Do you need a visa to travel to Bali?

Yes, for most visitors to Bali/Indonesia, a tourist visa is required for entry. Different rules apply for foreign nationals but for UK folk a visa is essential when travelling to Bali. Read on below for all the current info as of January 2024.

As we embark on our exciting month long trip to Bali to look at school options, housing and locations, we're sorting all the essential to do's off the travel tick list. One of those being arranging family visa for the 30+ day stay in Bali. Theres lot's of information out there on visa's and this blog is a succinct guide as to the visa requirements for travelling to Bali for up to 30 days and the extension process of how to extend a travel visa if you plan to stay for longer than 30 days, as is the situation for us.

The Visa on Arrival (VOA)

Passport holders from over 80 countries – including the UK, Ireland, US, Canada and Australia must obtain a single-entry Visa on Arrival (VOA) at the airport. If you're entering Indonesia via Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta or Ngurah Rai International Airport (Denpasar) in Bali. You can also apply for an e-VOA online via The Official e-Visa Website for Indonesia here. Paying with Mastercard, Visa or JCB credit/debit card online.

You can apply for the e-VoA online before you depart (e-VoA) from 14 days before your trip and no later than 48 hours before departure. This will save you time when arriving in Bali after the long flight from the UK saving queuing as you'll already have your visa's. Essential if you have kids after the 2 flight journey.

The 30 day VOA costs IDR 500,000 (approx. £27) per person and is valid for up to 30 days, with the option to extend once onshore for another 30 days at a local immigration office. If you apply for your first 30 day visa online (e-VoA) you can also apply for the extension online too via your online account. Which is what we will be doing once in Bali and will blog about the process of extending your Bali Visa an extra 30days. If you want to stay in Bali for over 60 days, you can apply for a Visitor Visa (B211A) before travel and this visa is completely different from the VOA.

Some things you will need to have to hand before applying for the VOA online to Bali:

• A PNG/JPG Photograph of a valid passport (valid for at least 6 months (for stays of up to 60 days) or 12 months (for stays of up to 180 days) from the date of arrival.

• A PDF copy of the same passport

• A return or onward travel ticket

• A PNG/JPG Passport Photograph (we initially went to a photo booth to have pictures taken and saw that they would cost £10 each. £40!!! So as cheap northerners, we drove straight home and took them ourselves on our iPhones against a plain white wall. There was no way we were paying £40. That's £40! For 4 flippin passport photos. Not on my watch. Just follow the instructions on the application website for layout and composition to save yourself a tidy penny.

The process of applying for the VOA online to Bali is really quite straight forward just follow the online instructions and have to hand:

• All of the above: Pdf of each passport / png/jpg of each passport / png/jpg photo

• A pdf return flight tickets for each traveller

• Your hotels address when in Bali. If multiple, just the first place you will be staying.

• Your credit/debit card to pay

The visa's came through via email within a few minutes of applying. To be printed and put with our travel paperwork as well as having online e-versions.

Summary of information for visa requirements for UK foreign travellers coming to Bali (all info correct as of January 2024, please check the Official Immigration website for Indonesia for current rules):

Do I need a Visa to Enter Bali as a traveller coming from the UK?

YES

How do I get a Visa to enter Bali as a traveller coming from the UK?

There are 2 ways. At the arrivals hall in Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport or Denpasar's Ngurah Rai International Airport. OR Apply for the Bali Visa on Arrival VOA online here to save queuing in the airport on arrival.

When can I apply for a Visa to enter Bali as a traveller coming from the UK?

14 days before your trip and no later than 48 hours before departure.

How much does the Visa to enter Bali as a traveller coming from the UK cost?

IDR 500,000 (approx. GBP £27 | AUD 50) and is valid for up to 30 days, with the option to extend once onshore for another 30 days at a local immigration office or online if you applied for the first visa online.

And that's it! With Visa's in hand you're ready to start the next part of adventures in Bali...

We hope you found the above info helpful. The page is for general information only and may be subject to change. It is your responsibility to obtain relevant visa and travel information required for entry, departure and travel to each country or region you visit on your trip. You should confirm these with the relevant embassies and/or consulates. The information was correct for us and our travel arrangements at the time of writing. Last updated Jan 2024.