Indonesia's 'Selective' Visa Policy Cuts Visa-Free Arrivals by 88%

Indonesia has sharply narrowed who can enter without a visa, and the numbers show the effect. The country's Directorate General of Immigration recorded 52,999 visa-free arrivals in the first half of 2026, down from 438,423 in the same period a year earlier, an 87.91% drop the agency ties to a deliberate "selective immigration" policy.

What changed

Under Presidential Regulation No. 95 of 2024, in force since August 29, 2024, Indonesia replaced its 2016 framework and reset the Visa-Free Visit (BVK) base list to just 13 countries: Brunei, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Timor-Leste, Suriname, Colombia and Hong Kong. Previously, as many as 156 nationalities could arrive visa-free.

Later ministerial regulations added a handful more. Brazil, Peru and Türkiye were folded in during 2025, and a 2026 update effective July 9 added Kazakhstan, Macau SAR and Belarus. Passport holders from these six now get the same 30-day visa-free stamp as ASEAN nationals.

Everyone else who once entered for free must now use the paid Visa on Arrival scheme, which covers 97 eligible countries under a January 2024 decision, or arrange an e-visa or visit visa before flying. Immigration has framed the shift as favoring higher-spending visitors over mass low-cost tourism.

What it means for nomads

The visa-free stays that remain are limited: 30 days, non-extendable, and not convertible to any other permit. That makes them impractical as a base for longer remote-work stints anyway.

Indonesia still has no dedicated digital nomad visa as of 2026, so remote workers piecing together time in Bali or Canggu can no longer rely on a free 30-day entry as a default. If your passport lost its visa-free status, you now need to budget for Visa on Arrival fees and extensions on every entry, or move to a longer visit visa that requires paperwork before departure. Anyone who previously ran regular visa runs should re-cost the trip.

Before you book

Check your passport against the current BVK list before booking travel, and pre-purchase a Visa on Arrival or e-visa where needed to avoid problems at the airport counter. ASEAN citizens and Singapore permanent residents remain covered under existing terms and don't need to change anything.

For longer stays, look into Indonesia's residency and stay-permit options rather than relying on short-term entry stamps.

Originally reported by Stamped Nomad.