Visas & Customs in Indonesia

Entering Indonesia by air is relatively simple and straightforward, once you navigate the complex visa options. Numerous sea ports are similarly easy; if you're arriving by land, you'll have no problems as long as you have a valid visa in advance.

Indonesia has the usual list of prohibited imports, including drugs, weapons, fresh fruit and anything remotely pornographic. Items allowed include the following:

• 200 cigarettes (or 50 cigars or 100g of tobacco)
• a ‘reasonable amount’ of perfume
• 1L of alcohol

Surfers with more than two or three boards may be charged a 'fee', and this could apply to other items if the officials suspect that you aim to sell them in Indonesia. If you have nothing to declare, customs clearance is usually quick.

Your passport must be valid for six months after your date of arrir
val in Indonesia. Before passing through immigration you may fill out a disembarkation card, half of which you must keep to give to immigration when you leave the country.

Visas are the biggest headache many travellers face in their Indonesian trip. They are not hard to obtain, but the most common – 30 days – is very short for such a big place. Many travellers find even the 60-day visa restrictive.

The visa situation is constantly in flux. It is essential that you confirm current formalities before you arrive. Failure to meet all the entrance requirements can see you on the first flight out or subject to heavy fines.

No matter what type of visa you are going to use, your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of your arrival.

At the time of research, the main visa options for visitors to Indonesia are:

• Visa in Advance Visitors can apply for a visa before they arrive in Indonesia. Typically this is a visitor's visa, which comes in two flavours: 30 or 60 days. Details vary by country; contact your nearest Indonesian embassy or consulate to determine processing fees and times. Note: this is the only way to obtain a 60-day visitor visa, even if you qualify for Visa on Arrival.
• Visa on Arrival Citizens of over 65 countries may apply for a 30-day visa when they arrive at major airports and harbours (but not most land borders). The cost is US$35; be sure to have the exact amount in US currency. Eligible countries include Australia, Canada, much – but not all – of the EU including France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK, plus New Zealand and the USA. VOA renewals for 30 days are possible. If you don't qualify for VOA, you must get a visa in advance.
• Visa Free Citizens of dozens of countries can receive a 30-day visa for free upon arrival. But note that this visa cannot be extended and you may be limited to which airports and ports you can use to exit the country, eg the Timor-Leste visa run may not work with this visa.

If you have obtained one of the coveted 60-day visas in advance, be sure the immigration official at the airport gives you a 60-day tourist card.

Fines for overstaying your visa expiration date are 300,000Rp per day and include additional hassles.

You can arrange visas for study, short-term research, visiting family and similar purposes if you have a sponsor, such as an educational institution. These social/cultural (sosial/budaya) visas must be applied for at an Indonesian embassy or consulate overseas. Normally valid for three months on arrival, they can be extended every month after that for up to six months without leaving the country. Fees apply.

People wishing to study or work in Indonesia must apply directly to the Central Immigration Office in Jakarta for a Limited-Stay Visa (Kartu Izin Tinggal Terbatas, or Kitas). First, though, contact your nearest embassy for the most direct avenue and to find out what qualifies as 'study'. Those granted limited stay are issued a Kitas card, which is much-prized among travellers.

If you're planning to work in Indonesia your employer will need to organise your visa – it's a long and complicated process.

Special permits are required for travel in Papua.

You can renew a 30-day Visa on Arrival once (but not usually a Visa Free). The procedures are complex:

• At least seven days before your visa expires, go to an immigration office. These can usually be found in larger cities and regional capitals.
• Bring your passport, a photocopy of your passport and a copy of your ticket out of Indonesia (which should be for a date during the renewal period).
• Wear modest clothes, eg men may be required to wear long pants.
• Pay a fee of 250,000Rp.You may have to return to the office twice over a three- to five-day period.

One way to avoid the renewal hassle is to use a visa agent such as ChannelOne on Bali who, for a fee, will do the bureaucratic work for you.

Most visitors obtain a 30-day visa on arrival (VOA) at recognised entry points in Indonesia, which comprise 20 airports, 23 sea ports and the land crossing at Etikong in Kalimantan.

The ferry ports to/from Sumatra – Penang–Belawan, Melaka–Dumai and Singapore–Batam/Bintan – issue VOAs as do all major international airports. For most land border crossings you’ll need to arrange a visa in advance.

At the time of writing, citizens of over 64 countries were eligible for a VOA, including those from Australia, Canada, much – but not all – of the EU including Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK, plus New Zealand and the USA. The cost is US$25 and it is best to have exact change in US currency.

You can renew a VOA for another 30 days for US$25. To do so you must go to a local immigration office at least one week before your VOA expires and be prepared to spend at least a day jumping through hoops. One way to avoid this in Jakarta and Bali is to pay a visa agency to jump through the hoops for you. Rates vary.

Other important considerations:

• Passport Validity Your passport must be valid for six months following your date of arrival.
• 60-Day Visa To get a much-prized 60-day tourist visa, you have to go through an embassy or consulate outside Indonesia. Some travellers have reported being able to extend a 60-day tourist visa if they can find an Indonesian willing to act as their sponsor. This can be done 30 days at a time for up to six months. However, there's a fair amount of paperwork involved, so first check with an immigration office to find out the latest details.
• Onward Ticket/Funds Although seldom enforced, immigration officers can ask to see that you have an onward ticket from Indonesia and/or sufficient funds for your stay. This is one more reason to be polite and smile a lot.
• Restricted Visas Citizens of Israel and several other countries will need special visas that are difficult to obtain. However, it's an urban myth that a stamp from Israel in your passport will cause problems.
• Overstaying Your Visa Even staying one day beyond your visa expiration date can result in fines and hassles.