The Visa on Arrival for Indonesia (VOA)
In addition to the e-visa, there is also the Visa on Arrival for Indonesia. British, Irish and travellers from EU countries can obtain this visa after arriving in Indonesia. In this article, you can read why it is better to apply for an e-visa and in which cases a Visa on Arrival may be a suitable temporary solution.
The e-visa is the better option.
British, Irish and European travellers always need a visa to travel to Indonesia. If you apply for an e-visa, you will know before arrival that you have a valid visa and that you can enter the country without any problems. In addition, you avoid long waiting times at the visa counter at the airport in Indonesia. There are a large number of airports, seaports and border crossings available for arrivals with the e-visa.
Differences between the Visa on Arrival and the e-visa
The e-visa and the Visa on Arrival are both suitable for a holiday of up to 30 days in Indonesia. The visa requirements for both visa types are largely the same. One of the key differences is that you can arrive at more locations with an e-visa where there is no Visa on Arrival available. In both cases, you need to be able to provide a return ticket and a passport valid for at least 6 months on your last day in Indonesia. Another difference is the application procedure. You can apply for the e-visa from home before departure, while you can obtain the Visa on Arrival after arriving in Indonesia.
Please note: There are differences between the permitted arrival locations for the e-visa and the Visa on Arrival. You can enter at more locations with the e-visa than with the Visa on Arrival.
List of arrival locations for the Visa on Arrival
| Airports | ||
|---|---|---|
| Hang Nadim - Riau Archipelago | Soekarno-Hatta - Jakarta | Ngurah Rai - Bali |
| Kualanamu - North Sumatra | Juanda - East Java | Sultan Hasanuddin - South Sulawesi |
| Sam Ratulangi - North Sulawesi | Yogyakarta - Yogyakarta | Zainuddin Abdul Madjid - West Nusa Tenggara |
| Sea Ports | |
|---|---|
| Benoa - Bali | Dumai - Riau |
| Nongsa Terminal Bahari - Riau Archipelago | Batam Centre - Riau Archipelago |
| Sekupang - Riau Archipelago | Citra Tri Tunas - Riau Archipelago |
| Marina Teluk Senimba - Riau Archipelago | Bandar Bentan Telani Lagoi - Riau Archipelago |
| Bandar Seri Udana Lobam - Riau Archipelago | Sri Bintan Pura - Riau Archipelago |
| Tanjung Balai Karimun - Riau Archipelago | |
| Land Border Crossings | |
|---|---|
| Entikong - West Kalimantan | Aruk - West Kalimantan |
| Mota’ain - East Nusa Tenggara | Tunon Taka - East Kalimantan |
When is it advisable to apply for a Visa on Arrival?
Are you travelling to Indonesia in the very near future? If you are leaving for Indonesia in less than 24 hours, it is advisable to use the Visa on Arrival, as there is no guarantee that the e-visa will be granted in time.
Are you travelling to Indonesia in 24 hours or later? Then it is better to apply for an e-visa. Standard applications are approved within 7 days Urgent applications, on the other hand, are processed within an average of 24 hours. Please note that urgent applications may also take longer than average to process.
Advantages of the Indonesia e-visa
- Certainty: you know before departure that you have a valid visa
- Shorter waiting times at the airport upon arrival
- More available arrival locations
- Various online payment methods available
