Indonesia Plans to Double Visa on Arrival Fee

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Indonesian authorities are considering raising the Visa on Arrival (VoA) fee for foreign tourists from the current 500,000 rupiah ($28) to 1 million rupiah ($56). At the same time, obtaining an electronic visa before traveling is expected to remain cheaper at 750,000 rupiah ($43), according to Jakarta Globe.

Indonesia’s Electronic Visa Will Be Cheaper

The new tariff is still at the proposal stage. Under the scheme being considered, foreign travelers who obtain an electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VoA) before traveling to Indonesia would pay 750,000 rupiah. Those who apply for the visa after arriving in the country would be charged 1 million rupiah.

Currently, both options cost 500,000 rupiah. This means the fee for obtaining a VoA directly at the border could double, while the cost of applying online in advance would rise by 50%.

Indonesia’s Director General of Immigration, Hendarsam Marantoko, said the current fee had become too low given fluctuations in the national currency and the administrative costs associated with processing visas. The authorities have therefore decided that the amount needs to be adjusted.

Tourists Will Be Encouraged to Apply Online

The higher fee is intended not only to increase government revenue but also to encourage travelers to complete immigration procedures before departing for Indonesia. Hendarsam Marantoko explained that the lower cost of the e-VoA should encourage more foreigners to use the electronic system. The authorities expect this to reduce queues and ease pressure on immigration checkpoints at airports.

“The idea is that if they apply for a VoA online from their home country, they pay 750,000 rupiah. If they apply after arrival, it is 1 million rupiah,” the immigration chief said.

In recent years, Indonesian authorities have increasingly promoted electronic visa applications for foreign visitors in an effort to reduce the time required for border procedures.

Current Rules Remain in Place for Now

At present, a Visa on Arrival costing 500,000 rupiah allows eligible nationals to stay in Indonesia for up to 30 days. As a rule, the permit can be extended once for another 30 days.

No date has yet been announced for the introduction of the new tariffs. The proposal must go through the necessary government procedures before the changes can take effect.

The visa fee review comes amid rising revenue from immigration services. In the first half of 2026, Indonesia’s non-tax state revenue from visa services increased by 6.42% year on year to 2.81 trillion rupiah ($173 million).

Tourism in Indonesia: 2026 Trends

In the first five months of 2026, Indonesia welcomed 6.07 million foreign tourists, up 7.68% from the same period in 2025. In May alone, the country received 1.38 million international visitors, 5.83% more than a year earlier and above the 1.25 million recorded in April.

The increase in tourist arrivals is also benefiting the hotel sector. Average occupancy at classified hotels rose from 48.28% to 50.76% in May. Tourism revenue increased by 6.3% in the first quarter of 2026 to $4.05 billion.

At the same time, growth is gradually slowing. International arrivals increased by 8.24% year on year in January–April, while growth for the first five months stood at 7.68%.

Indonesia Expects to Welcome More Than 17 Million Tourists

The government has set a target of attracting between 16 million and 17.6 million foreign visitors in 2026. Indonesia received 15.39 million international tourists in 2025, meaning the lower end of the target implies growth of around 4%, while the upper end would require an increase of 14.4%.

After 6.07 million arrivals in January–May, Indonesia needs to attract another 9.93 million foreign tourists by the end of the year to reach the minimum target. To achieve 17.6 million arrivals, it would need another 11.53 million visitors.

The lower target therefore remains achievable if the current trend continues and seasonal travel demand strengthens. Reaching the upper end of the range, however, would require a significant acceleration: over the remaining seven months, Indonesia would need to average around 1.65 million foreign arrivals per month, compared with approximately 1.21 million in January–May.

Conclusion

Analysts at International Investment note that Indonesia is gradually changing its approach to tourism. The authorities intend to use the growing visitor flow both to increase budget revenues and to digitalize border procedures.

For long-haul travelers, an additional $15–28 is unlikely to be a decisive factor when choosing a destination. However, travelers making shorter and more budget-conscious trips from neighboring countries may be more sensitive to the higher cost. This is particularly important for Indonesia, where Asian countries account for a significant share of inbound tourism.

In the near term, the authorities are likely to seek a balance between increasing tourism revenue and maintaining Indonesia’s competitiveness as a mass-market destination. Given the goal of attracting 16–17.6 million foreign visitors, higher visa fees alone are unlikely to become the main factor shaping market dynamics. Airfares, transport accessibility and demand in key overseas markets will remain far more important.

Travelers should also take into account the country’s strict rules, which have been tightened year after year, particularly in Bali. For example, filming content for social media may in some cases be treated as unauthorized income-generating activity, potentially resulting in fines and deportation.