Short answer: almost everyone does. Most visitors use a Visa on Arrival or e-Visa, while only ASEAN passport holders get in visa-free. Your exact answer depends on your nationality, your purpose, and how long you plan to stay.
If you are flying to Bali, the honest answer is that you almost certainly need some kind of visa — the only travellers who enter completely visa-free are passport holders from ASEAN countries, and even then only for up to 30 days. Everyone else uses a Visa on Arrival (VoA), its online version the e-VoA, or another visa depending on why they are visiting. The right answer for you comes down to three things: your passport country, your reason for travelling, and how long you want to stay.
If you hold a passport from an ASEAN member country, you can usually enter Indonesia visa-free for up to 30 days at no cost. This stay cannot be extended, so if you want to stay longer you would still need to apply for a paid visa such as the VoA or a visit visa. For everyone outside ASEAN, the visa-free route is not available.
Most visitors — including travellers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and the European Union — use the Visa on Arrival. You pay a government fee of roughly $35–40 when you land, or pre-approve the same visa online as an e-VoA before you fly. It gives you 30 days and can be extended once for another 30. If your nationality is not eligible for the VoA, you will normally need a B211A visit visa instead.
A holiday, a family visit or a business meeting fits comfortably on a VoA. But if you plan to work, study, retire, invest or stay for many months, the VoA is the wrong tool and you will need a purpose-specific visa — a Working KITAS, a Retirement Visa, a Digital Nomad visa and so on. The purpose of your trip changes the answer as much as your nationality does.
Length matters too. Up to about 60 days, a VoA with its single extension usually covers you. Beyond that, you move into the B211A visit visa (extendable to around 180–210 days) or a long-stay residence permit. Whatever you do, make sure your passport is valid for at least six months from your arrival date — airlines and immigration will check.
Short, honest answers. Still unsure? Our concierge replies personally on WhatsApp.
Unless you hold an ASEAN passport, yes — the Visa on Arrival covers a holiday comfortably with its 30-day stay.
Only ASEAN passport holders, for up to 30 days, with no extension and no fee.
Three things: your nationality, your purpose (tourism, work, study, retirement and so on), and how long you intend to stay.
At least six months from your date of arrival, with a blank page available.
Send us your passport country and your travel dates and we will confirm exactly what you need — no guesswork, just a clear answer and the honest cost.
