Bali isn't visa-free for Indian passport holders, but it's genuinely one of the easier visas to get right. Most of the confusion we hear from travellers isn't about eligibility — it's about the extra tourist levy that trips people up, or landing without knowing the passport rules. Here's everything sorted in one place.
Do Indians need a visa for Bali?
Yes. India isn't on Indonesia's visa-exemption list, so every Indian traveller needs a Visa on Arrival (VOA) for a standard holiday. The good news: it's a same-day process with a strong approval rate, and it covers all of Indonesia — not just Bali — so the same visa works if you're adding Lombok, Java or Komodo to the trip.
VOA vs e-VOA: which one should you pick
You have two ways to get the same visa:
| e-VOA (online) | Airport VOA | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you apply | Official Indonesian immigration portal, before you fly | Counter at the airport on landing |
| Processing time | Typically 1–3 working days | On the spot, but queues can be long in peak season |
| Best for | Most travellers — less stress on arrival | Last-minute bookings with no time to apply ahead |
Our honest take: apply for the e-VOA at least 3–4 days before you fly. It costs the same as the airport version, but you walk straight through immigration instead of standing in a visa queue after a long flight.
What it costs
Budget for two separate charges — travellers often only account for one of these and get caught out at the airport:
- Visa on Arrival fee: IDR 500,000 (roughly ₹2,800–₹3,000 per person)
- Bali Tourist Levy: IDR 150,000 (roughly ₹800 per person) — a separate charge that applies to every foreign visitor entering Bali, on top of the visa fee
The Tourist Levy can be paid online in advance through Bali's official levy portal, or at cashless counters on arrival. Paying it before you fly is worth the two minutes — you'll get a QR code to show on landing instead of joining another line.
How long can you stay
The VOA gives you 30 days, and it can be extended once, for another 30 days — a maximum stay of 60 days on a single visa. Extensions are handled through an immigration office in Indonesia before your initial 30 days runs out; they're not automatic, so if you know you'll want the extra month, plan to apply a few days ahead of your expiry date.
Documents to carry
- Passport valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date
- At least 2 completely blank pages — the endorsement pages at the back of an Indian passport don't count for this
- A confirmed return or onward ticket — immigration can and does check this
- Proof of accommodation for your stay
- The All Indonesia Arrival Card, a digital declaration completed within 3 days of landing
Mistakes that slow people down
- Passport validity cutting it close. Airlines in India will often deny boarding if your passport doesn't clear the 6-month rule — this gets caught before you even reach Bali.
- No onward ticket. A one-way booking with nothing planned after is a common reason for extra questioning at immigration.
- Forgetting the Tourist Levy is separate. Paying the visa fee and assuming you're done is the single most common surprise we see travellers run into on landing.
- Overstaying. Fines apply per day beyond your visa's validity, and it's taken seriously — always plan your exit date with a buffer.
Planning a Bali trip?
We handle the visa timeline, the levy, and every other document alongside your itinerary — so you're not tracking any of this separately. Tell us your travel dates and we'll build the full plan around them.
Start planning your Bali tripVisa fees and rules can change without much notice. This guide reflects the process as of 2026 — we always confirm the latest requirements with you before you travel.