Travel to Indonesia

It depends on your nationality. Citizens of the 10 ASEAN countries (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Timor-Leste) enter Indonesia visa-free for 30 days for tourism. Citizens of around 95 other countries — including the US, UK, all EU members, Australia, Canada, Japan, India, China, the UAE — need either the e-VOA online (recommended) or the Visa-on-Arrival sticker at the airport. Both grant 30 days, both cost $35 government fee. Use the country selector on the eVisa page to confirm your status.

30 days with the e-VOA / VoA, extendable once for 30 more days = 60 days total. 60 days with the B211A Tourist Single Entry, extendable twice for 60 days each = 180 days total (6 months). The B211A Multi-Entry allows multiple 60-day visits during 12 months. Indonesia is one of the most extension-friendly countries in Asia — you can comfortably stay 6 months on a B211A Tourist Single without leaving.

April to October for most of the country (Bali, Java, Lombok, Komodo, Sulawesi) — dry, sunny. July-August is peak (busy and pricey). November to March is wet season — afternoon storms, mornings sunny, lower prices. Maluku and Papua have inverse seasons (driest Oct-Apr). For diving Raja Ampat: Oct-Apr; for diving Komodo: Apr-Sep.

Yes — the main tourist circuits (Bali, Yogyakarta, Komodo, Lombok, Gilis) are very safe. Petty theft can happen on busy beaches and in crowded markets — standard travel awareness applies. Scooter accidents are the leading cause of tourist injury — wear a helmet, only ride if experienced. Avoid unmarked taxis at airports — use the official taxi rank or Grab/Gojek apps. Bali specifically has zero terrorism risk in 2026, despite older perceptions from past events.

Yellow Fever is required only if you arrive from an endemic country. Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid and routine vaccinations are recommended. Rabies pre-exposure if you'll be around stray dogs (especially Bali, where rabies is present). Japanese Encephalitis for long stays in rural areas. Malaria is rarely a concern on Bali, Java, Lombok, but exists in eastern Indonesia (Papua, Sumba) — take prophylaxis there.

Yes. One eVisa is your single travel authorization for the entire archipelago — Bali, Java, Lombok, Komodo, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Papua, the Maluku Islands, all 17,500+ smaller islands. There are no separate regional permits required for Indonesia proper. Note that Papua's interior may require additional 'Surat Jalan' permits issued at local police stations — your tour operator handles these.

Backpacker (hostels, warung food, public transport): $25-40 per day. Mid-range (3-star hotels, mix of restaurants, Grab taxis, scooter rental): $50-100 per day. Luxury (4-5 star villas, fine dining, private drivers): $200-500+ per day. Bali Seminyak/Ubud is pricier than Yogyakarta or rural Java. A nasi goreng street meal is 25,000-40,000 IDR ($2). A massage in Ubud is 100,000 IDR ($7). A villa in Canggu is $50-200/night.

e-VOA ($55) and VoA ($35 cash on arrival) are the same product — 30-day stay, single entry, extendable +30. e-VOA is applied online before flight; VoA is paid in cash USD at the airport. Both grant the same rights. The B211A Tourist Single ($80) is a different product — 60 days from the start, extendable twice (total 180), better for long stays. The B211A Multi-Entry ($250) is 12-month multi-entry for repeat travellers.

Officially, no — Tourist eVisas (e-VOA, B211A) prohibit any form of work, including remote work for foreign employers. In practice, Bali has an enormous digital nomad community working from cafes and co-working spaces. For full legal status, Indonesia launched the E33G Remote Worker Visa in 2024 — 1-year validity, multi-entry, allows remote work for non-Indonesian employers. Requirements: $60,000+ annual income proof, $2,000+ in savings, valid passport, employer letter. The B211A Tourist visas remain a popular grey-area option for shorter remote stays.

Bahasa Indonesia is the national language (similar to Malay), used everywhere. English is widely understood in tourist areas of Bali, Yogyakarta, Jakarta — less so in remote islands. Each island also has its own local language: Balinese in Bali, Javanese in Central Java, Sundanese in West Java, etc. Learning a few Indonesian phrases ('Selamat pagi', 'Terima kasih', 'Sama-sama') is appreciated and easy — Bahasa is one of the more accessible languages for English speakers.

Internal flights are essential for any trip beyond Bali — AirAsia, Lion Air, Citilink, Garuda Indonesia connect all major islands cheaply ($30-80 per leg). Within Bali: Grab/Gojek apps for taxis, scooter rental for $5-7/day, hire a private driver for $30-50/day. Within Java: trains (the Jakarta-Yogyakarta-Surabaya line is excellent and cheap). Between islands: ferries (Bali-Lombok-Gilis), liveaboard boats (Komodo). Avoid long bus journeys when a $30 flight saves 12 hours.

Electronics yes (laptops, phones, cameras) — declare expensive items at customs to avoid duties on departure. Drones officially require pre-approval permits if used in national parks (Komodo, Raja Ampat) — many travellers fly without permits but face confiscation if caught. Alcohol: 1 litre per adult duty-free; beyond that, heavy import taxes apply. Bali has plenty of imported alcohol available (at premium prices). Recreational drugs of any kind: zero tolerance, very long prison sentences possible.