Bottom line: Getting an e-VOA (electronic visa) in advance lets you breeze through the automated gate in just 5 minutes; without it, you’ll queue 30–45 minutes for the visa, then another 1.5 hours for immigration stamping—potentially over 2 hours total if luck’s against you. The only exception: Families with kids, seniors 65+, or those with mobility issues can use the dedicated Visa on Arrival lane and skip the long wait. For all other adult travelers, it’s strongly recommended to apply for the e-Visa before departure.
Group member James Lin and his family recently visited Bali. They applied for their e-Visa online beforehand. Upon arrival at Bali airport, they zipped through the automated clearance zone and completed immigration in just 5 minutes.
According to his observations, those who didn’t get an e-Visa and opted for a Visa on Arrival at the airport had to queue at least 30–45 minutes just to get the visa. After that, they still needed to wait for immigration stamping, which he estimated took another 1.5 hours.
James Lin’s experience shows that if you’re traveling with kids, seniors 65+, or someone with mobility issues, you can get a Visa on Arrival at the airport using the dedicated lane—no long lines. But for adults without children, it’s best to apply for an e-Visa online beforehand to save a lot of time.
Another netizen, Zhou Jiuren, shared his experience. He chose to get a Visa on Arrival upon arriving in Jakarta. At the time, he found himself in a queue of about 20 people. He had to patiently wait. Two hours later, it was finally his turn to go through immigration. However, he was deeply disappointed with the efficiency, feeling the whole process was incredibly time-consuming.
Other group members who’ve been through it chimed in:
Another group member, Huang Junjie, added some clarifications:
Heard the visa on arrival is fast?
That comes from the experience of some fellow travelers. They were lucky enough to get their visa on arrival quickly after landing and didn’t face long queues at immigration. It’s certainly enviable, but honestly, it’s just good luck!
If you arrive when a huge crowd is processing through immigration, the situation is completely different. Waiting in line at the airport for over two hours isn’t just a test of patience—it also wastes precious time you could be spending relaxing on vacation.
Further reading: Indonesia/Bali eVisa (e-VOA) Complete Guide: Application Steps & Tips at a Glance!
As for paying for the visa on arrival at the airport, travelers’ experiences vary quite a bit. Some say it’s super fast and they barely have to queue, while others report that during peak season or when multiple flights land at once, the wait can stretch well over an hour.
I strongly recommend applying for the e-VOA (electronic visa on arrival) before you go. Why? Because when you’re traveling, so many things are unpredictable—especially the situation at the airport. If you’ve already sorted your e-visa, you can head straight through immigration upon arrival in Bali, skipping the queues for payment and paperwork, and avoiding any hassles from language barriers or requests for tips.
Plus, the driver who picked us up also said: “Better do e-Visa… Sometimes taking long time to wait for visa on arrival in airport.” This is a really valuable tip, since local drivers deal with travelers all the time and know the airport situation inside out. Their advice is usually based on real experience and worth heeding.
Bottom line: It depends, but being prepared is safer
Taking all this into account, my advice is: If you want a smoother trip and to avoid unnecessary waiting and hassle, it’s best to apply for the e-VOA in advance. While paying for the visa on arrival at the airport is an option, things are unpredictable when you’re traveling, so being prepared ahead of time gives you peace of mind.
Of course, if you’re up for a bit of adventure or your arrival time is flexible, you can always go for the on-arrival visa. Just be mentally prepared for possible queues.
Therefore, we still recommend applying for the eVisa in advance to enjoy the convenience of automated immigration clearance. We’ve gathered as many common issues with eVisa applications as possible in the link below, so you can quickly resolve any problems you encounter during the application process:
Indonesia/Bali eVisa, eCD Customs, SSHP Health Declaration FAQ
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