Tourists Reminded To Check Passport Before Booking Bali Travel 

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Tourists planning their travel to Bali and Indonesia have been issued new advice from the UK Foreign Office.

Ahead of the high season of travel in the European summer times, the UK Foreign Office always revisits travel advice so tourists can make their plans accordingly. 

Tourists are being advised to double, triple check the validity of their passport before traveling to Indonesia. The UK Foreign Office advises “To enter Indonesia, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and have at least 2 blank pages.” 

The UK Foreign Office has also issued guidance on visa scams in Indonesia. They say, “Beware of visa scams by fake visa agents who, having taken your money, may fail to provide a visa or supply the wrong visa.”

“This could result in your overstaying and a fine of 1 million Indonesian rupiah per day, detention, deportation, and a possible re-entry ban. Use the Indonesian Immigration self-service portal.”

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“Visa scams are increasing in Indonesia. Some travelers have lost significant amounts of money. Others have been deported despite paying large fees to an agent to get the correct visa or extension.”

This is sound advice. For the visa on arrival and e-visa on arrival, tourists do not necessarily need the help of a visa agent.

The Indonesian Immigration Official Website is a one-stop shop for all socio-cultural, tourism, and short-stay visas. It is also possible to apply for a second home visa, pre-investment visa, and Golden Visa through this portal.

There is only one official site, and there are no hidden or additional fees. The website is straightforward to use, available in English, and works on desktop and mobile.

However, the site sometimes stops responding if a VPN is being used on the device trying to access the site, so if the site fails to load, be sure to check that the VPN is off. 

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As is always the cases, tourist are advised to check the condition of their passport in the tiniest of details before planning a trip to Bali. The Indonesian Immigration authorities are particular hot on damage to passports, often damage that would be considered permissible to immigration agents in other countries. 

Tourists who have been about to board their flights to Bali have been turned away at the airline counters at their departure airport because airlines and immigration officials are all too aware of the strict protocols in place in Indonesia.

Tourists are advised to double-check the spine of their passport and each individual page, especially the ID page, for any small tears or rips along the spine. 

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Tourists must also check for any folds, water damage, or ink marks that could be deemed as damage to an Indonesian immigration official.

In the last year dozens of tourists have been turned away from boarding their flights to Bali, or even send home moments after landing at I Gusti Ngruah Rai International, after immigration officers deemed their passports damaged. 

For UK tourists heading to Indonesia, and other long-haul travellers to Bali, may be required to show proof of onwards travel.

While this is a requirement, immigration officials in Bali do not often ask for it. If traveling to lesser-visited regions of Indonesia like Aceh or Papua, it is essential to show proof of onward travel.

Tourists must always have proof of onward travel available or proof of visa over 6 months invalidity, as some airlines refuse passengers the chance to board until they can demonstrate onward travel plans. 

Currently, the UK Foreign Office has only specific safety warnings in place for Bali Province, and that is a longstanding warning about the active valance of Mount Agung.

Tourists are advised to limit time spent at the crater and to keep an eye on local alert levels when planning a trek.

In light of recent volcanic and seismic activity, Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi, Mount Mara in West Sumatra, and Mount Semeru in East Java all have localized safety warnings from the foreign office.