Bali (Indonesia in general) [NOT] to be Visa free for Australians from Jan 2015

[Austman]

Re: Bali (as well as Indonesia in general) to be Visa free for Australians from Jan

Rumour is that Visa Free for Australians will start on the 7th January. Rumour.

 

[drivatruk]

Re: Bali (as well as Indonesia in general) to be Visa free for Australians from Jan

Friends went through on the 2nd Jan and had to cough up the $35.00 after being re routed on the Air Asia Merry go round via KL.

 

[Mumfreqflyer]

Re: Bali (as well as Indonesia in general) to be Visa free for Australians from Jan

Yep definitely still have the pay the $35US or $48AUD.....someone said mid year now

 

[Virgin Bart]

Re: Bali (as well as Indonesia in general) to be Visa free for Australians from Jan

Rumour is that Visa Free for Australians will start on the 7th January. Rumour.

So very Indonesia...

 

[Austman]

Re: Bali (as well as Indonesia in general) to be Visa free for Australians from Jan

Rumour is that Visa Free for Australians will start on the 7th January. Rumour.

Other rumoured dates are:

- Mid January
- April
- Never

 

[Cynicor]

Re: Bali (as well as Indonesia in general) to be Visa free for Australians from Jan

Ooh. Can we start a pool? Feb 14, Valentines Day. Cos they're sentimental like that...

 

[djfuzz]

Re: Bali (as well as Indonesia in general) to be Visa free for Australians from Jan

Haha. I feel a tiny bit better. The guy I spoke to had a chuckle at my supposed misfortune, good to know he was in the wrong.

 

[Musongman]

Re: Bali (as well as Indonesia in general) to be Visa free for Australians from Jan

So very Indonesia...

So very Asia in general!

 

[Mumfreqflyer]

Re: Bali (as well as Indonesia in general) to be Visa free for Australians from Jan

So very Asia in general!

Another rumour I heard was that they were going to abolish the VOA fee for certain countries but departure tax was going to go up to $120 and be includes in the fare....

So we would 'save on entry' but be gouged more on departure!

$70 total in and out becomes $120 leaving......

 

[Daver6]

Re: Bali (as well as Indonesia in general) to be Visa free for Australians from Jan

Do you still need to pay to VOA fee in US dollars (cash)? Can one pay with a credit card?

 

[yohy?!]

Re: Bali (as well as Indonesia in general) to be Visa free for Australians from Jan

So very Asia in general!

Never been to places like Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea I guess?

 

[jsoprano]

Re: Bali (as well as Indonesia in general) to be Visa free for Australians from Jan

Do you still need to pay to VOA fee in US dollars (cash)? Can one pay with a credit card?

Not sure if you can pay by credit card, but you can pay in other currencies now at least at DPS (for the last 2 years at least), not sure about other ports. I paid in AUD last time I was there (Aug 2014), can't remember what the course was but it was probably only $1-2 off from the official exchange rate. Worth it for me not having to change money somewhere beforehand.

 

[Musongman]

Re: Bali (as well as Indonesia in general) to be Visa free for Australians from Jan

Another rumour I heard was that they were going to abolish the VOA fee for certain countries but departure tax was going to go up to $120 and be includes in the fare....

So we would 'save on entry' but be gouged more on departure!

$70 total in and out becomes $120 leaving......

Let's hope some sanity prevails. But we musn't complain, as our entry visas to Australia are not cheap,
my Thai friends must pay about $A100.00 as tourists, and this new year it will be higher I suspect, as the Canberra clowns grasp for more!

 

[Musongman]

Re: Bali (as well as Indonesia in general) to be Visa free for Australians from Jan

Never been to places like Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea I guess?

Been to all of the above, lived in a couple of them.
But my comment was rather about reluctance for change by Asian governments. How, when and if they will do so, even after any announcement.

 

[Austman]

Re: Bali (as well as Indonesia in general) to be Visa free for Australians from Jan

Do you still need to pay to VOA fee in US dollars (cash)? Can one pay with a credit card?

Cash only AFAIK. The USD 35.00 cash VOA is being charged at AUD 48.00 cash at the moment. So not the best exchange rate! (1 AUD = USD 0.73)

 

[Austman]

Re: Bali (as well as Indonesia in general) to be Visa free for Australians from Jan

Cash only AFAIK.

I seem to remember using a CC once. It was like getting a cash advance on the card to get the cash to pay for the VOA but all done at the one place (it was some years ago). I remember disputing the interest that was charged by my bank and it was waived. It might work better with a debit card.

 

[Cynicor]

Re: Bali (as well as Indonesia in general) to be Visa free for Australians from Jan

90% certain there are no CC facilities in the current setup at the desks themselves.

 

[Austman]

Re: Bali (as well as Indonesia in general) to be Visa free for Australians from Jan

Well, this link looks official at least!

Bebas Visa Kunjungan Singkat berdasarkan Peraturan Presiden Nomor 43 Tahun 2011

So, on the 5th January 2015, the Indonesian Directorate General of Immigration stated (probably poorly translated):

Although there have been proposals to expand the provision of Free Visa for Short Stays by adding 5 (five) other countries, namely China, Russia, Australia, South Korea and Japan, to date there are still no new provisions in addition to the Presidential Decree No. 43 of 2011 as guidance for the task by airport immigration officials.

So they are awaiting a Presidential Decree.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Bali (as well as Indonesia in general) to be Visa free for Australians from Jan

Just wonderful. Add another USD35 to my short visit next week.

Better get some USD in Brisbane before I go. I am guessing they wouldn't give change from USD50? Or would they?

 

[jsoprano]

Re: Bali (as well as Indonesia in general) to be Visa free for Australians from Jan

Just wonderful. Add another USD35 to my short visit next week.

Better get some USD in Brisbane before I go. I am guessing they wouldn't give change from USD50? Or would they?

They give you change in IDR, but at a poor rate of course.