Among the many visa applications in Indonesia, there is one arrangement that applies to certain nationalities. This special entry permit is called the Indonesia visa exemption.
As the name indicates, the arrangement allows foreign visitors to enter Indonesia without having to apply for a visa.
It’s worth noting that this type of visa arrangement is only made for select passport holders. It means that not every foreign national can apply for it.
So, which nationalities get to be exempt from applying for an Indonesian visa? Before learning about which nationalities are granted this special arrangement, we should first learn about what the Indonesia visa exemption is.
What is Indonesia Visa Exemption?
An Indonesia visa exemption is an entry permit given to certain passport holders without a visa application.
The particular visa exemption policy is applied to foreign nationals of several countries. It means that only citizens of those countries are allowed to enter and stay in Indonesia without a visa.
Usually, this type of visa arrangement can grant its applicant a stay for a maximum of 30 days without an extension.
Note that the visa exemption cannot be converted to another type of entry or stay permit. So, the holder must leave Indonesia after the validity period ends.
The period of stay is regulated by immigration laws. Hence, foreign travelers who apply for this arrangement are required to comply with it.
Read also: Second Home Visa: Long-Term Residency for Foreigners
Who is Eligible for Indonesia Free Visa Arrangements?
Entering Indonesia without a visa can ease the trip arrangements, but not everyone can apply for this type of arrangement.
Only travelers who come from the following countries are eligible to apply for the visa exemption:
- Brunei Darussalam
- The Philippines
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- Timor Leste
Basically, all foreign travelers who hold SEA (Southeast Asia) passports can apply for the visa exemption.
All travelers who enter Indonesia through the visa exemption arrangement should state their business first.
In general, foreign nationals who are eligible for the exemption can be granted the visa for the following purposes:
- Tourism or leisure visit
- Family or social visit
- Government duties
- International lectures or seminars
- Official meetings with the representatives of Indonesia
- Transit to another destination
Note that the visa exemption cannot be granted for those who come to Indonesia for specific purposes, such as filming or journalistic activities.
For instance, reporting about the G-20 summit in Bali requires a foreign national to get a journalist visa. If you enter Indonesia using the visa exemption arrangement, you cannot simply cover the story.
Hence, it’s important to define the purposes of your visit before applying for the Indonesian visa. Once you arrive here, the journey will be much easier if you have the right visa that allows you to do your business without any issues or restrictions.
How to Apply for Indonesia Visa Exemption
While the name simply states “exemption,” it doesn’t mean that you can just enter Indonesia at will without a visa.
As a foreign national who visits a country, you will need to provide documents that prove your identity to the officials in charge.
Per airport customs, you will need to be checked at the immigration counter upon arrival. At this stage, you need to provide several documents that prove your eligibility to apply for the visa exemption.
As such, you must prepare the following documents before booking a flight to Indonesia:
- A valid passport at least for six months
- A return or onward ticket to another destination
- Proof of hotel bookings or accommodation arrangements in the country
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination; digital or physical certificate
- A guarantee letter from related institutions (for official government visits)
It’s worth noting that you don’t need to provide a guarantee letter if you only intend to visit Indonesia for tourism purposes.
Therefore, you only need to provide the guarantee letter if you need to attend an event or conduct government duties as approved by the Indonesian government.
So, that’s all you need to know about the Indonesia visa exemption arrangements. Not every nationality is eligible for such a special entry permit.
In general, only SEA passport holders are allowed to enter Indonesia without having to apply for a visa. Hence, it’s important to prove your eligibility by providing a valid passport to the immigration officer in charge.
So, what if you’re not one of these eligible nationalities? You can still enter Indonesia by applying for other types of visas, such as a Visa on Arrival or Visit Visa.
To ease your way into your trip to Indonesia, you can apply for the visa you need through DoorToID’s mobile application, available to download from PlayStore or App Store.
Read also: Indonesia Single Entry Visa: Know-How on the Application
