General Info

[Mighty Spearsman]

AussieGaigin:
So unmarried couples must avoid Indonesia. Must be a death blow to tourism on Bali.

Hey Menteng, nice to see that you are still around.

I'm curious as to whether the authorities would ever enforce that proposed law in Bali itself, precisely because Bali is the main tourism draw for Indonesia (I think it's the #1 tourism spot in all of Southeast Asia) and a lot of tourism dollars flow through there.

The article is also mixing apples and oranges by ending with a couple of scary paragraphs on Aceh, as that province has been run differently from the rest of Indonesia for a fairly long time (and has very few tourists as a result).

We'll see.

[Menteng]

AussieGaigin:
So unmarried couples must avoid Indonesia. Must be a deathblow to tourism on Bali.

[AussieGaigin]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63838213

By Thomas Mackintosh.

BBC News.

Indonesia's parliament is expected to pass a new criminal law this month that will punish sex outside marriage with imprisonment of up to a year.

Bambang Wuryanto, a politician involved in the draft, said the code could be passed as early as next week.

The law, if passed, would apply to Indonesian citizens and foreigners alike.

Punishment for adultery can only take effect if there are parties who lodge complaints to the authorities.

For those who are married, the party entitled to lodge a complaint is the perpetrator's husband or wife.

The law also allows the parents of unmarried people to report them for having sex.

Cohabitation before marriage will also be banned and those convicted could face a six-month prison sentence.

Business groups have expressed concern about the damage the rules might do to Indonesia's image as a holiday and investment destination, according to Reuters.

Shinta Widjaja Sukamdani, deputy chairperson of Indonesia's Employers' Association (APINDO), said: "For the business sector, the implementation of this customary law shall create legal uncertainty and make investors reconsider investing in Indonesia. ".

The previous draft of the code was set to be passed in 2019 but sparked nationwide protests with tens of thousands taking part in demonstrations.

Many, including students, took to the streets in cities across Indonesia with the main clashes taking place in the capital Jakarta.

Jakarta police battled protesters in 2019 who were angry over a new corruption law and proposed penal code.

Such strict laws on sex and relationships are not without precedent in parts of majority-Muslim Indonesia.

The province of Aceh enforces strict Islamic law and has punished people for gambling, drinking alcohol and meeting members of the opposite sex.

In one case in 2021, neighbours denounced two men for having sex. They each received 77 lashes from a police officer in a public caning.

On the same day a woman and man were each given 20 lashes for being caught in close proximity to each other, and two men were given 40 lashes each for getting drunk.

[Jingo10]

Thanks for the information. From the prices I have seen for flights, when I will need to renew my visa, it looks like it will be 5-6 times the cost of the visa extension, to make a visa run. And it will use up a whole day.

Maybe three visits to immigration over around 5 days will be worth it to save at least Rp 2 million?

How soon after arriving can you apply for the extension? Can you do it immediately?

You mention using an agent. Do you think someone who has not done this before, would be able to complete the application process on their own?

Have a look at the following (there is a government page for Bali but I can't see it).

https://jogja.imigrasi.go.id/extendi...n-arrival-101/

You do it when you have about 10-14 days left on your initial voa.

It's not complicated and you get a morning or afternoon appointment for the 2nd & 3rd visit.

This is for Denpasar immigration.

Day 1 - go to the kiosk outside the main building, collect the forms and complete there. Hand back the forms, documents & passport. You will get an appointment slot for day 2. Pay at the far kiosk, no foreign cards allowed, take cash. There's a cafe around the back. You can also get printing done here if you need.

Day 2 - go early, go inside main building turn right and go to the end. Go in queue and you get a ticket with a number on it. The screens above shows the ticket numbers, you need to wait till it's your turn.

Day 3 - main building same queue, they will call your name and you get your passport back. Last time it took10 minutes.

Many people prefer to use agents I prefer not. You need a print out if the relevant documents.

[Gonz0]

This was 2 months ago, I'll be doing the same again very soon.

The voa extension process takes 3 trips to Denpasar immigration, but only the second is time consuming. It takes about 5 days to process and you have to leave your passport with them. First & third are to drop off and pick up documentation. The second one trip is for photograph and fingerprinting, which took about 2 hours (get there early).

I think it's 500 k to extend so cheaper than a visa run. Make sure you get the correct immigration office though as they will turn you away.

Thanks for the information. From the prices I have seen for flights, when I will need to renew my visa, it looks like it will be 5-6 times the cost of the visa extension, to make a visa run. And it will use up a whole day.

Maybe three visits to immigration over around 5 days will be worth it to save at least Rp 2 million?

How soon after arriving can you apply for the extension? Can you do it immediately?

You mention using an agent. Do you think someone who has not done this before, would be able to complete the application process on their own?

[Jingo10]

When was this?

How difficult / time consuming, was it to organise the extension? Would you recommend it over paying 2 extra flights for a visa run?

This was 2 months ago, I'll be doing the same again very soon.

The voa extension process takes 3 trips to Denpasar immigration, but only the second is time consuming. It takes about 5 days to process and you have to leave your passport with them. First & third are to drop off and pick up documentation. The second one trip is for photograph and fingerprinting, which took about 2 hours (get there early). Even with an agent involved you obviously still have to attend for this.

I think it's 500 k to extend so cheaper than a visa run. Make sure you get the correct immigration office though as they will turn you away. I stay in sanur and can use the Denpasar immigration but I saw people turned away who were staying in cangu as there is another closer office for them. But I don't know where.

There are a few massage joints in Denpasar so you can mix a bit of business with pleasure or just visit the malls to see if you can get chatting to any girls.

[Gonz0]

I entered with a 90 day return flight, no problem without any other outbound flight and picked up a voa. But they would not extend my voa without proof of an outbound flight with the 30 days extension period. I flew Qatar airways.

When was this?

How difficult / time consuming, was it to organise the extension? Would you recommend it over paying 2 extra flights for a visa run?

[Jingo10]

One thing that no one has mentioned is will your airline let you on the plane for a 30+ day holiday if you are only holding a visa for 30 days? Many here recognise the VOA plus extension option but if you get a Karen at check-in, then all bets are off.

I entered with a 90 day return flight, no problem without any other outbound flight and picked up a voa. But they would not extend my voa without proof of an outbound flight with the 30 days extension period. I flew Qatar airways.

[Goferring]

In the old days I found that instead of flying direct to Indonesia and getting the 30-day visa on arrival, if you initially went to Singapore for example you could go to a travel agent, book a ticket with them and ask them to arrange a 60-day visa via the Indonesian embassy. It was a 24-hour affair (book in the morning, collect the following afternoon), involving a layover in Singapore but a night in Orchard Towers took the hard edge of that prospect. I don't know if that option is still available or if it suits your plans but it might be worth checking out.

All correct but the 60 day visa no longer exists. If you call the embassy they will recommend 30 day VOA plus an extension.

One thing that no one has mentioned is will your airline let you on the plane for a 30+ day holiday if you are only holding a visa for 30 days? Many here recognise the VOA plus extension option but if you get a Karen at check-in, then all bets are off.

[Hilo77]

I am planning to visit Indonesia mid 2023, and want to stay longer than 30 days.

Is the 30 day VOA the only tourist visa available at the moment?

It was previously possible to extend the 30 day visa once, without leaving the country. Is this still possible?

Are there other tourist visa options for a longer stay, other than leaving and returning every 30 days?

Gonz0.

In the old days I found that instead of flying direct to Indonesia and getting the 30-day visa on arrival, if you initially went to Singapore for example you could go to a travel agent, book a ticket with them and ask them to arrange a 60-day visa via the Indonesian embassy. It was a 24-hour affair (book in the morning, collect the following afternoon), involving a layover in Singapore but a night in Orchard Towers took the hard edge of that prospect. I don't know if that option is still available or if it suits your plans but it might be worth checking out.

[Goferring]

I'm on the list, but there's no info about the procedure. I found it at Imigrasi. Go. ID / en / perpanjangan-izin-tinggal-dengan-visa-kunjungan-saat-kedatangan /. I don't think it will be worth the effort required to complete that process. Looks like the visa run is the simplest solution. Good to know that it could be done in one day, if flights are available. Thanks for the information.

Gonz0.

You're correct that renewal is time-consuming. It's three or four visits to Immigration. An agent makes it easier but it's never a five minute stamp and gone process.

There are a million flights available to SG, KL etc.

[Gonz0]

Check molina. Imigrasi. Go. ID.

I'm on the list, but there's no info about the procedure. I found it at Imigrasi. Go. ID / en / perpanjangan-izin-tinggal-dengan-visa-kunjungan-saat-kedatangan /. I don't think it will be worth the effort required to complete that process. Looks like the visa run is the simplest solution. Good to know that it could be done in one day, if flights are available. Thanks for the information.

Gonz0.

[Goferring]

Is there a minimum stay abroad required now? Back in the day, I stayed one night in Singapore, but other members posted then, that it was possible to take a morning flight to Singapore and an afternoon flight back.

Long enough to pass through arrival and departure immigration. Same day is fine. I've done morning to afternoon several times.

[Menteng]

Visa runs to Malaysia, Thailand or Singapore are cheap and reasonably common.

Is there a minimum stay abroad required now? Back in the day, I stayed one night in Singapore, but other members posted then, that it was possible to take a morning flight to Singapore and an afternoon flight back.

[Goferring]

I am planning to visit Indonesia mid 2023, and want to stay longer than 30 days.

Is the 30 day VOA the only tourist visa available at the moment?

It was previously possible to extend the 30 day visa once, without leaving the country. Is this still possible?

Are there other tourist visa options for a longer stay, other than leaving and returning every 30 days?

Gonz0.

Check molina. Imigrasi. Go. ID. If you're on the list you can extend the VOA another 30 days. It takes 3 or 4 visits to the Immigration office though.

To stay longer than that, you will need a Social Visa which requires a Indonesian Citizen to sponsor.

Visa runs to Malaysia, Thailand or Singapore are cheap and reasonably common.