Indonesia has eased its visa requirements for tourists from Panama, Guatemala, and Macau, allowing them to apply for visa-on-arrivals (VoA) upon arrival in the country. The move is aimed at boosting the tourism industry, especially in Bali.
Previously, tourists from these countries had to go through the tedious process of applying for a visa at the Indonesian embassy in their home countries.
“Foreign tourists can [now] apply for an electronic visa on arrival (e-VoA) through molina.imigrasi.go.id before leaving for Indonesia,” Achmad Nur Saleh, a spokesman for the Immigration Directorate General, said in a statement,
The VoA is valid for 30 days and can be extended once. However, it cannot be converted to any other type of stay permit. The application fee is IDR500,000 (US$33.99) and can be paid using a credit or debit card with a Visa, Mastercard, or JCB logo.
The new policy is expected to boost the tourism sector in Bali, as the island’s officials are hoping for 4.5 million international arrivals this year, plus 9 million domestic travelers. That would put the number close to the 6.2 million international tourists arrivals in 2019, before the pandemic hit.
With the addition of Panama, Guatemala, and Macau, there are now 92 regions whose nationals are eligible for VoA.
Are you on the VOA-eligible list? Follow this link to find out.
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