Covid-19 Vaccine Requirement Scrapped For All Travelers To Bali

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Indonesia has formally scrapped all Covid-19 travel requirements, including the mandatory vaccination for both international and domestic travelers.

The vast majority of Covid-19 restrictions have been removed slowly and steadily since international borders reopened in February 2022. The removal of the mandatory Covid-19 vaccine for international travelers is the final step.

As outlined in the Covid-19 Handling Task Force Circular Letter Number 1 of 2023, the government has reviewed the ongoing management of Covid-19 in the country. 

The introduction of the letter, originally published in Bahasa Indonesia, reads “that in order to follow up on developments in the situation of controlling the SARS-CoV-2 virus under conditions where the spread of cases in the world and Indonesia is increasingly under control.”

It continues “high public immunity, and relaxation of transportation policies in several countries as well as the results of cross-sectoral evaluations of Covid-19 control, it is necessary to adjust the control mechanism to health protocols during the endemic transition period to prevent the transmission of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19).”

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The adjustment in the control mechanisms, e.g., the regulations, is as follows; the vaccination requirement for both foreign and domestic travelers has been revoked following the revocation of the emergency status of Covid-19 in Indonesia.

There are a number of health protocols that remain in place but only in an advisory capacity. These are;

“All domestic and foreign travelers, activity actors in public facilities, and large-scale activity actors [should] still try to protect themselves personally from the transmission of Covid-19.”

This personal protection advice from the Indonesian government is as follows:

“It is recommended to continue carrying out the Covid-19 vaccination until the second booster or fourth dose, especially for people who have a high risk of contracting Covid-19.”

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The Covid-19 Handling Task Force also states in the Circular Letter that “it is permissible not to use a mask if in good health and not at risk of contracting or transmitting Covid-19, and it is advisable to continue to use a mask that is properly covered if in an unwell condition or at risk of Covid-19, before and when traveling and activities in public facilities.”

Finally, they say, “It is advisable to keep hand sanitizer with you and/or use soap and running water to wash your hands regularly, especially if they have been in contact with objects that are used together.”

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So, to be clear, unvaccinated travelers are now permitted to enter Indonesia and travel domestically within Indonesia. 

Likewise, unvaccinated domestic travelers are permitted to travel by air within the country. 

This is huge news for international travelers who have been waiting for the vaccination requirement to be scrapped in order to book their visit to Bali.

There have been rumors circulating online that immigration officials had stopped checking vaccination status upon arrival in Indonesia, but it is only this week that the law has been changed.

This also means that airlines won’t be checking vaccination status at the point of departure. 

Bali is fast approaching the peak holiday season that will see tens of thousands of international travelers arrive on the island.

New data shows that holidaymakers from Australia remain the most frequent international visitors to Bali, with 109,875 Australian passport holders stamped into Bali last month alone.

The next most frequent visitors to Bali in the month of May were from India, followed by tourists from China. 

Tourism stakeholders in Bali, and the provincial government, have proposed a series of changes to the visa-on-arrival system on the island.

However, no legislative changes have been made. It remains the case that the visa on arrival and e-visa on arrival costs IDR 500,000 and are valid for 30 days.

This visa is extendable one time for a further 30 days and is available for tourists from 92 counties.