Indonesian President Joko Widodo recently announced that citizens from 13 countries can enjoy visa-free entry to Indonesia. This policy is based on the principle of reciprocity and considerations for Indonesia’s national economic interests, aiming to increase national revenue and support domestic economic development.
According to a report from detikFinance, this new policy has been included in Presidential Decree No. 95 of 2024 and will officially take effect on August 29, 2024. The decree states: ‘Citizens of countries granted visa-free access may enter Indonesian territory without a visa,’ but they must enter through designated immigration checkpoints and can stay in Indonesia for a maximum of 30 days.
It is important to note that this 30-day stay cannot be extended or converted into other residence permits.
President Joko Widodo also instructed the Minister of Law and Human Rights to evaluate the visa-free policy at least every six months, adding or removing countries from the list as needed. In specific cases, such as those involving national security or public health, the minister has the authority to suspend the implementation of the visa-free policy.
Here is the list of 13 countries granted visa-free entry to Indonesia:
- Brunei
- Philippines
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- Timor-Leste
- Suriname
- Colombia
- Hong Kong
The 13 countries on this visa-free list are primarily concentrated in Southeast Asia, expanding on the existing ‘ASEAN visa-free’ policy and including some additional countries. However, countries previously mentioned as potential candidates for visa-free treatment, such as the United States, Saudi Arabia, Australia, the Netherlands, China, and Germany, were not included in this list.
Additionally, countries such as the United Kingdom, South Korea, France, Japan, Russia, India, New Zealand, Spain, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, and Taiwan were also not granted visa-free access this time. Travelers from these countries will still need to follow the current visa policies for entry. However, with the policy being evaluated every six months, it remains to be seen whether these countries will be included in the visa-free list in the future.
According to current regulations, Taiwanese citizens can apply for a Visa on Arrival (VOA) or an Electronic Visa on Arrival (eVOA) when entering Indonesia. The fee is IDR 500,000 (approximately USD$32), allowing a stay of 30 days with the option to extend once.
Further reading: 2024 Updated Guide to Indonesia/Bali Entry Visa & eVOA Application FAQs
Further reading: Understand in One Minute: Indonesia/Bali Entry Process - From Landing to Customs to Baggage Claim
Following President Joko Widodo’s directive, Indonesia’s Minister of Law and Human Rights will evaluate the visa-free policy every six months. At that time, discussions will be held on whether to add more countries to the visa-free list. This has sparked external attention on the next wave of visa-free countries, particularly whether nations like China and Taiwan might be included. These countries hold significant economic and tourism market potential for Indonesia, making their inclusion in the visa-free policy a key topic for future inter-ministerial discussions.
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