Entry rules for Indonesia
Villas with thirty rooms, meditations, retreats, vipassana, and yoga by the ocean — all this is Indonesia and the super popular Bali island among Russians. We are sure that you also want to get there as soon as possible to slow down, recharge, and open up, so in this article, we've covered all the main entry requirements for Bali.
Coronavirus restrictions
Indonesian authorities have lifted all coronavirus restrictions, so you can travel around Bali without a mask or quarantine. However, there's a nuance: entry into the country still requires proof that you are not sick with COVID-19. This is a certificate of full two-dose vaccination (Russian ones are accepted). The last dose must have been administered two weeks before flying to Indonesia.
How to get there
There are currently no direct flights to Indonesia. You can get to Denpasar (a city in southern Bali) with layovers (one or more) in Doha, Istanbul, Shanghai. Round-trip tickets Moscow — Denpasar with a layover in Doha from Qatar Airways in mid-April will cost around 142,000 rubles. The price is high, but other options can be found: for example, a flight with two layovers in Irkutsk and Bangkok costs less — 87,000 rubles.
From the airport to the most popular destination in Indonesia — Bali — you can get by bus (if you are part of a tour group) or by car with a driver. Transfers can be booked from Russia. There is a taxi stand near the airport, but this option will be more expensive.
Is a visa required
Yes, a visa for Bali is required for Russians in 2025. Russian citizens can obtain it in two ways: upon arrival in Indonesia (payment and application can be done electronically) or in advance at the consulate. The visa is issued for 30 days but can be extended for another month.
Visa to Indonesia on arrival. Ordinary tourists or workers traveling for business purposes can obtain it. This will require a foreign passport valid for at least six months from the date of arrival in the country, a return ticket, and a hotel reservation. The visa fee is approximately 2,500 rubles — depending on the rupiah exchange rate. You cannot pay with a Russian card on site; local currency or dollars will be needed. The downside is that many tourists process their visas at the airport, so you will have to stand in a long queue. To avoid this, there's a life hack.
Life hack: how to get your visa faster. You will need to pay the visa fee in advance from Russia. This can be done on the website.
How it works: you pay the fee, receive an e-VOA electronic permit, upon arrival at an Indonesian airport, you go through a separate queue (a special control booth with the e-VOA sign), and you get a stamp. This saves time, but there's also a downside: the electronic permit is not valid at all airports, so it's best to clarify this in advance before your trip.
Visa through the consulate. If filling out an online form seems like an unreliable option, you can take the proven path and make an appointment at the Indonesian consulate. This can be done via email; contacts are provided below. At the consulate, you will be asked to bring the following package of documents:
• foreign passport,
• visa application,
• color photo (3 x 4 cm),
• return ticket,
• hotel reservation confirmation,
• vaccination certificate,
• medical insurance,
• bank statement.
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Moscow
Address: 119017, Moscow, Novokuznetskaya St., 12
Phone: +7 (495) 951-95-49
Email: moscow.kbri@kemlu.go.id
What documents to take with you
Foreign passport. As usual, it must be valid for at least six months from the date of arrival in the country. This is a standard requirement for most countries, so before buying a ticket to Bali it's worth checking if the document's validity period is expiring. If the passport is expiring, you can apply for a second, new one. Having two foreign passports is legal.
Visa. It is processed upon arrival in the country or in advance at the consulate (judging by traveler forums, the first option seems more relevant). The price of a visa on arrival is 35 dollars. If you process it electronically, the price is the same.
Medical insurance. News from Bali about falling off bikes is no longer surprising: so, if you plan activities on the island, be sure to get insurance. Medical treatment in Indonesia is expensive.
Documents confirming that you are not sick with COVID-19. This could be a vaccination certificate (Sputnik V is accepted in the country, but it's unclear if a recent vaccine is needed or if an expired certificate will suffice), a certificate of recovery from coronavirus, or a medical exemption. Additionally, before your trip, you need to register in the PeduliLindungi app and provide information about your health and coronavirus status.
Return ticket. Indonesia is strict about this: tourists on Vinsky's forum say that without a return ticket (or a ticket to a third country), passengers are often not allowed to board the flight.
Proof of accommodation booking. They might ask for it both during flight check-in and at the border — it's better to be safe. If you don't have a foreign card, book a hotel on Booking with payment on site. If you are renting accommodation and don't have a booking/contract, remember the address to provide it when crossing the border.
Medical insurance
Indonesia has many good clinics that provide services according to international standards. However, medical care here is very expensive: you literally have to pay for every little thing. If a tourist doesn't have insurance, they will face a huge bill for treatment. So, it's definitely better to get a policy: it will cost around 2,000–3,000 rubles, but you can be at ease during your trip. Online, there are positive cases described of treatment in Balinese clinics where the insurance company fully covered the cost of a doctor's visit.
What you need for entry with a child
Visa. It must be obtained regardless of the child's age.
Foreign passport. Required if the child is over 14 years old. Before this age, they can travel without a foreign passport, but the child's details must be entered into the parents' passport.
Consent to travel. If the child is accompanied by only one parent — mother or father — consent is not required. But if it's a third party (teacher, aunt, grandmother), such consent will definitely be required at the border. It is notarized, which is standard practice.
Birth certificate. Take it with you if the child is traveling with one parent.
What about money
In Indonesia, Visa and Mastercard cards issued in Russia are not accepted, nor are Mir cards. For cashless payments, you will need cards issued abroad, for example, in Kazakhstan or Belarus. But it's better to have cash.
The optimal solution is to arrive in Indonesia with foreign currency and exchange cash on the spot. There are three options for currency exchange: at a bank, at exchange offices, and with local money changers. A bank is the most reliable option, but the exchange rate can be unfavorable, especially at airports where travelers first spend money to quickly start paying in stores. Buying rupiah at exchange offices is most convenient, but you will have to look for a place with the best rate. However, you should be careful with money changers: if you do deal with them, only do so based on reviews from real people. We recommend looking for verified contacts in traveler chats or on Vinsky's forum.
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