Indonesian Visa Discussion (Including Bali)

[Captain Halliday]

Ha. Persistent like the genuine Armani watch merchants on Kuta beach.

Indeed.

I did e-VOA for three and I reckon it took close to an hour.

I can’t say for sure how long it saved us on arrival. Perhaps 30-40 mins.

But arriving at 9pm with the body clock feeling more like midnight it was worth the effort to skip the queue and get to the hotel sooner.

 

[Pushka]

Indeed.

I did e-VOA for three and I reckon it took close to an hour.

I can’t say for sure how long it saved us on arrival. Perhaps 30-40 mins.

But arriving at 9pm with the body clock feeling more like midnight it was worth the effort to skip the queue and get to the hotel sooner.

It's reckon it's more than that as doing it prior meant you could use egates and not wait in another line for passport checking. We've waited up to an hour just for that part. Costs the same.

 

[Pushka]

Groan. Exit immigration a nightmare. System down. Security also a zoo with bags going everywhere. Couldn’t even get into the large immigration hall. Through in an hour. Finally.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Groan. Exit immigration a nightmare. System down. Security also a zoo with bags going everywhere. Couldn’t even get into the large immigration hall. Through in an hour. Finally.

Sounds dreadful. I might stay a few more days and give them time to sort it out.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Groan. Exit immigration a nightmare. System down. Security also a zoo with bags going everywhere. Couldn’t even get into the large immigration hall. Through in an hour. Finally.

Oh no @Pushka
We fly out 10.10pm and can only hope in 2 hours they get themselves sorted!
Will report back.
Happy travels now ✈

 

[Flyfrequently]

Oh no @Pushka
We fly out 10.10pm and can only hope in 2 hours they get themselves sorted!
Will report back.
Happy travels now ✈

Have a more detailed description in my TR, Hi, Bali H'ai
Essentially through in about 30 minutes @Captain Halliday

 

[travelislife]

Just completed E visa for our family of 4 for trip in 10 days time. The system was much smoother and less clunky than the last time I did it in September last year. Didn't get stuck on uploads of docs, or populating hotel address field. Only point had to be careful on was the last screen where you check all details and it had auto populated the passport issue date incorrectly on all of them. Most annoying bit was having to pay individually for each one.

Just reading the bottom of it, with our kids being 3 and 6 doesn't look like we can use the e gates?

 

[Captain Halliday]

Just completed E visa for our family of 4 for trip in 10 days time. The system was much smoother and less clunky than the last time I did it in September last year. Didn't get stuck on uploads of docs, or populating hotel address field. Only point had to be careful on was the last screen where you check all details and it had auto populated the passport issue date incorrectly on all of them. Most annoying bit was having to pay individually for each one.

Just reading the bottom of it, with our kids being 3 and 6 doesn't look like we can use the e gates?

Correct re: e-gates.

It was less than two weeks ago when we passed through but I don’t remember the exact age, sorry. But Miss H was denied and she’s older than your two.

Maybe it’s 15 or 16.

My suggestion: Check the queue for people with disability / elderly / little children as your first option. But I think that may be for under 5’s.

If not, go to the e-gates and use the one on the far right.

Next to the far right gate is a staff access point.

When we passed there was a Immi official there who waited with us while the adults used the e-gates.

He then walked Miss H through the staff access to the desk for manual processing.

 

[travelislife]

Correct re: e-gates.

It was less than two weeks ago when we passed through but I don’t remember the exact age, sorry. But Miss H was denied and she’s older than your two.

Maybe it’s 15 or 16.

My suggestion: Check the queue for people with disability / elderly / little children as your first option. But I think that may be for under 5’s.

If not, go to the e-gates and use the one on the far right.

Next to the far right gate is a staff access point.

When we passed there was a Immi official there who waited with us while the adults used the e-gates.

He then walked Miss H through the staff access to the desk for manual processing.

Thanks. Yea says on the bottom of the visa that have to be 14 years old.

 

[Bengingerflea]

Oh man, I had a rough time with this too! I messed up on the hotel name and had to redo the whole application. And yep, I spent ages trying to figure out why the download button wasn’t working, only to find the visa in the email attachment. Double-check everything and save your progress as you go!

 

[Stealthflyer]

Just completed E visa for our family of 4 for trip in 10 days time. The system was much smoother and less clunky than the last time I did it in September last year. Didn't get stuck on uploads of docs, or populating hotel address field. Only point had to be careful on was the last screen where you check all details and it had auto populated the passport issue date incorrectly on all of them. Most annoying bit was having to pay individually for each one.

Just reading the bottom of it, with our kids being 3 and 6 doesn't look like we can use the e gates?

Yeah, the auto populated data was incorrect on mine too. Always pays to check.

The process of applying for the evisa online was a pain, but I much preferred it to the craziness of the visa on arrival. This time I swanned through to baggage claim in a mere 5 minutes. My bag was third out and then I had to wait for 3/4 hour for my driver who was not expecting me for another hour. Last year I think it took two hours to get through to our driver!

While I paid the tourist tax online beforehand, no one checked.

 

[Blinky]

Is there a problem applying too early? We are going on 21 August, and I have tried and failed on three devices and two operating systems. My nurdle is when trying to download a passport for the second time (unless I’m doing something incredibly stupid, which could easily be the case.

 

[Stealthflyer]

Is there a problem applying too early? We are going on 21 August, and I have tried and failed on three devices and two operating systems. My nurdle is when trying to download a passport for the second time (unless I’m doing something incredibly stupid, which could easily be the case.

The customs form has to be within three days, but I can’t see anything about the e-visa time frame. Smart Traveller is usually pretty good about including such details:

Indonesia

Australian Government travel advice for Indonesia. Learn more about local safety, laws and health risks.

www.smartraveller.gov.au

 

[Blinky]

Ah, I see the problem. I need to upload pdf files this time.

 

[Blinky]

All now fixed.

 

[Pushka]

So here's a conundrum. We just got the single entry 30 day visa thing a few weeks ago and entered on 18th June. We then left on 20th June. Remember I said immigration on departure was a mess? Well, we re enter Bali tomorrow and have tried applying for another visa. I can't. It states my original visa is still valid and won't let me do a new one. Which I need. I can do a new customs declaration. Seems immigration didn't log our exit. We will front at the VOA desk tomorrow. Sigh. Try explaining this one to them.

 

[SYD]

So here's a conundrum. We just got the single entry 30 day visa thing a few weeks ago and entered on 18th June. We then left on 20th June. Remember I said immigration on departure was a mess? Well, we re enter Bali tomorrow and have tried applying for another visa. I can't. It states my original visa is still valid and won't let me do a new one. Which I need. I can do a new customs declaration. Seems immigration didn't log our exit. We will front at the VOA desk tomorrow. Sigh. Try explaining this one to them.

Maybe try the eGate *before* spending another $50 bucks?

 

[Pushka]

Maybe try the eGate *before* spending another $50 bucks?

We thought about doing just that but what happens if we go to leave for home and they suddenly detect we've done something funky with their system? It's Indonesia. And then there will be a go fund me exercise to pay our legal fees. Guess it would make for a fab AFF story.

 

[SYD]

We thought about doing just that but what happens if we go to leave for home and they suddenly detect we've done something funky with their system? It's Indonesia. And then there will be a go fund me exercise to pay our legal fees. Guess it would make for a fab AFF story.

But you could just show them the Bali tax app as proof of payment and in the shock of seeing someone honest, they could just wave you through…

Seriously though, from memory you can actually nominate a shorter duration for the eVOA and that’s what’s probably tripped you up. Last time I passed through CGK on my way to Europe and then home via DPS, I consciously nominated a short duration for the CGK transit (2 nights) and then the max on the way back for a few days in Bali to ensure no overlapping eVOAs.

 

[Pushka]

But you could just show them the Bali tax app as proof of payment and in the shock of seeing someone honest, they could just wave you through…

Seriously though, from memory you can actually nominate a shorter duration for the eVOA and that’s what’s probably tripped you up. Last time I passed through CGK on my way to Europe and then home via DPS, I consciously nominated a short duration for the CGK transit (2 nights) and then the max on the way back for a few days in Bali to ensure no overlapping eVOAs.

In a weird coincidence I wasn't able to check in to Cathay online yesterday for our flight LHR-HK-DPS today. I thought they knew we had visa issue. Nup. They needed to see we had a flight out of Bali. It is on Jetstar. So there we were in the F lounge check in area for Cathay having to show them our Jetstar flight booking. Oh the shame. Yet on the way to Bali first time round on Qantas, booked as a single journey, they didn't even bother asking anything about getting out again.