arrival.

Upload copy of passport as .jpg and passport photo from Australia Post.

Go to 2nd page and enter details of passport and hotel and here they want copy of passport and onward travel arrangements as a .pdf!

Oh FFS, why so complicated?

 

[Tropic]

I'm trying to fill out the Evoa form on website. Passport details auto populated from uploaded photo, except date of issue changed to today. All good. Passport expiry in 2031 (which got autofilled correctly) so what do I upload for the field confirming Passport has at least 6mths - it has to be pdf - passport again? Also, what to upload for proof of return ticket - e-ticket? Help! Update: sorted. What a process....

 

[JohnK]

@Tropic I had some fields missing and some auto-populate wrong. When you move through the application you have opportunity to override what has auto-populated.

 

[Tropic]

Thanks JohnK. Yep, I noted and corrected the incorrect autopopulated fields. What stumped me was what to put to confirm I had > 6 mths on passport when that was already clear from uploaded passport and expiry auto pop field... anyway, just uploaded image of passport photo page (but saved as pdf) again and uploaded my e-ticket for the proof of outbound booking field. That worked but then had to go back into app and find the payment button. Was doing this on my mob so prob clearer using PC. Cheers Tropic

 

[JohnK]

@Tropic, exactly what I was going through with the application. I was doing it on laptop and had to go back in and find the payment.

My goodness DPS immigration a mess last night. Took us close to an hour. People pushing in everywhere making their own queues. Some got away with it but others made noise and immigration officers getting involved.

What appeared to be a South American lady was going around asking everyone if this was a special lane because she was pointing some special paper to everyone that she was special. She pushed in to the front somewhere but then sat against the wall behind immigration for 30+ minutes because her not so special friends were still in queue. She was still there when we finished.

My first thoughts are never again.