On 17 June 2023, Indonesia suspended the visa waiver for 159 countries. Travellers from these countries now have to apply for a visa for Indonesia. Travellers from some of these countries are eligible for an e-visa or VOA, while other travellers must apply for a visa through the embassy.
Indonesia changes visa rules
On 17 june 2023, Indonesia suspended visa-free travel for 159 countries. This is a temporary measure implemented to safeguard Indonesia’s public health. Citizens of only 10 countries are now allowed to travel visa-free to Indonesia. These are the ASEAN countries, namely members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN): Brunei, Cambodia, the Philippines, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and East Timor. Travellers of other nationalities must apply for a visa to travel to Indonesia. The visa they can apply for depends on each traveller’s nationality.
E-visa, VOA or visa via embassy?
Travellers from 92 out of these 159 countries may apply for a Visa on Arrival. The same travellers may also apply for an e-visa for Indonesia, also known as e-VOA. Travellers who may not apply for an e-visa or VOA will have to apply for a visa via the embassy. The removal of several countries from the list of countries allowed to travel visa-free to Indonesia appears to be a temporary measure, but it is not clear if and when these countries will be re-added.
Reason for suspending visa-free travel
In an official statement, Indonesia's Ministry of Law and Human Rights claimed that the visa waiver policy was harming Indonesia’s public health and safety. Indeed, by admitting travellers from countries that suffer from diseases that are no longer present in Indonesia or that have not been declared clean of these diseases by the WHO, Indonesia’s public health has deteriorated. Thus, the visa-free admission of travellers from numerous countries is no longer in line with Indonesia’s needs in terms of safety and public health. For this reason, the number of countries allowed to travel visa-free to Indonesia has been reduced. Reducing the number of countries that can enter Indonesia without a visa is also expected to improve the country’s security.
Visa waiver might be restored for certain countries
It is not yet known if and when the countries in question will be able to travel visa-free to Indonesia again. The visa waiver might be re-introduced for some countries, but under certain conditions. Silmy Karim, director-general of immigration at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, states that reciprocity is a key condition for countries to re-gain their visa waiver. In other words, Indonesian travellers should also be able to travel to the respective country visa-free.
Applying for the Indonesian visa
This decision made by the Indonesian government changes a lot for British travellers, since they will no longer be able to travel visa-free to Indonesia. Travellers from the UK will now have to apply for an Indonesian visa, namely an e-visa (e-VOA) or a Visa on Arrival.
Both visas allow stays of up to 30 days, which may be extended by 30 more days. If you have obtained either of these visas, you can stay in Indonesia for up to 60 days. However, your passport must still be valid for at least 6 months from the moment you quit Indonesia. You must also prove that you will leave the country after the maximum length of stay, by showing a ticket to another country.