The Indonesian Government in Bali has confirmed that effective today, March 21, 2022, 20 more nationalities will be eligible for the Visa on Arrival process, bringing the total to 43 since the process has been restarted on March 7th.
Bali has instituted the Visa on Arrival again to ease entry restrictions while still controlling the flow and restarting the tourism industry that has been decimated during Covid in the last two years.
You can extend the 30-day visa-on-arrival once for a total maximum of 60 days. Other adjustments are not allowed. Visitors need to have a return ticket as per the usual entry requirement. You also have to arrive directly in Bali from abroad and right now the only option for that is Singapore Airlines.
Travelers entering Bali under the Visa on Arrival are still required to book a 4 day/3 night stay from a list of CHSE hotels but since last week an Air BnB VILLA booking is also acceptable.
This is the list of the 20 new countries as posted by Balinese Visa Agency Bali Solve:
This measure was published today in the government register under reference DIREKTORAT JENDERAL IMIGRASI • SURAT EDARAN • NOMOR IMI-0532.GR.01.01 TAHUN 2022
This adds to the existing list:
Previous Visa-on-Arrival eligible nationals as of March 7, 2022:
- Australia
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- Canada
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Japan
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Thailand
- Turkey
- UAE
- UK
- USA
- Vietnam
The list has now a total of 43 countries eligible for Visa on Arrival.
This will only be a temporary measure though as today the government also announced a stop to all quarantine measures for fully vaccinated arrivals into Indonesia.
The Jakarta Post reported that a notice will be circulated in due course.
The government is set to stop requiring quarantine for fully vaccinated international visitors entering the country on Tuesday, as it seeks to boost foreign tourist arrivals. Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno announced the decision on Monday, expressing hope that the new policy would help revive the country’s tourism industry and create new economic opportunities for locals.
“The quarantine-free international entry policy will be expanded throughout Indonesia, requiring only entry PCR tests. The national COVID-19 task force will issue a circular letter [on the policy] tomorrow,” he said during a weekly press briefing on Monday.
If this goes for all of Indonesia then the Bali VOA process and minimum hotel stay should theoretically be obsolete. They might keep the Visa in place to collect the fees because who can say no to free money, right!?
Visitors still need to have an additional test on day 3, and if that is negative too, visitors can leave Bali and enter other parts of Indonesia.
Indonesia lowered the quarantine/Warm Up Vacation period for as low as three nights:
Indonesia Lowers Quarantine/Warm Up Vacation To Three Days For Fully Vaccinated
Other Recent Indonesia articles:
Bali Reopening With Visa-On-Arrival & Without Quarantine On March 7, 2022?
Indonesia Seeks To Restart Moscow – Denpasar Flights & Jumpstart Tourism From Ukraine & Russia
Indonesia: Arrival Guidelines For International Travelers
Indonesia Returns To Three Night Quarantine & Considers Removing It In April
Conclusion
Several countries in Asia have released information about fully reopening and abandoning quarantine measures and it was just a question for one to kick off the row of domino stones until others will fall in line. Many countries such as Japan and Taiwan are still unimpressed by this and show not the slightest sign of movement.
In the case of Bali/Indonesia however they should open up the country to all fully vaccinated visitors with a maximum of one pre-departure PCR-RT tests if they wish to see tourists arrive in any significant number. Having several tests done locally is just a nuisance.
Let’s see what this new government order regarding opening Indonesia will say which would have an impact on the Bali arrivals too.
