Our group member James Lin recently traveled to Bali with his family. They applied for an e-visa online beforehand. Upon arriving at Bali Airport, they quickly passed through the automated immigration lane, completing the entry process in just 5 minutes.
According to his observation, if you don’t apply for an e-visa in advance and choose to get an on-arrival visa at the airport, you’ll need to queue for at least 30-45 minutes to complete the visa process. After obtaining the visa, you’ll still need to get your passport stamped at the immigration counter, which he estimates could take another 1.5 hours.
James Lin’s experience suggests that if you’re traveling with children, seniors over 65, or individuals with mobility issues, you can directly apply for an on-arrival visa at the airport as there are dedicated lanes available, avoiding long queues. However, for adults without children, it’s recommended to apply for an e-visa online in advance to save considerable time.
Another netizen, Zhou Jiuren, shared his experience of applying for an on-arrival visa when entering Jakarta. At that time, he found himself in a queue of about 20 people. He had to patiently wait there. Two hours later, it was finally his turn to complete the entry procedures. However, he was very disappointed with the efficiency, finding the entire process extremely time-consuming.
Other group members who have experienced this responded:
Another group member, Huang Junjie, added some explanations as follows:
Extended reading: 2026 Indonesia Bali Entry Using ‘All Indonesia’ Declaration System | Understand the Latest Process in 1 Minute: From Landing → Customs → Baggage Claim
Why do I hear that on-arrival visas are fast?
From the experiences of some group members. They were fortunate to quickly obtain their visa on arrival after landing and didn’t encounter long queues at immigration. Such a situation is indeed enviable, but it really comes down to good luck!
If you encounter a large crowd going through immigration, the situation becomes entirely different. Waiting in line at the airport for over two hours not only tests the patience of travelers but also means wasting precious vacation relaxation time.
Further reading: Indonesia/Bali eVOA Guide: Application Steps & Key Points All in One Place!
Regarding the issue of paying for the visa on arrival, travelers’ experiences vary. Some report that the payment process is very quick with almost no queue, while others mention that during peak travel seasons or when many flights arrive simultaneously, the wait can be lengthy, sometimes exceeding an hour.
We strongly recommend applying for the Electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VOA) before departure. Why? Because when traveling, many things are unpredictable, especially the situation upon arrival at the airport. If you have already obtained your e-VOA, you can proceed directly through immigration upon arrival in Bali, saving time on queuing for payment and filling out forms, and avoiding potential issues due to language barriers or being asked for tips.
Additionally, the airport transfer driver mentioned: “Better do e-Visa… Sometimes taking long time to wait for visa on arrival in airport.” This advice is very valuable as local drivers frequently interact with travelers and are well-informed about airport conditions. Their suggestions are usually based on practical experience and are worth considering.
Conclusion: It depends, but preparation is safer
Considering the above points, my recommendation is: If you want a smoother journey and to avoid unnecessary waits and hassles, it’s best to apply for the e-VOA in advance. While paying for the visa on arrival is an option, since many things are unpredictable when traveling, being prepared in advance is always more reassuring.
Of course, if you enjoy adventure or have flexible arrival times, you can opt to process your visa on arrival. However, be mentally prepared for possible waiting times.
Therefore, we still recommend applying for the e-Visa in advance to enjoy the convenience of automated immigration. We’ve compiled common issues with e-Visa applications in the link below to help resolve any troubles you might encounter during the application process:
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