Indonesian Visa Discussion (Including Bali)

[Pushka]

Passing thru CGK next in Dec & Jan. Fingers crossed the fee has finally gone by then!

I’m trying to recall if we still have to do the eVOA but it becomes free or just use eGates on arrival?

I'd expect an application for eVisa needed but no charge.

 

[jase05]

Why? Oh, why….?

Only school hols….gees.

Apparently they had issues where it wouldn’t go through to payment page so they gave up in frustration and thought they would just do it on arrival. She did say that several others in the queue had experienced the same issue

 

[SYD]

Apparently they had issues where it wouldn’t go through to payment page so they gave up in frustration and thought they would just do it on arrival. She did say that several others in the queue had experienced the same issue

Ah, I had that the last two times. The “Pay” button was lurking out of sight on the iPad screen.

The first time I was scratching my head looking for the payment option but was able to follow a bouncy ball back to the “Pending” application and enter payment details. The last time, I just scrolled down…

 

[Danger]

Wasn't visa-free entry for Australians mooted to start this month?

 

[SYD]

Wasn't visa-free entry for Australians mooted to start this month?

November?

For “free” visa entry. I believe you’ll still need to do some sort of online eVOA to use the SmartGates?

 

[Scarlett]

Passing thru CGK next in Dec & Jan. Fingers crossed the fee has finally gone by then!

I’m trying to recall if we still have to do the eVOA but it becomes free or just use eGates on arrival?

I will also be going through CGK in Dec and then retuning in Jan. (to take advantage of cheaper fares from SE Asia)
Also hoping that the visa requirements will have been dropped by then.

 

[SYD]

I will also be going through CGK in Dec and then retuning in Jan. (to take advantage of cheaper fares from SE Asia)
Also hoping that the visa requirements will have been dropped by then.

Ditto!

 

[Pushka]

Wasn't visa-free entry for Australians mooted to start this month?

It will be November 1 as we arrive at 9pm on October 31st.

 

[Captain Halliday]

#ICMY

Passport details of Australians travelling to Bali exposed in e-visa glitch

 

[Pushka]

Easy transit into Bali on Thursday night. Pleasantly the arrival gate lounge was right next to immigration but they'rd roped off all entry areas and channeled everyone into a tighter space. Expected this was the MPox check, we got our QR codes at hand but we kept walking and there didn't seem to be any check yet. The Egate area was so deserted we wondered if it was working but we could see the bank of multiple green lights so we simply scanned and walked through. So many people queued up to buy it.

After a quick bathroom break we walked to the luggage carousel and within a couple of minutes our bags were out in the first batch. Still no Mpox check. So searched for the customs QR ready for that. We always go in the left lane. Just a couple ahead of us who were oblivious and tried to show their eVisa qr or maybe even the mpox one. Don't know just wanted them out the way . There was a large group to our right who'd had the correct scan but we were delayed a couple of minutes by this couple. That turned out well. The group to our right had the full on baggage check dump out while we were shown straight through.

Grabbed some cash at an atm with newly minted Wise card - I'd pre loaded with 2 million rupiah as a pre check for Japan next year, walked past the Bali tax (we had paid but didn't show) and quickly found our prepaid driver and off to Padma Legian for a week.

 

[SYD]

Any word on when (or if), Australia will transition to visa free (or free visa?) with Indonesia? It all seems to have gone quiet on something was due to change on or around October (as per multiple media reports back in July).

 

[Pushka]

Any word on when (or if), Australia will transition to visa free (or free visa?) with Indonesia? It all seems to have gone quiet on something was due to change on or around October (as per multiple media reports back in July).

I did some research before I paid for ours and the consensus on the various Bali forums was that someone had a thought bubble and the media ran with it.

 

[SYD]

I did some research before I paid for ours and the consensus on the various Bali forums was that someone had a thought bubble and the media ran with it.

They probably make too much money from Oz tourism since they started charging - it could be a sizeable hole in the annual budget!

I was at least hoping that they restart the fee free transit visa (was it 2 or 3 days?).....

 

[Pushka]

Bali now has removed manual exit processing. Saves so much time. The immigration hall is now wide open with just a bank of scanners to exit into duty free. So they've now beaten Australia being completely electronic.

 

[SYD]

So here's a conundrum. We just got the single entry 30 day visa thing a few weeks ago and entered on 18th June. We then left on 20th June. Remember I said immigration on departure was a mess? Well, we re enter Bali tomorrow and have tried applying for another visa. I can't. It states my original visa is still valid and won't let me do a new one. Which I need. I can do a new customs declaration. Seems immigration didn't log our exit. We will front at the VOA desk tomorrow. Sigh. Try explaining this one to them.

Looks like we have a similar issue. System says I have an “Active” permit even though I flew out months ago. I entered and departed CGK via eGates and the last eVOA shows it was activated on the arrival date valid for 30 days. The actual eVOA had to be used by 30 Nov, so I’m wandering if it might tick over tomorrow but not holding my breath….

Has anyone had recent experience paying in arrival at CGK? Cash (currency) or card?

 

[clifford]

Has anyone had recent experience paying in arrival at CGK? Cash (currency) or card?

Yes, I did this in late October, paying in cash (USD). There were a couple of counters open and only 3 people in front of me, so all done in <5 minutes. 5-10 minutes later I was outside waiting for my hotel shuttle.

 

[SYD]

Yes, I did this in late October, paying in cash (USD). There were a couple of counters open and only 3 people in front of me, so all done in <5 minutes. 5-10 minutes later I was outside waiting for my hotel shuttle.

Thanks. Yes, I subsequently read that USD, EUR, GBP and IDR (of course) are accepted. Still a PITA for the convenience and we may need to do it on the way home…

We’re reaching out to the authorities to clear the system….

Looks like we have a similar issue. System says I have an “Active” permit even though I flew out months ago. I entered and departed CGK via eGates and the last eVOA shows it was activated on the arrival date valid for 30 days. The actual eVOA had to be used by 30 Nov, so I’m wandering if it might tick over tomorrow but not holding my breath….

Further to this, I didn’t notice at first but the error shows you the “Permit number” that’s “Active”. ie the permit that’s generated on entering Indonesia (not just the eVOA). I initially assumed that the system didn’t recognise my departure via the eGates, but SYD+1 got the error on an earlier “Permit” (ie they’ve already been in and out of Indonesia since that permit..).

This system is still sh$t.

 

[k_sheep]

Can also use AUD.

 

[clifford]

This system is still sh$t.

Yes, that's why I didn't use it.

 

[SYD]

Yes, that's why I didn't use it.

It’s worked ok until now. I suspect their eGates departing CGK have had a snafu on our last departure…