Immigration in Indonesia can be a confusing space to navigate. From eVisas to Hybrid Extension Applications, from Stay Permits to Global Citizen Residency, there is a whole heap of terminology to get up to speed with.
This is why at The Bali Sun we share regular updates summarising Indonesian Immigration policies, as well as the breaking travel and immigration news.
Indonesian Immigration has issued a necessary clarification for foreign nationals in the country. The clarification is simple but crucial for those who are set to navigate the immigration system more deeply. The differentiation Indonesia Immigration wants to make clear is between a visa and a stay permit.
Indonesia Immigration has issued this update in as simple terms as possible, sharing the key differences in summary: “Visa: Permission to enter the country. Obtained before arrival. Stay Permit: Permission to reside in the country. Obtained after arrival.”
This is as straightforward as it seems, but the implications of getting these two immigration categories mixed up could be costly.
Indonesian immigration has explained, “Both a visa and a stay permit are fundamental documents required for foreign nationals to legally reside in a country for a specified period. While both serve the purpose of allowing foreigners entry and stay within a country, they differ significantly in terms of their function, duration, and requirements.”
Adding “A visa typically grants initial entry into a country for a specific purpose, while a stay permit regulates the terms and conditions for longer-term residence or extended stays. Understanding the distinction between these two documents is crucial for ensuring compliance with immigration laws and policies.”
Understanding the definition of a visa and the definition of a stay permit, as observed by Indonesia Immigration, can help foreigners understand how these two essential documents work together.
As the Indonesian Immigration explains, “A visa functions as an entry ticket or proof of permission for a foreigner to enter Indonesia for the first time. A visa is also required to activate a stay permit at the immigration checkpoint.”
Whereas a Stay Permit allows a foreigner to legally reside in Indonesia for a specific duration. In simple terms, it defines how long a foreign national can stay in the country after entering with a visa.”
One of the key differences is that a visa typically offers single-entry permission to Indonesia, whereas a stay permit allows foreigners more flexibility in their access to Indonesia, in terms of entering and exiting the country, and stipulates what activities they are permitted to engage in, including work, business, investment, or travel and leisure.
For most holidaymakers visiting Bali for 30 days or less, the differentiation between a visa and a stay permit is not as important as for those who are moving to Indonesia to work, start a business, or live on a more permanent basis.
The most appropriate visa for most holidaymakers visiting Bali is the 30-day eVisa on Arrival, which can be applied for prior to touching down in Indonesia via the Official eVisa website.
The visa costs IDR 500,000 per person, and tourists from Australia, New Zealand, most European nations, China, India, and the USA can all apply for this visa.
Indonesia scrapped visa-free travel for most of Bali’s most frequent international arrivals after the pandemic; however, with a new agreement between Indonesia and South Africa offering visa-free travel to Indonesia for South African passport holders, there are glimmers of hope that more visa-free travel could be rolled out again in the future.
At present, tourists from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Macao, and South Africa are eligible for a 30-day visa-free stay in Indonesia.
Foreigners from all other nations must visit the Indonesia eVisa website prior to their travel to understand which visa is most appropriate for them and make the relevant applications.
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