Indonesia has one of the most accessible visa-on-arrival schemes in the world. The policy allowed tourists from over 90 countries to visit for up to 30 days for IDR 500,000.
Applying for a visa is an easy and straightforward process, and tourists can even make their application online before landing in Bali to speed up their arrival process.
For many people, the easiest way to apply for and pay for their visa on arrival to Indonesia is at the airport.
There are sixteen airports across Indonesia where foreigners can apply for their visa on arrival, and of course, Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International is one of them.
The process of applying for a visa on arrival at the airport is simple.
Tourists must make sure that their passport has at least 6 months of validity left, be able to show a return or onward travel ticket and be able to pay the IDR 500,000.
Upon arrival at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, tourists enter the immigration hall, join the line to make the payment for their visa, pay the IDR 500,000, and take the proof of payment over to the immigration counters where officials check their passports and stamp them into the country.
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Late last year, Indonesia’s Department of Immigration launched a new online service known as the e-VOA. This is a dedicated website that makes it easier for tourists to apply for their visa on arrival before landing in the country.
The new website has proven to be a helpful tool for thousands of tourists planning their trips to Bali. However, the facility has also led to a rise in fake and scam websites claiming to offer visa agent-style services to help tourists acquire their e-VOA.
Sadly over the last few months, dozens of anecdotal reports have emerged of Bali-lovers getting scammed by fake e-VOA websites charging above and beyond to essentially fill out the same online form as is on the only official website.
One Australian tourist took to social media to share how she was scammed by a fake e-VOA site. She shared how she felt like a “prized idiot” after forking out AUD 80 for an Indonesian tourist visa on a website that turned out to be fake.
The e-VOA and VOA costs IDR 500,000 plus any relevant international card charges. This amounts to approximately USD 32 or AUD 50. There are two approaches used by these fake e-VOA sites.
Some are posing as visa agents who do legitimately get their clients a visa but charge above and beyond what should be paid for a service that has been designed for tourists to use themselves.
The second, more insidious fake website, is a complete scam. The site charges tourists a huge fee for an e-VOA and never processes the application.
The Minister of Law and Human Rights, the Directorate General of Immigration, has issued a statement on the official eVisa website for Indonesia.
The statement explains, “There are numerous websites which claim to assist users in receiving Indonesian Visitor Visa in return for a service charge.”
“These websites are not endorsed by or associated with the Indonesian government. Therefore, we cannot be held responsible for any misuse of information or failure of service on their side.”
The official eVisa website for Indonesia is https://molina.imigrasi.go.id/ – the process of applying for a 30-day eVOA through the site is incredibly straightforward.
Simply head to the website, and click ‘apply.’ Prospective travelers must fill out the form, make their online payment and click submit.
Once approved, the visa will be sent via email, ready to download and either print or have on a smart device ready to show immigration officials on arrival.
It is now the case that eVOA applicants do not need to register for an account in order to make their application.
It is also recently been introduced that e-VOA applications can be submitted for up to five people at the same time.
When the system was first introduced, it was the case that parties traveling together had to make separate applications.
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Randy
Friday 25th of August 2023
"For many people, the easiest way to apply for and pay for their visa on arrival to Indonesia is at the airport". Keep that in mind without the hassle.
scott wager
Wednesday 23rd of August 2023
better off paying at the airport limits the scam
Wayan Bo
Wednesday 23rd of August 2023
VOA = Voice Of America