Bali Travel Prep 2025: Visas, Forms & Everything You Need to Know
Bali Planning Post #1
So here we are, here’s the very first planning post on Unfolding Adventures.
I must say, it’s kind of dawning on me how close this huge change is to taking place! I’m so grateful for you being here with me on this journey as I take the leap into full-time travel. If you’re not already subscribed, I’d love for you to join me! Sign up below to follow along on this adventure.
Let’s get into it… I want my planning series to really be a reflection of my planning process and help you when planning your own travels.
Whenever I plan a trip, the first thing I research is the entry requirements - think visas, forms, and anything else I need before I step off the plane. This is exactly where I’ve begun for planning the first part of our adventure - Bali!
This information comes from a combination of the UK and Indonesian Government websites, and other online sources. Naturally, things can change from time to time, so please make sure to double check the entry requirements before travelling.
Visa & Passport Requirements
You must have at least 6 months remaining on your passport and 2 blank pages.
There are a fair few options for visas dependant on your reason for visiting Indonesia, but for my purpose, I’ve reduced it down to two potential visas:
30-day Visa on Arrival
Single entry visa for 30 days.
Cost: IDR 500,000 (~ £25).
You can apply online (at least a week before you depart) or on arrival.
You must have a return or onward ticket booked.
It may be extended once for an additional 30 days. If you applied online, you can apply for the extension on the Indonesian Immigration website, and this must be done within the initial 30 days. It seems if you acquire your visa when you arrive in the country, then you would need to go to the immigration office in Indonesia to extend.
C1 - Tourist Single Entry Visitor Visa
Single entry visa for 60 days, which can be extended twice.
Cost: IDR 1,000,000 (~£50).
You must apply before departure (takes around 5 working days), and requires a passport valid for at least 6 months, a personal bank statement for the last 3 month period and a recent colour photograph.
Must be used within 90 days of issue.
💭 I’m swaying towards the 30-day Visa on Arrival for our trip as I feel like this suits us best; allowing us the flexibility to extend if we want to.
Health Pass
It’s required that you complete the SATUSEHAT Health Pass, an online self-declaration form which you can fill in before you leave for Indonesia. This includes a few questions relating to your health and travel history.
Just a quick note here to say that if you are coming from a country listed as a transmission risk for yellow fever, you will need to provide a certificate of vaccination for yellow fever. The list can be found here (the UK isn’t on the list).
Bali Tourist Levy (introduced in 2024)
A new tourist levy has been introduced when visiting Bali which focuses on protecting and maintaining the culture and environment. This consists of a payment of IDR 150,000 (~£8) which can be paid either online or on arrival in Bali.
Customs Declaration Form
It’s required that you complete the customs declaration form (E-CD) to ensure that you aren’t taking any prohibited items into Indonesia.
There is also a section relating to IMEI Registration which must be completed if you are staying in Indonesia for more than 90 days. In this section, you must declare any devices you have that use a SIM card because Indonesia taxes these devices (over a certain value) if in the country for more than 90 days. Here’s a great article that explains this in much more detail.
You can fill in the E-CD form online no sooner than 48 hours before your arrival, saving you the time of filling it out at the airport. You’ll then receive a QR code which you can screenshot to be scanned at the customs inspection area.
International Driving Permit
If you want to drive a car or motorbike (scooter) whilst in Bali, you’ll need to get yourself an international driving permit (IDP). This costs £5.50 and you must already hold a full UK driving licence and be over 18.
There are three different types of IDP - 1926, 1949 and 1968 - which depend on the country you are visiting. For Indonesia, you’ll need the 1968 permit which lasts for either 3 years or until your UK drivers licence expires if that’s sooner.
You can purchase your IDP from selected shops that have PayPoint up to 3 months before your trip, and you’ll need:
Your full UK driving licence
A passport standard photo
Tip: If you’re going to multiple countries on your trip, you might need more than one type of IDP.
If this is the case, you can purchase them at the same time, you’ll just need to take a passport standard photo for each application.
From my research it really does seem that the more organised you are beforehand, the smoother your entry into Bali will be.
I’ve heard that the Denpasar Airport can be quite chaotic so I’ll definitely be doing everything online in advance to make things as stress-free as possible.
Have you experienced arriving in Bali before? I’d love to hear about it.
I’ll let you know our arrival experience in a future post!
Until next time,
Alexa
Loving the check list Alexa ❤️ definitely something I’ll use x