Indonesia Proposes Doubling Visa on Arrival Fee to Rp1 Million

Indonesia is considering a significant increase to its Visa on Arrival (VOA) fee, a popular entry route for short-stay travelers and digital nomads heading to Bali and other destinations. The country's Director General of Immigration, Silmy Karim, has proposed raising the fee, though no regulation or implementation date has been published yet.

What changed

Under the current system, the Visa on Arrival costs Rp500,000 (about $31), whether purchased online in advance or at an entry point. The proposal would split the pricing based on where you apply:

• e-VOA before departure: Rp750,000 (about $46), a 50% increase
• Visa on Arrival at the airport: Rp1 million (about $62), a 100% increase

The higher airport price is designed to push travelers toward applying online in advance and to ease congestion at entry points. Officials have also tied the proposal to raising non-tax state revenue.

Importantly, this remains a proposal. Indonesia's official eVisa portal still lists the Visitor Visa and e-VOA fee at Rp500,000. The new rates won't take effect until the government formally adopts them.

What the visa covers

The Visa on Arrival permits a 30-day stay and can be extended once for another 30 days. It is single-entry and must be used within 90 days of issuance. Each traveler needs a separate visa, including infants and children. Note that these terms are separate from Indonesia's longer-stay residency permits and nomad-focused visa options.

Online applicants need a passport valid for at least six months, a passport photo, an email address, and a Mastercard, Visa, or JCB payment card. Card or bank charges may apply on top of the fee.

What it means for nomads

For solo travelers, the change would add roughly $15 to $31 per entry depending on where you apply. For couples or families, the costs stack up quickly: a couple buying visas after landing would pay Rp2 million ($124) instead of the current Rp1 million ($62) for a single entry.

The clearest takeaway is that applying online in advance would become noticeably cheaper than buying at the airport if the proposal passes. Nomads who make frequent short trips to Indonesia, or who visit as a couple or with children, would feel the biggest impact.

Because the higher rates are not yet binding, travelers with near-term trips should check the official eVisa portal directly before paying to confirm the current fee. Until Indonesia issues a formal regulation, the existing Rp500,000 rate still applies.

Originally reported by Stamped Nomad.