Bali visa on arrival: should you prepay online, how should you pay at the airport, and do immigration keep your passport for the extension?

From messages by 3 participants in 1 source · Last activity: 13 days ago

TL;DR

Prepaying Bali’s visa on arrival does not always save much time, because you may still face immigration lines, especially with an older passport type. It’s safer to pay the exact amount or by card if possible, and for an extension your passport is usually kept and collected later rather than finished in one visit.

What the community said

VOA counters at the airport accept only newer-series US dollar notes in US$10, US$20, US$50, or US$100 denominations, with change given in Indonesian rupiah. If older dollar notes are refused, travelers can withdraw rupiah from an ATM or use a suitable foreign card.

23 days ago newer-series US dollars; change in rupiah

A Bali visa extension is usually not completed in a single visit: immigration takes your passport and you return later to collect it. If you plan domestic travel in Indonesia, allow a few days when you may not have your passport in hand.

passport is kept during extension

If you pay for the visa in cash at the airport, it’s best to bring the exact amount because change may be calculated at an unfavorable exchange rate. One example mentioned was paying with US$100 for two people and receiving change as if only US$20 had been overpaid.

US$100 / US$70 for two

Prepaying the visa is not always worth it: even if you pay before flying, long lines on arrival may still remain. Travelers with older-style passports especially question whether online prepayment gives any real speed advantage at the airport.

prepaid VOA