Beware of the Latest Email Scam After Applying for an Indonesian Visa!

Have you ever applied for an Indonesian e-Visa online?

If so, be cautious. Recently, travelers on Reddit have shared a new scam targeting those who have just completed their visa applications.

After Applying for Your Visa, You Receive an ‘Official Email’ the Next Day

Here’s how it works: You apply for an electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VOA) on the official Indonesian immigration website, thinking everything is settled. Then, a day or two later, an email suddenly appears in your inbox.

The email claims you need to apply for a ‘Mandatory Entry Declaration Card,’ stating that without it, you won’t be allowed to enter the country, and urges you to click a link to make a payment.

Here’s the kicker—the email includes your real name and your application number. It’s not the kind of obvious spam email you’d immediately dismiss; it genuinely knows what you’ve just applied for.

Many people, seeing this, believe it’s legitimate, click through to make the payment, and are even asked to transfer money using cryptocurrency.

Why Does It Feel So Real?

Because the “Arrival Declaration Card” is indeed a real thing.

Starting from September 2025, incoming travelers to Indonesia will need to fill out an electronic declaration called the All Indonesia Arrival Card (AIAC). Scammers are exploiting this uncertainty—whether it costs money or how to proceed—by posing as official entities to charge fees.

But the truth is: The AIAC declaration is completely free, with no additional charges!

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Just remember these key points

First, Indonesian government websites always end with .go.id. When you receive an email, check the sender’s address and links first—if the URL doesn’t match, close it immediately.

Second, after completing your visa application, the authorities will not ask you for more money. Any notifications about “additional fees” are almost certainly fake.

Third, the arrival declaration card is free to fill out—just use the official All Indonesia system. There’s no need to access it through any email links.

This isn’t the first time this has happened

In 2022, fake e-VOA application websites appeared, looking almost identical to the real ones and even ranking first in Google search results, tricking many people at the time.

Scam tactics are constantly evolving. Now, they can even access your application details, making their emails increasingly convincing. But remember one principle: Once you’ve paid the visa fee, it’s done—ignore any additional charges afterward.

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