New Bali Visa Rules Mandate In-Person Visits for All Foreign Nationals

July 18, 2025 | Dubai, UAE: Residents of the UAE traveling to Bali, Indonesia, for vacation or a lengthy visit are now required to meet new Bali visa rules that include compulsory visits to immigration offices to renew the visa under bali visa extension.

Effective from June 2025, Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration launched a hybrid system with online application and an offline verification process. Foreign visitors, including the UAE tourists, must now appear in person after an online stay extension application, according to the new Bali visa rules. 

The travelers are required to register online at evisa.imigrasi.go.id, submit supporting documents, and show up at a local office of immigration within two working days for biometric verification, document verification, and brief questioning for Bali visa extension.

New Bali Visa Rules Implemented to Combat Visa Misuse

The new Bali visa rules are intended to cut back on visa abuse, amid a 36.7% increase in abuses over the previous year. Between January and April 2025, Indonesia reported over 2,200 immigration infractions, including overstays of visas, unauthorized work activities, and false statements.

“We made this change after intense internal self-examination,” said Yuldi Yusman, Acting Director General of Immigration. “Stay permit violations are still high and guarantors are still failing to fulfill their role.”.

The Bali visa extension had already transitioned fully digital in 2024, but authorities have reinstated physical checks to allow for legitimate use of stay permits. Immigration authorities claim the efforts are to ensure a visitor’s intention and avoid making false entries.

UAE tourists intending to stay in Bali for more than 30 days are presently forced to reserve and attend the physical appointment to be eligible for a Bali visa extension under the new regime.

UAE Tourists Advised to Plan Ahead in Bali Visa Extension

The most common entry for UAE nationals and residents is a Visa on Arrival (VoA) or eVoA, which costs IDR 500,000 (AED 120 approximately). The visa can allow a stay of 30 days, with one 30-day Bali visa extension option now a matter of on-location processing.

To avoid non-compliance with the new Bali visa rules, UAE visitors should:

• Apply and provide documents online at Bali visa
• Bring along a passport, visa papers, and accommodation and return ticket proofs
• Proceed to the nearest immigration center in Indonesia within two working days
• Be ready to explain the purpose of extending their stay

Although unnecessary paperwork is avoided, UAE visitors are invited to provide evidence of financial resources and a well-defined travel schedule for the interview during the Bali visa extension. Older people, pregnant women, disabled persons, and people in emergencies are given priority services at immigration offices. These visitors receive sped-up facilitation with the whole Bali visa extension process in offices. The new Bali visa rules created administrative burdens but will most likely improve the integrity of the visa system and safeguard the local economy against illicit activities.

UAE Travel Experts Suggest Pre-Mature Application

Tourism operators within the UAE suggest travelers taking long trips to apply for the Bali visa extension process ahead of their first visa expiration date. This guarantees appointment scheduling and provides room for potential processing holdups.

As Bali is a Southeast Asian hotspot for UAE nationals, news about the new Bali visa rules on Bali visas is imperative in order to steer clear of hassle travel. Local tour companies, airlines, and visa offices are telling clients to abide by the stricter requirements.

UAE visitors who use the new procedure will continue to have freedom in extending their stay but with one additional step meant to guarantee compliance and transparency in Indonesia’s immigration process.