Indonesia has introduced a bridging visa. This visa is intended for foreigners whose residence permit is expiring soon, but who wish to stay in Indonesia for a longer time. This visa allows them to bridge the time in-between two residence permits.
Tourism in Indonesia is growing
In the past ten years, Indonesia has become an increasingly popular holiday destination. While only 10 million foreign travellers visited Indonesia in 2015, the number of visitors reached 16 million in 2019. The covid pandemic led to a sharp decline in the number of tourists, but the industry has rapidly recovered. In 2023, more than 11 million foreign tourists visited Indonesia, which is an incredible increase from the 2 million visitors in 2021. Most tourists visit the well-known islands Bali and Lombok, but cities, such as Jakarta, have also become popular destinations.
Indonesia rose 10 spots in the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Development Index ranking. Singapore is the only country in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) which is ranked higher than Indonesia. The high ranking can be attributed to the investments the Indonesian government made into the country’s infrastructure and gastronomy sector.
The Indonesian visa policy
Travellers from most countries could travel to Indonesia visa-free in the past. On 17 June 2023, the Indonesian government decided to introduce a mandatory visa for nationals of 159 countries. Only travellers from ASEAN member states may travel to Indonesia without a visa. This new visa policy has a significant impact on travellers from many European countries. European travellers now need to apply for a visa for Indonesia. The country offers a visa on arrival, which is available at Indonesian airports. However, in most cases, it is easier to apply for an e-visa.
The e-visa for Indonesia
The Indonesian authorities introduced an e-visa in 2022. This has made it easier for foreign travellers to meet the visa requirements. Travellers can apply for the e-visa fully online through a digital application form. Filling in the application form only takes a few minutes. This reduces the time needed for the visa application, since it is not necessary to contact the Indonesian embassy.
After submitting the application, it takes 7 days, on average, until the Indonesian immigration service has fully processed the application. You may travel to Indonesia within 90 days after the visa is granted. Once you arrive in Indonesia, you may stay in the country for up to 30 days.
The new bridging visa
In recent years, foreign tourists and migrant workers have become significant contributors to the Indonesian economy. The Indonesian authorities introduced the bridging visa to make it easier for this group to stay in Indonesia for a longer period of time. Foreigners staying in Indonesia with a valid residency permit or visa are eligible for the bridging visa. It is supposed to allow travellers and expats whose travel permit is expiring to stay in Indonesia while they wait for their new residence permit to be granted.
Eligible foreigners can apply for the bridging visa 3 days before their previous visa or residence permit expires at the latest. Officially, the new visa is a temporary stay permit with a validity period of 60 days, which cannot be extended. The Indonesian authorities expect applicants to receive a new residence permit within those 60 days. If the new residence permit is not granted, the applicant must leave Indonesia before the validity of their bridging visa expires.