Traveling to another country, like Indonesia, can be a difficult thing to do for a first timer. While it may be exciting, there is a requirement that needs to be met for foreign travelers all around the world. This is why a travel guide concerning what you should know before visiting Indonesia is needed.
In this article, we will talk about what you should know before visiting Indonesia as a foreign national. If you have never visited Indonesia before, then it is important to take note of the essential information provided below.
Visiting Indonesia for the First Time
As a first-time visitor, you may find Indonesia unfamiliar. This tropical country has a warm and welcoming climate for every foreign national who wants a relaxing retreat. It is also a suitable place to work and reside temporarily if you want a change of environment.
International tourists can go to Indonesia by air or sea. Flying to Indonesia can now be easier since the COVID-19 outbreak has wound down. Many direct flights to Indonesia are now available to be booked.
If you want to travel by sea, you can hop on ferries that connect Indonesia to neighboring countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Most of these ports are located near the countries mentioned earlier. For instance, there’s a port in Batam that connects the island to Singapore, as well as the surrounding islands, such as Tanjung Pinang and Karimun Island.
What You Should Know About Indonesia
If you intend to visit Indonesia, it is important to know about some essential things before arriving in the country. For those who want to travel, learning about the environment, including the weather and payment methods used in the country, is a necessary thing to do. This is done to help you navigate your way during your trip.
Weather Conditions
What you should know before visiting Indonesia is its weather conditions. Since Indonesia is a tropical country, the temperatures on land and water are mostly warm. The temperatures range from 23 °C in higher regions, 26 °C in mountain areas, and 28 °C in the coastal area.
While Indonesia is known for its sunny days, the rain often pours down as well. The rainy season in Indonesia causes humidity levels to range between 70% and 90%. Usually the rainy season happens from October to March, while the dry season occurs between March and October.
Payment Methods in Indonesia
Staying in Indonesia means that you should adhere to its customs, including making transactions with the acceptable payment methods in the country. For a starter, Indonesia’s official currency is the Rupiah (Rp), with the code IDR.
Traditionally, people in Indonesia pay with cash using money papers and coins. Payment using credit and debit cards is also acceptable in selected places. To ensure that you can pay without difficulty, exchange the foreign currency first to rupiah in reputable banks, credit unions, and money changers.
Read also: Indonesia Immigration: Know-How about Visa Applications
Applying for Visas in Indonesia
What you should know before visiting Indonesia is a little thing called an “e-Visa.” Ever since the pandemic, the Indonesian government has developed an electronic version of the visa. Since the visa takes a digital form, the application should be done online too. This system helps foreign travelers who want to travel to Indonesia apply for visas easily.
With e-Visa, foreign nationals do not have to visit the Indonesian Immigration Office directly to proceed with the visa application. In addition to the information about e-Visa, you should know about the types of visas you can apply for. Here is the list of visas you can choose from according to the purpose of your visit:
Visa on Arrival (VoA)
It’s better to apply for a Visa on Arrival if you only intend to visit Indonesia for leisure purposes. With this visa, you can stay in Indonesia for 30 days. If you still want to stay longer than that, you can extend your stay once. In total, you can stay for 60 days with your own VoA.
Visa on Arrival applications are only available for the following nationalities:
- Albania
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Brunei Darussalam
- Bulgaria
- Cambodia
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Laos
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Malta
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Morocco
- Myanmar
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Oman
- Palestine
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Rumania
- Russia
- San Marino
- Saudi Arabia
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Timor Leste
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Uzbekistan
- Vatican
- Vietnam
To get a VoA, you can prepare the following documents:
- A valid passport that is valid for at least six months
- A return or onward ticket from Indonesia
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
- Sufficient funds for your personal expenses in Indonesia
Visit Visa (B211)
What you should know before visiting Indonesia is that you can stay for 60 days without applying for a VoA extension. Visit Visa can be granted for foreign nationals who intend to visit Indonesia for tourism, business, purchases of goods, or emergency work purposes.
There are three types of B211 you can choose from, which are B211A, B211B, and B211C. B211A is the most general one, while B211B and B211C are for more specific purposes. B211B is for foreign workers who are on probation, while B211C is for those who are involved in journalism and movie-making activities.
To get a Visit Visa, you should prepare the following documents:
- Passport
- Passport cover
- Passport/visa photos
- A return or onward ticket
- Vaccination proof
- Bank statement of at least $2,000
- A letter stating willingness to pay for personal medical expenses
- A guarantor letter
Temporary Stay Permit (C312)
Among the things you should know before visiting Indonesia is the application for a temporary stay permit. This type of permit or visa allows you to stay in Indonesia for 12 months. Foreign nationals who are allowed to apply for this type of visa are as follows:
- Experts
- Ship or vessel workers operating in the Indonesian maritime zone
- Machine installers and repairers
- Auditors and inspectors
- Non-permanent workers in a construction field
- Skilled workers on probation
- Employees involved in quality controls of goods or products.
In order to get the temporary stay permit, you need to provide the documents below:
- A valid passport; at least eighteen months for a year stay permit
- A guarantor letter from an Indonesian employer
- Proof of sufficient funds to cover your personal expenses for at least one year
- A recommendation letter from the related institution
So, that’s all about what you should know before visiting Indonesia. If you visit Indonesia for the first time, then you need to take note of the things we have mentioned in the guide. You can contact DoorToID to get quick, professional, and transparent assistance in obtaining your visa securely.
Read also: A Guide to Getting a Bali Visa for US Citizens Properly
