(How to) Get Visa on Arrival in Indonesia in 6 quick and easy steps
Are you planning to stay more than 30 days in Indonesia? You will need to extend your Visa on Arrival (VoA). The process to extend a VoA is pretty easy, just follow the steps below:
Step 1: The arrival — At the airport
- At Soekarno-Hatta Airport visit the VoA counter (before you pass customs) and ask for a Visa on Arrival.
- Tell them your purpose of stay and how long you want to stay in Indonesia.
- Give your passport and pay 35 USD or 500.000 IDR per person.
- You will get two receipts. One receipt you will give at the customs, they will keep it. Take good care of the other receipt because you will need to show it later on at the immigration office.
- At the customs tell them again the purpose of your visit and you will get a stamp and a VISA sticker which is valid for 30 days. This is not your VoA. It is only your permit to stay for 30 days.
Step 2: Make copies — At a copy shop
Make a copy of your:
- Passport photo
- VISA sticker
- Flight ticket (which shows when you will leave Indonesia)
This can be done in one of the many copy shops around and is very cheap. Take a USB stick with your files in case there is not a proper internet connection.
Step 3: Extension VoA – At the immigration office
- Within 30 days you’ll have to visit an immigration office somewhere in Indonesia to extend your VoA (to for instance 60 days). This process has to be done at least 7 days before the 30 days expire.
- When you visit the immigration office bring your passport, a copy of your passport photo, a copy of your VISA sticker and a copy of your flight ticket which shows them when you will leave Indonesia.
- Visit the immigration office and make sure you wear appropriate clothes, otherwise you won’t come in. Flip flops and a sarong are okay at the immigration office in Mataram on Lombok.
- Walk to the entrance and collect your visitor pass. Walk to the counter and show your passport, $35 VoA receipt and tell that you want to extend your visa.
- Fill in the form. It includes your personal information, your profession, the address back home, your residence in Indonesia and some other information. Add the copy of your passport photo, VISA sticker and flight ticket and return it all.
- You will get a waiting ticket in return. Wait for the intercom that calls your number and when it is your turn collect your receipt.
- Your receipt shows the date when you have to come back at the immigration office. They will keep your passport so the receipt will function temporarily as your identity proof.
Step 4: Pay the bill — At the bank
Get a copy of the receipt and go to a bank or post office and tell them you’d like to pay for your visa and pay another 355.000 IDR / 25 USD / €21 to get the extension of your VoA. Another option is to pay the bill at a mobile post office right outside the immigration office.
Step 5: Profile picture and scan fingers — At the immigration office (second time)
- After two days you need to come back at the immigration office in the early morning. Wait for your turn, sit down and let them take your profile picture and scan your fingers. Sign on a mousepad for approval.
Step 6: Passport return including VoA extension — At the immigration office (third time)
- You need to come back in the afternoon when your passport will be returned. Walk inside and hand in your receipt one more time and wait until your name is called. Check if the set date in your passport is correct and sign for approval. Your extension of your stay permit is a cold fact.
If this process of getting 30 extra days in Indonesia takes you too much time there are two other options:
- Book a flight to Singapore or Kuala Lumpur and get back at the same day.
- Let someone or a company do the paperwork, give your passport and only visit the immigration office once to take a photo and give your fingerprints. Costs will be around 750.000 - 1 million IDR / 53–71 USD / €45–60.
Words JJB
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