Here at The Bali Sun, we are always here to report on the latest news for travelers, and that includes updates from the Indonesian Immigration and the Ministry of Tourism.
Huge news coming in from Jakarta right now that visa-free travel could be about to return for Bali’s top international arrivals. With the long school holidays just around the corner, this could be game-changing news for tourists from Australia and New Zealand traveling to Bali in the coming weeks.
One thing that tourists and, in fact, all foreigners in Bali need to be aware of is just how quickly immigration rules can change.
It’s not uncommon for new immigration rules to come into effect overnight, or for crackdowns to be issued on existing laws that have previously been given little attention. We have been told that changes are in the pipeline to open visa-free travel to Bali’s top visitors.
In light of the conflict in the Middle East, tourist arrivals from the region to Indonesia’s top tourist destinations, including Bali, have declined.
While leaders in Bali are not overly concerned about the impact this will have on the economy, the Ministry of Tourism is looking for solutions to implement now to attract more visitors and compensate for any potential losses later down the line.
It has been confirmed this week that the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism ( Kemenpar ) is pushing for visa-free travel for a number of countries to strengthen the flow of foreign tourists to Indonesia’s top destinations due to the disruption of flight connectivity through the Middle East region.
The conflict has not only seen a drop in the number of tourists from the Middle East but also further afield, since international travel hubs like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Doha are the layover destination of choice for hundreds of thousands of passengers traveling long haul to Bali from Africa, North America, South America, and Europe.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, 3rd June, Indonesia’s Tourism Minister Widiyanti Wardhana said the proposal had been discussed with a number of ministries and institutions and was now awaiting a decision at the ministerial level. She shared, “We have held a number of detailed discussions with relevant ministries and institutions, and the discussions have actually narrowed down to the possibility of granting visa-free visits.”
Minister Wardhana told reporters that the proposed new visa-free travel policy is set for eight countries, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India, and an extension for permanent residents of Singapore. In addition to Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Macau, which have also previously been part of the government’s initiative, namely the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections.
Minister Wardhana did not say when the proposed policy changes would be reviewed by the Minister, but we get the sense that this is a change that the Ministry of Tourism wants to see brought into effect quickly to help stabilise the economy.
This week has seen the Indonesian Rupiah drop in value again, bringing about rising costs for millions of households nationwide. With tourism such a huge contributor to the national GDP, and the biggest economy in provinces like Bali, leaders are keen to bring things back into balance quickly and in a sustained way.
The conflict in the Middle East is having an effect on both business and leisure travel to Indonesia. As of May 27, 2026, 1,444 flights were canceled, potentially affecting 160,052 international trips to Indonesia.
It is important to note that, for now, it remains the case that for most tourists traveling to Bali, including tourists from Australia and New Zealand, a Visa on Arrival is required to enter the country. The eVisa on Arrival can be applied for online via the Official Indonesian Immigration Website.
It costs IDR 500,000 and is valid for 30 days. Amidst crackdowns on visa violations, it is important that tourists and visitors to Bali read the conditions of their stay permit and ensure that they engage with only the activities stipulated in the conditions.
Activities like volunteering, content creation, or unpaid work of any kind are not permitted on a tourist or socio-cultural visa.
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