visa on arrival resumed, quarantine removed for 23 nationalities in bali

Now you can come to Bali without the hassle of travel restrictions! That is, if you are a citizen of one of the two dozen countries on the list. For now, at least.

For the first time since the pandemic began two years ago, Indonesia has reactivated its special visa-on-arrival (VOA) program for foreigners visiting Bali – although initially only for travelers from 23 countries .

These countries are Australia, United States of America, Netherlands, Brunei, Philippines, United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, Germany, Cambodia, Canada, Korea South, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, France, Qatar, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand and Turkey. , United States of America. Arab Emirates and Vietnam.

"The new rules come into effect on Monday (March 7) and apply only to foreign tourists who wish to visit Bali," said Achmad Nur Saleh, immigration spokesperson for the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. the man.

Visitors from these countries who have been fully vaccinated and received reminders can skip quarantine as long as they provide confirmation that they have booked a three-night stay at a local hotel.

Travelers who are not nationals of 23 countries are still subject to travel restrictions, including the requirement to undergo a three-day quarantine and obtain a visa before departure.

While VOA is only eligible for people entering Bali, anyone wishing to leave Indonesia can do so via any city in the country. For example, you can leave Indonesia by flying out of Indonesia via Jakarta.

It is important to note that under the new rules, the VOA is valid for 30 days (with the possibility of an additional 30-day extension) and cannot be replaced by another visa. Those wishing to stay longer than 60 days, for example, must first apply for a business visa.

Separately, Bali Governor Wayan Koster confirmed the new rules and hoped the new rules would boost tourist activity on the island, which has been hit hard since Bali closed its international airport due to the pandemic. of coronavirus.

Furthermore, he hopes that by reactivating VOA and lifting quarantine requirements, he can put an end to the so-called "visa mafia" and "quarantine mafia" among travel agents.

The government previously announced it would lift quarantine requirements for Bali on March 14 ahead of plans to lift nationwide restrictions in April. It remains to be seen whether the new VOA and quarantine rules will apply by then for travelers outside the 23 countries.