Because Bali is part of Indonesia, entering it means meeting Indonesia’s national visa and entry rules. For most tourists this is straightforward: many nationalities can use a visa on arrival, obtained at the airport or arranged online in advance, for a stay of around 30 days that can usually be extended once. Alongside the visa there are a couple of other formalities, an electronic customs declaration and a tourist levy, that are quick to handle if you know about them beforehand.
One caveat matters above all: entry rules, fees and the list of eligible nationalities do change, and they differ from one country to the next. Take what follows as a working picture of how the system runs, then confirm the requirements for your own passport with official Indonesian government sources close to your travel date. Do that and there are no surprises at the airport. For the wider arrival picture, see our getting to Bali page.
The visa on arrival
The most common way tourists enter Bali is the visa on arrival, often shortened to VoA. Available to many nationalities, it grants entry for tourism for a set period, commonly 30 days, in exchange for a fee paid at the border. You can buy it on landing at Ngurah Rai airport, or arrange it beforehand online as an electronic visa on arrival, the e-VoA, which can shorten your time in the queue after a long flight.
The visa on arrival is designed for holidays and short visits, not for work or long-term stays, which need different visa types arranged in advance. Which nationalities qualify, the exact fee and the precise length can all change, so treat the general description here as a guide only. Confirm your own eligibility and the current cost with official Indonesian sources before you travel, and keep any payment receipt or confirmation.
Extending your stay and how long you can remain
For many travellers the standard visa on arrival can be extended once, for a further period similar to the original, which can take a total stay up to around 60 days. The extension is handled through Indonesian immigration and, where you used an e-VoA, may be partly manageable online. The process takes several days, so it is best not to leave it until the last minute if you intend to extend.
If you need to stay longer than the extended visa on arrival allows, you will need a different category of visa arranged before you travel. Whatever route you use, do not overstay: Indonesia charges a fine for each day beyond your permitted stay, and repeated or serious overstaying can bring more serious consequences. Keep track of your entry date and your allowed period, and plan your departure or extension with a comfortable margin.
Passport, onward ticket and the customs declaration
Two practical requirements apply to most visitors. First, your passport should generally be valid for at least six months from the day you arrive, and have blank pages for stamps; renew it in good time if it is close to expiry. Second, you may be asked to show proof of onward or return travel, so having a booked flight out is sensible. Both are standard checks and easy to satisfy with a little preparation.
Separately from the visa, Indonesia operates an electronic customs declaration that covers the whole country. You complete it online around the time you arrive, usually within a day or two of landing, and present the resulting code or confirmation at the airport. It is free and quick. As with the visa, the system and its official web address can change, so follow current official customs guidance and avoid lookalike sites that try to charge you for what is a free process.
The tourist levy and final checks
Bali has introduced a tourist levy, a fee that international visitors are asked to pay on or around arrival, separate from any visa fee. It is intended to help fund the protection of the island’s environment and culture. Payment is generally arranged online or on arrival, and you may be asked to show proof that you have paid, so keep your confirmation. As the arrangements for this levy can change, check the current amount and how to pay it through official Bali or Indonesian government channels.
Putting it together, a typical tourist entry involves a valid passport, a visa on arrival or e-VoA, the electronic customs declaration, and the tourist levy, with an onward ticket to hand. None of these is difficult, but each is easier if sorted before you fly rather than in the arrivals hall. Once you are through, our getting around and money pages help with the next steps, and our is Bali safe page covers staying well during your stay.