If you’re planning a trip to Bali, Lombok, Java or anywhere else in Indonesia, you’ve probably already hit the same wall most travelers hit. There are three different websites, two names for what sounds like the same visa, an “arrival card” nobody warned you about, and a nagging feeling that one of those sites might be fake.
Here’s the short version. The Indonesia e-VOA is the online version of the visa on arrival. You apply and pay before you fly, and you skip the visa counter when you land. It costs IDR 500,000 right now (roughly US$28 to $35 depending on the exchange rate that week), and it covers a 30-day stay.
There’s one more thing. Indonesia has announced a fee increase but hasn’t said when it starts, and a separate free arrival card is now compulsory for everyone. This guide walks through all of it in plain language: who qualifies, how to apply, what it really costs, and the mistakes that trip people up at the airport.
If you only have a minute, this table covers the basics.
| What it is | Online version of the B1 visa on arrival |
| Official site | evisa.imigrasi.go.id |
| Fee | IDR 500,000 per person (increase announced, not yet confirmed) |
| Length of stay | 30 days, extendable once for another 30 |
| Entries | Single entry |
| Use it within | 90 days of the date it’s issued |
| Passport validity | At least 6 months when you apply |
| You also need | A return or onward ticket out of Indonesia |
| Payment | Credit card (Visa, Mastercard, JCB); non-refundable |
| Separate requirement | Free All Indonesia arrival card, submitted within 3 days before landing |
That last row is the one people miss. The e-VOA and the arrival card are two different things, and you need both. We’ll get to that in a moment.
What Is the Indonesia e-VOA?
“VOA” stands for visa on arrival. For years, travelers from eligible countries could land in Indonesia, queue at a visa counter, pay IDR 500,000 in cash or by card, and then join a second queue for immigration. The e-VOA moves the first half of that process online.
You fill in a form on the official immigration portal, pay by card, and get an approval by email. When you land, you skip the payment counter and go straight to immigration with your approval in hand.
e-VOA vs. the counter VOA
Here’s the part that surprises many people. They are the same visa. It’s the B1 tourist visa either way, with the same 30 days and the same rules. The only difference is where and when you buy it.
- e-VOA: apply and pay online before you fly.
- Counter VOA: pay at the airport after you land.
Until now the price has been identical. The announced fee change would make the airport version twice as expensive as the old price, with the online version rising by half. The idea is to push travelers to sort things out before arrival and cut airport queues.
What the e-VOA is not
It isn’t a long-stay visa, and it isn’t a work or remote-work permit. It’s a single-entry tourist visa for short trips. If you plan to stay longer than the 60 days you can reach with one extension, you’ll need a different visa, and that’s a separate guide.
Who Can Use the Indonesia e-VOA?
Indonesia keeps a list of countries whose passport holders are eligible for the visa on arrival and the e-VOA. It includes citizens of the US, UK, Australia, India and many other countries. I’m deliberately not quoting a headcount here, because different sources give different numbers and the list gets updated. The official immigration site is the only list worth trusting.
Visa-free travelers
Passport holders from ASEAN countries, such as Thailand, can enter Indonesia visa-free for short tourist stays. If that’s you, you don’t need an e-VOA at all. You do still need the arrival card, which we’ll cover below.
Who can't apply for the e-VOA
Travelers carrying documents that aren’t regular passports, such as a laissez-passer, a refugee travel document or an emergency or temporary passport, aren’t eligible for the e-VOA. If that’s you, check with your nearest Indonesian embassy before booking anything.
Check your own situation
If you’re from India, I’ve written a separate breakdown in Is Bali Visa Free for Indians?. If you’re a US citizen, see Do US Citizens Need an Arrival Card for Indonesia?.
Indonesia e-VOA Fee: What You Pay Now vs. What's Coming
The honest answer is that the fee is IDR 500,000 per person today, and that is the number shown on the official B1 visa page. It applies to adults and children alike. At recent exchange rates that works out to about US$28, though you’ll see figures up to $35 on older pages.
Card fees and extras
The government fee isn’t always the total you see on your card statement. Your bank may add a foreign transaction fee, and some sources report a small service charge from the payment processor. Check the final amount on the payment screen before you confirm.
The announced increase
On 12 August 2026, Director General of Immigration Hendarsam Marantoko said the current fee is too low, partly because of swings in the rupiah exchange rate. According to reports from Indonesia’s national news agency Antara, the plan looks like this:
- IDR 750,000 for travelers who complete the e-VOA online before arrival
- IDR 1,000,000 for travelers who apply after arriving
As of the sources I checked, no start date has been announced, and I couldn’t find any rule about what happens to visas bought before a change. The tourism industry has publicly warned that a higher fee could push travelers toward cheaper neighboring destinations, so the final numbers could still shift.
My practical take: if you’re traveling in the next few weeks, plan around IDR 500,000 but keep a little buffer in your budget. If the change lands before you apply, you’ll save money by applying online rather than at the airport.
How to Apply for the Indonesia e-VOA, Step by Step
The process itself is simple. The risky part is landing on the wrong website, so go slowly through the first step.
What to have ready
- A passport with at least 6 months of validity
- A digital photo of your passport’s photo page
- A passport-style photo of yourself
- Your onward or return ticket out of Indonesia
- A credit card (Visa, Mastercard or JCB)
- Your first-night accommodation address in Indonesia
- An email address you check regularly
The steps
- Go to the official portal. Type evisa.imigrasi.go.id into your browser yourself rather than clicking an ad. The official domain ends in .go.id.
- Create your account or start a new application, and choose the visa on arrival (B1) option.
- Enter your details exactly as they appear in your passport. Name, passport number, date of birth, nationality. One mismatched letter can cause trouble later.
- Upload your documents: passport photo page, your photo, and your onward ticket.
- Enter your travel details, including arrival date and where you’re staying.
- Pay by credit card. Debit-only cards were not supported according to the sources I found, so have a credit card ready.
- Wait for the approval email. Reports vary from within about 24 hours to a couple of working days, and official guidance allows for longer. Don’t apply the night before you fly.
- Download and save the approval. Keep a PDF on your phone and a printed copy in your bag.
Two rules that matter
The payment is non-refundable. It stays non-refundable even if your application is refused or you never use the visa. Double-check everything before you hit pay.
The e-VOA must be approved before you enter Indonesia. An approval that arrives after you’ve already passed immigration is not valid.
How to spot fake or reseller sites
Search results for “Indonesia e-VOA” are full of agent sites that look official and charge extra. They aren’t always illegal, but they cost more and add nothing. Watch for these signs:
- The web address doesn’t end in .go.id
- The total is far above IDR 500,000 with a vague “processing fee”
- The site also charges you to file the free arrival card
- Government-style logos and flags but no clear official address
If you want an agent’s convenience, that’s your call. Just know exactly what you’re paying for.
Common e-VOA Problems and How to Fix Them
Most applications go through without a hitch. When they don’t, it’s usually one of these.
My card payment was declined
This is the most common snag. Start with the simple checks: is it a credit card rather than a debit-only card, is the card enabled for international online payments, and does your bank need to approve the transaction? Many banks block foreign payments to unfamiliar merchants until you confirm them in your banking app. If one card keeps failing, try a different one rather than retrying the same card several times.
I paid but haven’t received an approval email
Check your spam and promotions folders first. Then log back in to the official portal, since your application status may show there even if the email hasn’t arrived. Remember that official processing can take a few working days even though many applicants report a much faster turnaround. This is exactly why I recommend applying one to three weeks ahead rather than the night before.
I made a mistake on my application
This one is trickier, and I couldn’t verify a clear public rule about whether you can correct a submitted application or whether you’d need to reapply and pay again. Because the fee is non-refundable, don’t guess. Contact the immigration authority through the official channels listed on the portal before you pay a second time.
My application was refused
The fee isn’t refunded in that case either. The usual causes are an ineligible nationality, a passport with too little validity, or documents that don’t match. Read the refusal message carefully, fix the cause, and check the official visa list before you try again.
The All Indonesia Arrival Card: The Step People Miss
This is the single most common confusion I see. The e-VOA is your visa. The All Indonesia arrival card is a separate customs and health declaration. It doesn’t replace the visa and the visa doesn’t replace it. You need both, and if you’re a visa-free traveler you still need the card.
The basics
- It’s free. The official site is allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id, and there’s an official All Indonesia mobile app too.
- Submit it within the 3 days before you land, according to the official portal’s guidance.
- Everyone has to do it, including Indonesian citizens returning home.
- It became mandatory at Bali’s Ngurah Rai airport on 1 September 2025, and at every Indonesian airport and seaport on 1 October 2025.
What it asks for
Expect your passport details, flight information, address in Indonesia, and customs and health questions. It takes a few minutes. When you finish, you’ll get a QR code or confirmation. Screenshot it.
Don’t pay for it
Any site charging $10 to $30 to file the arrival card for you is a reseller. The government charges nothing. If you’re a US traveler wondering how this fits with your trip.
What Happens at the Airport
Here’s how arrival typically goes for e-VOA holders.
- Land, walk to immigration and join the queue for foreign passport holders.
- When it’s your turn, hand over your passport and show your e-VOA approval, your onward ticket and your arrival card confirmation.
- The officer checks your documents and may take your photo and fingerprints.
- You’re stamped in and you head to baggage claim.
With the counter VOA, you add a step at the start: you queue at the visa-on-arrival counter, pay IDR 500,000 (currently by cash or card), collect the visa, and only then join the immigration queue. That extra queue is exactly what the e-VOA lets you skip.
Have your documents ready before you reach the officer. Fumbling for a printout or a phone with a dead battery is the most common reason people slow down the line.
Extending Your Stay and the Cost of Overstaying
How the extension works
The e-VOA gives you 30 days, and you can extend it once for another 30, for a maximum of 60 days. You do this in person at a local immigration office in Indonesia, or through a licensed agent, who will charge their own service fee on top.
Start early. Don’t wait until the last two or three days of your stay, because the process takes time and you may need to visit the office more than once.
The extension fee: a real conflict in the sources
I found conflicting numbers. Some sources say the extension costs the same as the visa, IDR 500,000. At least one source citing an Indonesian embassy lists IDR 1,000,000 per extension. I’d rather tell you that than pick one and be wrong. Check the official immigration page for the current figure, or ask the immigration office when you go.
What overstaying really costs
The overstay fine is reported at IDR 1,000,000 per day, charged when you leave. Stay ten days past your limit and that’s IDR 10,000,000, which is hundreds of dollars. Longer overstays can also lead to detention, deportation and entry bans. It’s not worth the risk for the sake of a calendar slip.
Pros and Cons of the Indonesia e-VOA
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Skip the visa-payment counter when you land | Credit card only, so no cash or debit-only options |
| You know your visa is sorted before you board | Non-refundable even if you cancel the trip |
| Potentially cheaper if the announced fee change takes effect | Must be used within 90 days of issue |
| Approval comes by email, so you have proof | One more task on your pre-flight checklist |
| Less stress with kids, luggage and long-haul fatigue | A typo in your details can cause trouble |
Overall, for most first-time visitors, the e-VOA is the better choice. The cons are mostly small admin risks, and they’re easy to avoid if you’re careful at the application stage.
What Entry Really Costs
Here’s what getting into Indonesia costs, per person, based on current official figures.
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| e-VOA (B1) | IDR 500,000 (about US$28 to $35) | Announced rise to IDR 750,000 online, not yet confirmed |
| Counter VOA | IDR 500,000 now | Announced rise to IDR 1,000,000 |
| All Indonesia arrival card | Free | Never pay a third party |
| Card or FX fees | Varies by bank | Check your card’s foreign fees |
| 30-day extension (optional) | IDR 500,000 to 1,000,000 | Sources conflict; agent fees extra |
| Overstay (never plan for this) | IDR 1,000,000 per day | Charged when you leave |
| Bali tourist levy | IDR 150,000 | Separate from the visa; |
A family of four, three ways
- At today’s fee: 4 x IDR 500,000 = IDR 2,000,000
- Under the announced online fee: 4 x IDR 750,000 = IDR 3,000,000
- Under the announced airport fee: 4 x IDR 1,000,000 = IDR 4,000,000
Best Time to Apply (and Best Time to Visit)
When to apply
Your e-VOA must be used within 90 days of the date it’s issued, so don’t apply months ahead. A good rule of thumb is one to three weeks before you fly. That’s early enough to fix any problems, and late enough that you won’t hit the 90-day limit if your plans shift.
Keep the other date in mind too. The arrival card goes in separately, within 3 days of landing.
If the fee change is confirmed while you’re still planning, apply online straight away rather than waiting, since the online price is expected to stay lower than the airport price.
When to visit Indonesia
Timing the trip matters almost as much as timing the paperwork. As a general guide:
- Dry season (roughly April to October): sunnier, better for beaches, hiking and boat trips. July and August are the busiest and priciest months.
- Wet season (roughly November to March): more rain and humidity, fewer crowds and often lower prices. Rain tends to come in heavy bursts rather than all day.
- Holiday peaks: Christmas and New Year are expensive and crowded almost everywhere.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using an unofficial website. Always type the official address yourself and look for .go.id.
- Skipping the arrival card. A valid e-VOA does not replace it. Do it within 3 days of landing.
- Paying someone to file the free arrival card. There’s no government fee. Reseller sites charge $10 to $30.
- Applying after you’ve already landed. An e-VOA approved after you enter the country isn’t valid.
- Typos in your passport details. Copy them exactly as printed.
- A passport with under 6 months left. This can get your application refused, and the fee won’t come back.
- No onward ticket. You need proof you’re leaving Indonesia. Don’t book your airline check-in without it.
- Assuming the extension is automatic. It isn’t. You have to go and arrange it, and the timing is on you.
- Not re-checking the fee. With an increase announced, always confirm the live price before you pay.
Pro Travel Tips
- Save everything twice. Keep the e-VOA approval and the arrival card QR as screenshots on your phone and as printed copies in your carry-on.
- Use a card that matches your passport name. It avoids a surprising number of payment hiccups.
- Tell your bank you’re traveling. A blocked card is the easiest way to fail at the payment step.
- Apply on a stable connection. Uploads on shaky Wi-Fi can fail halfway.
- Do the arrival card on the plane or the day before. Anywhere inside the 3-day window works. Don’t leave it for the immigration queue.
- Keep your onward ticket handy. Airline staff may ask for it at check-in, and so may the officer in Indonesia.
- Set a calendar reminder for day 25. If you plan to extend, that’s your cue to start.
- Buy early if the hike lands. If the new fee is confirmed, applying online before the change is the cheapest route.
Your Pre-Flight Timeline: A Simple Checklist
If you like to see it laid out, here’s the order I’d do everything in.
- 3 weeks to 1 week before: Check your passport has at least 6 months left. Book your onward ticket. Confirm the live e-VOA fee on the official site. Apply for the e-VOA and pay.
- Within a few days of applying: Look for the approval email. If nothing has arrived and your flight is close, check the portal and your spam folder.
- 1 week before: Save the e-VOA approval as a PDF, take a screenshot, and print a copy. Tell your bank you’re traveling.
- Within 3 days before landing: Fill in the free All Indonesia arrival card at allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id or in the app. Screenshot the QR code or confirmation.
- Travel day: Keep your passport, e-VOA, onward ticket and arrival card confirmation together in one easy-to-reach spot, not buried in your checked bag.
- Day 25 in Indonesia (if extending): Start the extension process.
Why Indonesia Is Pushing Travelers to Apply Online
It helps to understand the reasoning, because it explains where the rules are heading. Indonesia’s immigration chief has said the price gap between the online and airport fees is meant to prevent congestion at airports and encourage travelers to complete the process before they arrive. Officials have also linked the changes to improving airport services and standing in international airport rankings.
In practice, that means the direction of travel is clear: more steps online, a digital arrival card for everyone, and a growing financial nudge toward doing it all in advance. Even if the exact fees change, applying early and online is the safest long-term habit for Indonesia trips.
Who Should Choose What?
- Choose the e-VOA if you’re a first-time visitor, traveling with kids, arriving late at night, or you just don’t want to stand in a payment queue after a long flight. It’s also the sensible choice if the higher fees take effect.
- Choose the counter VOA only if you booked very last-minute, don’t have a credit card, or your plans are still in flux. Expect to pay the same or, soon, more.
- Skip both if you hold a passport from a visa-free country. You still need the arrival card.
- Look at a different visa if you want to stay more than 60 days, work remotely or study. The e-VOA isn’t built for that.
My own view is simple. If the visa is the only paperwork standing between you and a good trip, spend the 15 minutes at home and apply online. It’s one less thing to worry about when you land.
