Bottom line: Indonesia’s e-Visa on Arrival (eVoA) will now be handled by VFS Global, providing multilingual customer service in Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean, along with a dedicated email, making the application process smoother. Taiwan is not on the 13-country visa-free list (which mostly includes ASEAN nations like Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand), so Taiwanese travelers still need to apply for eVoA or a visa on arrival as before.
What is eVoA?
eVoA (Electronic Visa on Arrival) is a convenient visa service introduced by the Indonesian government, allowing foreign travelers to apply for an electronic visa before arriving in Indonesia. This initiative aims to boost tourism and attract foreign investment by simplifying the visa process, offering travelers a smoother entry experience.
Countries Eligible for Visa-Free Entry to Indonesia
Currently, the eVoA service is available to 97 countries, including Australia, the UK, the US, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, and India. Travelers can apply and complete all procedures through the online system.
As for visa-free entry, most countries are from ASEAN. The 13 countries announced for visa-free entry on August 29, 2024, are as follows:
- Brunei
- Philippines
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- Timor-Leste
- Suriname
- Colombia
- Hong Kong
The next round of visa-free eligible countries is expected to be announced by the end of January 2025.
The Challenges of Indonesia’s Previous System
In the past, Indonesia’s visa service process was cumbersome and lacked comprehensive digitalization, causing many travelers to face inconveniences upon arrival. Starting in 2023, Indonesia’s Director General of Immigration, Silmy Karim, has been driving a full-scale digital upgrade, aiming to set a benchmark for immigration services. This includes partnering with VFS Global to launch the eVoA service.
Leave It to the Pros: VFS Global Boosts Indonesian Tourism
To enhance the quality of entry visa services, the Indonesian government has appointed VFS Global as the exclusive partner for eVoA, offering a more secure and user-friendly application process. VFS Global currently serves as the primary visa application service provider for 67 countries, with over 3,400 visa centers across 153 nations. Headquartered in Zurich and Dubai, the company is majority-owned by investment funds managed by the U.S. private equity firm Blackstone Inc., with additional backing from the Swiss Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation and the EQT fund.
Going forward, travelers simply need to fill out a straightforward form, upload their passport details, and pay the visa fee (currently IDR 500,000). They will then receive the eVoA via email, which can be presented upon arrival or used at automated gates for clearance.
VFS Global is set to officially launch in early December this year, coinciding with the peak year-end travel season, when approximately one million international visitors flock to Bali. The Indonesian government aims for a smooth transition to ensure travelers’ entry experiences remain unaffected. The new system offers multilingual support, including English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, along with dedicated email and live chat assistance to help travelers complete their visa applications with ease.
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