In 2022, Indonesia introduced a new e-visa for travellers from 26 countries. The so-called e-VOA or Visa on Arrival for Indonesia is now available to travellers from 92 countries, including the United Kingdom. The e-VOA allows travellers to stay in Indonesia for up to 60 days. For longer stays, a different Indonesia visa is required.
New visas for Indonesia
In a post from July 2022, e-Visa.ie already reported on the introduction of the Indonesian visa for ‘digital nomads’, which was introduced at the end of 2022 under the name Second Home Visa. However, this visa is not intended specifically for so-called digital nomads, but for a broader group of investors, retirees and other travellers. Thus, Indonesia seems to be mainly building on the visas for retired foreigners that the country has been offering for much longer.
Second Home Visa
The new visa, which was originally expected to target international home workers, has been named Second Home Visa. Holders of this visa are allowed to stay in Indonesia for a long time and purchase a house in the country. However, applying for this visa requires a hefty investment, namely two billion Indonesian rupiah (IDR) or 130,000 USD (approximately 100,000 GBP). This investment may only be made in the form of buying real estate, or by keeping this amount in an Indonesian bank account for the entire duration of the authorised stay with the visa (5 or 10 years).
The hefty investment required to apply for the Second Home Visa is a barrier for many remote workers. Moreover, due to the social inequality between the comparatively wealthy “digital natives” from abroad and the Indonesian population, this visa is quite controversial.
New visas to attract more visitors
By introducing new visas, including the Second Home Visa, Indonesia aims to attract more visitors. The e-Visa on Arrival (e-VOA) is also part of the strategy to boost tourism in Indonesia. Consequently, the number of nationalities eligible for this visa is constantly growing. British travellers, among others, are eligible for the e-VOA, but recently travellers (for instance) from Guatemala and Panama have been allowed to stay in Indonesia on this visa, which can be easily applied for online.
The new Visa on Arrival for Indonesia
Tourists who want to travel to Indonesia and stay for up to 30 days don’t need a Second Home Visa. In fact, they may instead make use of the more affordable Visa on Arrival for Indonesia. This visa can be used for a holiday, to visit family or friends, or to carry out certain business activities. Moreover, the e-VOA may be extended once during your stay in Indonesia for up to 30 days, if necessary. Thus, the new e-VOA allows one to stay in the country for up to 60 days.
Despite the name, travellers should apply for the new electronic Visa on Arrival before departure. In the past, British travellers did not need a visa for short stays in Indonesia, but had to apply for a physical VOA. Nowadays, it is possible to apply for a Visa on Arrival before departure in the form of the e-VOA. Travellers from certain other countries could only apply for a visa through the embassy of Indonesia until now, but will be able to apply online for the e-VOA in the future.
e-VOA: requirements before arriving in Indonesia
A few requirements must be fulfilled to apply for the new electronic Visa on Arrival. For example, this visa only allows travellers to enter the country through certain locations, such as Indonesia’s most touristic islands like Bali, Lombok and Java. Holders of an e-VOA are also allowed to arrive at the unique destinations of Borneo and Sumatra. Borneo is blessed with pristine natural landscapes and, alongside Sumatra, is the only place in the world where orangutans live in the wild. Sumatra is also the only place in the world where orangutans, tigers, rhinos and wild elephants share the same habitat.
With the new electronic visa for Indonesia, travellers may also access the western part of the Riau archipelago, which is extremely close to Singapore and mainland Malaysia. With an e-Visa on Arrival, travellers may access the archipelago through the international airports of the islands of Bintan and Batam. The e-VOA also allows travellers to enter Indonesia through 35 national seaports. Always check the travel advice before departing.