Visa & entryBy Clever Tourists · Published · Last updated
Indonesia, including Bali, sits in a middle category a lot of travelers get wrong: it's not visa-free for US citizens, but it's also not a traditional visa you need to apply for at a consulate. It's an electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VOA), arranged online, and there's a separate one-time tourism fee specific to Bali that catches people off guard because it isn't part of the visa at all. Here's exactly how each piece works. (For US citizens visiting for tourism; confirm current details at an official Indonesian government source before you book.)
US citizens need an electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VOA) to enter Indonesia, including Bali. It's not a traditional advance visa and it's not visa-free — it's a paid electronic authorization you arrange online, ideally before you fly. The old process (a physical visa-on-arrival counter, or the older molina.imigrasi.go.id portal) has been consolidated into a single official system.
Apply through the official portal, evisa.imigrasi.go.id — Indonesian Immigration accepts applications up to 90 days before arrival, and recommends submitting at least 48 hours before departure. You'll need your passport bio page, a passport photo, and proof of return or onward travel. The fee is IDR 500,000 (roughly $30, though exchange rates move), and it's been unchanged for several years.
Once issued, your e-VOA authorization is valid for 90 days from issuance — meaning you have a 90-day window in which to actually enter the country — but once you do enter, your permitted stay is capped at 30 days. It can be extended once for another 30 days (60 days total), for another IDR 500,000, done entirely online through the same portal, followed by a photo appointment at a local immigration office. Apply for the extension between 14 days before and 1 day before your current stay expires; the overstay penalty is IDR 1,000,000 per day, so don't let it lapse.
Your passport needs at least six months of validity from your entry date, with a blank page available.
Since October 2025, all international arrivals also need to complete a separate mandatory digital arrival declaration through Indonesia's "All Indonesia" platform, up to three days before you arrive (or via QR code on arrival if you miss the window). It replaced the old e-CD customs form and SATUSEHAT health pass, is free, and is required regardless of visa type; see our All Indonesia Arrival Card guide.
If Bali is on your itinerary, there's a one-time tourist levy of IDR 150,000 (roughly $10), completely separate from your e-VOA and paid through Bali's own official portal rather than the immigration system. It's a one-time charge per visit, paid cashlessly, and produces a QR-code voucher you may be asked to show. This isn't part of your visa and doesn't affect your e-VOA application — it's a Bali-specific tourism fee layered on top.
Apply for the e-VOA online before you fly rather than assuming there's still a walk-up counter at the airport, and pay the separate Bali levy ahead of time if Bali is part of your trip. Complete the "All Indonesia" arrival declaration within three days of arrival, and keep an eye on your 30-day clock if you're staying longer — the extension process is straightforward but has a real overstay penalty if you miss it.
For a smooth arrival at Denpasar Airport, review our walkthrough in What Should You Expect Arriving at Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali? (Customs QR, e-VOA & Grab Taxis). When exploring local culture, check What Is the Temple Dress Code in Vietnam and Bali?, brush up on tipping in How Much Should I Tip in Bali and Indonesia?, and see our volcanic highland feature in the Kintamani Travel Guide: Mount Batur Sunrise & Volcano Caldera.
The e-VOA costs IDR 500,000 (roughly $30). The separate Bali tourist levy is another IDR 150,000 (roughly $10), paid through Bali's own portal.
Only through the official portal, evisa.imigrasi.go.id. You can apply up to 90 days before arrival; submit at least 48 hours before departure.
30 days from entry, extendable once online for another 30 days (60 total) for another IDR 500,000. The overstay penalty is IDR 1,000,000 per day.
No. The IDR 150,000 Bali levy is a separate one-time fee paid through Bali's own portal; it doesn't affect your e-VOA application.
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