Bali Tourists Urged To Take These Important Steps To Secure eVisa Accounts Against Fraud 

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While planning all the details of a dream itinerary may feel like the most important part of a trip to Bali, in reality, it’s a little duller… but all the more serious.

Immigration is a big deal for tourists traveling to Bali or anywhere in Indonesia, and this week Indonesia’s Immigration has issued important updates for travelers on how to stay safe from fraud and scams. 

Travelers heading to Bali should, of course, keep a close eye on all the latest news and travel updates as shared here by us at The Bali Sun, but we also recommend that travelers follow Indonesia Immigration on Instagram.

The account shared regular updates in English to help keep foreigners in Indonesia and those planning trips to the country up to date about immigration changes, general advice, and troubleshooting support. 

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A post shared by Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi (@ditjen_imigrasi)

This week, the Indonesian Immigration has issued important updates for tourists on how to keep their e-Visa account safe from online fraudsters and scammers.

Most tourists traveling to Bali use the desktop version of the website to complete all their e-Visa applications and travel paperwork, though it is also advisable to download the e-Visa smartphone app too to keep all paperwork close at hand. This, however, is where account security really comes into play.

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A post shared by Directorate General of Immigration (@indonesiaimmigration)

Indonesian Immigration has explained that there are a few simple steps that travellers can take to help keep their accounts safe. The update shared “the e-Visa app had added two-factor authentication (2FA) as an extra layer of security via a one-time password (OTP) sent to the user’s email to ensure that only the account owner can access the app.”

Indonesia Immigration explains that the first step is to “log in to the e-Visa app via the website https://evisa.imigrasi.go.id/ by filling in your username/email, password, and CAPTCHA. To create a new account, click ‘Create Account’ and sign up.”

Next, Indonesia Immigration explains, “To keep your account secure, make sure your password meets the following requirements: Use a combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Your password must be at least 8-12 characters long. Change your password regularly according to the specified schedule. Forgot your password? Use the ‘Forgot Password’ feature to create a new password that follows the requirements.”

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A post shared by Kantor Imigrasi Surabaya (@imi_surabaya)

Indonesia Immigration continues, “Fill in the One-Time Password (OTP) sent to your registered email address.” Concluding “If you have any problems or questions regarding the e-Visa application: [email protected] [or] [email protected].”

In the last week, the Indonesian Immigration has also issued clarifications over the grey area of ‘unpaid activity’. This clarification is super important for anyone planning on engaging in influencer and content creation projects, both as individuals, in unpaid collaborations, and formal paid partnerships, while in Bali or any other part of Indonesia.

Anyone who has been to Bali before will know quite how many influencers and content creators there are about town, but the question that is always raised is what visa are they on? And are they actually working illegally?

In an update,  Indonesia Immigration answered the question, “Is unpaid activity always allowed?” The answer to which is “Not always. Immigration authorities may look at the purpose of stay, the type of activity, and whether there is economic value behind it.”

Indonesian Immigration added, “Indonesian immigration law mandates that foreign nationals use their visa and stay permit in accordance with the intended purpose. Activities inconsistent with the granted visa may result in sanctions.”

Tourists should be aware that any activity that results in compensation, financial or otherwise, in Bali could be investigated by the Indonesian Immigration.

The department is clear that on a tourist visa, foreigners are only allowed to engage in travel, leisure, and social activities, and a very limited amount of business-related activities, such as attending seminars or conferences.

Each individual foreigner in Indonesia is ultimately responsible for their own immigration situation and compliance with the law. Full information for each visa category can be found at the Official Indonesia eVisa website.