The Indonesian government seems to be planning to waive the visa requirement for travellers from 20 countries, among which the United Kingdom. This could be implemented by the end of 2024. Until then, travellers may use the Indonesia e-visa (e-VOA), which can be applied for online. It seems like Irish travellers will not be eligible for the visa waiver.
Current visa rules for Indonesia
Currently, citizens of 10 countries are exempted from the visa requirement for Indonesia. These include citizens of East Timor and the 9 ASEAN-countries Brunei, Cambodia, the Philippines, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Travellers with passports from of these countries are allowed to stay in Indonesia for up to 30 days without a visa. Travellers from other countries, such as the UK or Ireland, always need a visa to be allowed to enter Indonesia.
The easiest way to meet the visa requirement is to apply for an Indonesia e-visa, also known as the electronic Visa on Arrival or e-VOA. You can apply for this Indonesia visa easily online, using a digital application form. After filling in the application form, you have to submit a few documents, including a digital passport photo, a photo or scan of your passport and a booking confirmation of your return or onward flight from Indonesia. Once your application is fully processed, the visa will be sent to you by e-mail. You will need to print the visa and carry it during your trip. You do not need to visit the embassy or consulate of Indonesia if you apply for the e-visa.
Rules may be eased in October
During the World Economic Forum in China at the end of June 2024, Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism, Sandiaga Uno, announced that Indonesia intends to scrap the visa requirement for travellers from 20 countries. The ministry submitted a proposal to grant more visa waivers in December 2023 already. According to Uno, the new visa policy may already come into effect before the upcoming change of government in October this year. However, there are still security concerns, as travellers cannot be thoroughly screened if they are allowed to enter Indonesia without a visa.
Citizens of the following countries will probably be allowed to enter Indonesia visa-free in the future:
- United Kingdom
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Spain
- Netherlands
- Australia
- China
- India
- South Korea
- United States of America
- Qatar
- United Arab Emirates
- Saudi Arabia
- Japan
- Russia
- Taiwan
- New Zealand
- Two unspecified countries in the Middle East
Boost for the tourism industry
Easing the visa rules should give a boost to Indonesia’s economy. The visa exemptions are expected to attract more international travellers to Indonesia, which should prompt investments in the country and increase the income from tourism. In that case, the Indonesia would also be able to compete with its neighbouring countries already offering visa free stays, such as Thailand and Singapore. Minister Uno is hoping to attract travellers who will stay in Indonesia for longer periods of time and spend more money in the country. According to the minister, visitors from the 20 candidate countries for the visa exemption will have the highest impact on the Indonesian economy.
Apply for an Indonesia e-visa
It has not yet been officially confirmed whether British citizens will be allowed to travel to Indonesia visa-free. Also, there has been no official information on how long travellers from the aforementioned list are allowed to stay in Indonesia without a visa and if there are any additional requirements. At least until October 2024, British citizens will always have to hold a visa to be allowed to enter Indonesia. Travellers who want to visit Bali for another Indonesian island for a holiday, are advised to apply for an e-visa before departure.
Apply for your Indonesia visa easily online