No matter how many times you've been, the promise of a blissed-out island break is pretty much impossible to resist. And, with international travel firmly back on the cards and the island back in full swing – there’s never been a better time to visit.
But, while travelling to Bali is getting easier by the day, there are still some requirements and regulations you need to prepare for to make sure your arrival is a breeze.
So, what's the deal?
What are the testing requirements for travelling to and from Indonesia?
You’ll be pleased to know that both quarantine and PCR testing is no longer required for fully vaccinated travellers (yay!) who have had either 2 or 3 doses. This applies to all international travellers arriving at any port of entry in Indonesia.
Get your head around the current visa situation:
Thanks to Bali's newly reinstated Visa on Arrival (VOA) program, you'll fill out the paperwork and pay the fee (IDR 500,000) once you get off the plane. This visa is valid for 30 days, with the possibility to extend it for a further 30 days. If you’d prefer to do it before, there’s also the option to apply and pay online from 14 days to 48 hours before arrival.
The 86 nationalities eligible for the Visa On Arrival are specified here. Any travellers who aren't eligible for the Visa On Arrival will need to pre-apply for the B211 Tourism Visa permit instead. You can do this by contacting your nearest Indonesian Embassy or Consulate for information.
Be prepared with this handy pre-flight checklist:
Make sure you are fully vaccinated (two doses or a booster) more than 14 days before you arrive.
Don’t forget to have your documents in order. You’ll need the correct visa – either a pre-applied visa or a Visa On Arrival. You’ll also need at least 6 months of validity left on your passport, and you’ll need proof of a booked flight leaving Indonesia before your visa’s end date. Plus, valid travel insurance – don’t forget that.
We’d recommend printing out your vaccination certificate, your visa (if applicable) and your return flight details.
Download the PeduliLindungi app. At check-in, you’ll need to show that this is already downloaded on your phone.
To save you some time at the airport, fill in the online Customs Declaration Form before you land.
Everything you need to know about the extra-marital bonk ban:
Sure, we all heard the news. So to set the record straight, no – tourists in Bali don’t need to worry about being jailed for bonking outside the bounds of marriage (except in very specific circumstances). Under the new criminal code, adultery is a crime punishable by up to one year in prison. And while this does apply to foreigners, the law stipulates that only immediate family members (spouse, parents, or children) who may be negatively impacted by adultery, can report somebody for the crime. To put that into perspective, the only scenario in which two unmarried tourists could fall onto the wrong side of the law is if they brought their families along with them and one of their family members reported them to the Indonesian police. Unlikely, right?
With all of that in mind…
Whether you’re dreaming of cheap Bintangs, stunning scenery, epic tours or 'gram-worthy places to stay, when it comes to planning your dream island escape – the sky’s the limit. And while we’d agree that post-COVID travel may require a little extra prep work than it used to – it is most definitely worth it.
So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to submit that annual leave request, get packing and book yourself a beachy Bali holiday.
Ready to plan your trip? Start here.
This article was updated on February 2nd to reflect the latest guidelines around Bali travel.
