The immigration queues at Ngurah Rai used to be the first test of your patience in Bali. They still can be — but if you're coming from one of 97 eligible countries, there's now a legitimate way to skip most of it.
The e-VOA, Indonesia's electronic Visa on Arrival, lets you sort your visa before you land. And given that Bali has been making changes to its requirements, it's worth knowing what you're walking into before you book your flight.
Let's find out what's new with Bali's entry requirements in 2026.
Your visa options and which one to use
Two options dominate for most tourists: the Visa on Arrival (VoA), handled at the airport, and the electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VOA), applied for online before traveling. Both allow you to stay up to 30 days initially, and you can request an extension once for another 30. Their difference lies in where you deal with the paperwork.
The e-VOA launched in January 2025. Citizens from 97 countries can apply online, pay the IDR 500,000 fee (around USD 35), and receive approval within roughly three working days. You show up with a QR code. The physical VoA is still available if you miss the window — but the queue at the airport can run long, and you'll pay the same fee there anyway.
The 97-country list is broader than you might expect — most of Europe, North America, Australia, and a large chunk of Asia. But it has been revised since the system launched, and a few countries have moved on and off it without much fanfare. Don't assume you're eligible because a friend was six months ago. Check the Indonesian immigration website directly.
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Applying for the e-VOA
You complete your Bali eVOA application online. You'll need a passport with at least six months' validity from your arrival date, a passport photo, proof of onward travel, and IDR 500,000 (roughly USD 35).
Processing takes around three working days. Apply at least a week before you travel — not because delays are common, but because if something goes wrong, customer support for Indonesian immigration systems is not exactly responsive.
One thing worth knowing about that six-month passport rule: it's measured from the date you arrive, not the date you apply. If your passport expires within eight months of your travel date, factor that in before you submit, because a passport that's valid when you apply may not meet the threshold when you land.
Once approved, you receive an electronic notice. Keep it accessible. Some border agents wave it through; others want to examine it carefully. You can't predict which you'll get.
The fine print that tends to get glossed over: the e-VOA is for tourism only. Indonesia's definition of "tourism" doesn't include working remotely for a foreign employer, even if you're never earning Indonesian income. Enforcement has been inconsistent. But it's in the terms, and it's something digital nomads should think about before answering questions at the border.
Traveling with children? The e-VOA application is per person — children need their own application and their own fee. Children traveling with one parent, or with neither parent, may face additional documentation requests at the border — Indonesian immigration can ask for notarized consent letters. The official guidance on this is thin. If your family setup is anything other than two parents traveling together, contact the Indonesian consulate before you travel.
The 'All Indonesia' arrival card - new from October 2025
Since October 1, 2025, every international traveler landing at Ngurah Rai — and other major Indonesian airports — must complete a digital arrival card before they land. Not a visa. A declaration: immigration details, customs, health, quarantine. The paperwork that used to happen on the plane now happens on your phone.
The 'All Indonesia' app handles it. Download from the App Store or Google Play, or use the web portal. Submit up to three days before arrival and you receive a QR code to show at the border.
Do it at home. Not in the departure lounge, not on the plane. Airport Wi-Fi is a lottery, and the last thing you want is to be fumbling with a government app at the gate.
Bali is only accessible by air or sea, so land border considerations don't apply here — though the requirement extends to other Indonesian entry points.
Extending your visa - the part that changed in 2025
This is where it gets more complicated, and where travelers who've visited Bali before may get caught out.
Since June 1, 2025, visa extensions can no longer be handled online. You have to appear in person at an immigration office — biometric data collection, an interview, the full process. Not just dropping off paperwork.
Register online first via the immigration portal to initiate the request, then book an appointment at your local immigration office. Bring your passport, a recent photo, and proof of onward travel. Processing times vary, and applying well before your 30-day stamp expires is not optional — leaving it to the final few days is genuinely risky.
Immigration offices in the main tourist areas handle high volumes, but that doesn't mean they're fast. The Denpasar office can have significant appointment wait times depending on the season. Check availability as soon as you decide you're staying longer.
This change to in-person extensions is not well-publicized. Travelers who booked longer stays and planned to extend online are still arriving and discovering it. An unpleasant surprise when you've already committed to a villa for six weeks.
The tourist levy and the upcoming proof-of-funds requirement
Bali's tourist levy — IDR 150,000 (approximately USD 9) per person — has been in effect since February 2024. It applies to all foreign visitors regardless of visa type. Pay on arrival or in advance via the Love Bali website. If you pay in advance, save the confirmation — you'll be asked to show it.
On top of that, there's something less settled. In January 2026, the Balinese government announced plans to require proof of funds from foreign tourists: bank statements, confirmed return tickets, travel itineraries. The stated target date is March 2026. But the enforcement mechanism, the financial thresholds, and whether this will launch on schedule are all unclear. The announcement exists. The details do not.
If you're traveling from March 2026 onward, bring documentation of financial means regardless. It may mean nothing at the border. It may not. Anyone telling you definitively what to prepare is speculating — including us.
Common Questions
Q: Do I need a visa to visit Bali?
A: Most tourists need a Visa on Arrival (VoA) or electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VOA). Citizens from 97 eligible countries can apply for the e-VOA online before traveling. Both cost IDR 500,000 (approximately USD 35) and allow an initial 30-day stay, extendable once for another 30 days.
Q: How do I apply for the Bali e-VOA?
A: Apply online with trustworthy visa agency, or at molina.imigrasi.go.id. You will need a passport valid for at least six months from your arrival date, a passport photo, and proof of onward travel. The fee is IDR 500,000 (around USD 35). Processing typically takes three working days. Apply at least a week before you travel.
Q: Can I extend my Bali visa, and how?
A: Yes. Both the e-VOA and VoA can be extended once for 30 days, giving a maximum stay of 60 days. Since June 1, 2025, all extensions must be done in person at an Indonesian immigration office — online extensions are no longer accepted. Register online first, book an appointment, and attend in person for biometric data collection and an interview.
Q: What is the All Indonesia arrival card?
A: Since October 1, 2025, all international travelers entering Indonesia must complete a digital arrival card before landing. It combines immigration, customs, health, and quarantine declarations into one form. Complete it via the All Indonesia app or web portal up to three days before arrival and show the QR code at the border.
Q: What is the Bali tourist levy and do I have to pay it?
A: The Bali tourist levy is IDR 150,000 (approximately USD 9) per person, applies to all foreign visitors regardless of visa type, and has been in effect since February 2024. Pay on arrival or in advance at lovebali.baliprov.go.id. Save your confirmation if paying ahead.
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