Bali tourist visa from the UAE: e-VOA, Love Bali levy & arrival card

Bali remains one of the most popular holiday destinations for travellers worldwide. Its beaches, volcanoes, cultural attractions, and developed tourist infrastructure attract thousands of travellers from Dubai and other Emirates. However, before your trip, it is important to understand the visa formalities. In this article, we will explain which visa you need for a trip to Bali from the UAE, how to apply for the e-VOA in advance to avoid queues on arrival, as well as what the Love Bali tourist levy and the arrival card are.

Do UAE residents need a visa for Bali?

The right to obtain a visa on arrival or an electronic visa depends not on UAE residency, but on the passenger’s citizenship. Indonesia’s visa rules are determined by your passport, not by your country of residence.

For most foreign nationals residing permanently in the UAE — including citizens of India, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, the United States, European countries, Russia, and many others — the Visa on Arrival (VOA) or its electronic counterpart, the e-VOA, is available. Citizens of the UAE are entitled to visa-free entry for 30 days. 

Visa on arrival VOA vs e-VOA: what’s the difference

Both VOA and e-VOA grant the right to stay in Indonesia for up to 30 days, with the possibility of a one-time extension for another 30 days. The cost of both options is the same — 500 000 Indonesian Rupiah.

VOA is issued at the airport upon arrival, becomes valid from the moment of issuance, and is paid for on the spot, but you will have to queue for it. 

The e-VOA can be obtained in advance through the official portal. You can pay for it online before departure, but there is a nuance: you must enter the country within 90 days of its issuance. e-VOA holders can use separate automated gates at Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali and other international airports in Indonesia.

How to get the e-VOA online — step by step

The process of obtaining an electronic visa takes from a few minutes to two working days. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to apply.

1. Go to the official Indonesian immigration portal at evisa.imigrasi.go.id.  
2. Register using a valid email address.
3. Fill out the application form with details exactly as they appear in your international passport.
4. Upload a scan/photo of your passport’s bio-data page and a recent photograph with a white background.
5. Pay the fee of 500 000 IDR using a bank card (Mastercard, Visa, or JCB).
6. Receive confirmation via email. In most cases, this arrives within 24-48 hours, sometimes even sooner.
7. Print the document or save it on your phone. Present the QR code to the immigration officer during passport control.

Bali tourist levy — Love Bali

Since 2024, the provincial government of Bali has introduced a separate tourist levy for foreign tourists. This is not a visa and is charged in addition to the VOA and e-VOA fees. The funds collected are allocated to preserving Balinese culture, protecting the environment, and developing tourism infrastructure.

The levy amount is 150 000 Indonesian Rupiah (approximately USD 10 or AED 37) per person. You can pay it in advance through the official Love Bali portal at lovebali.baliprov.go.id or on the day of arrival at the airport. As with the visa, it’s better to pay it before departure — this avoids additional steps on arrival and speeds up the clearance process. After payment, you will receive a QR code that you must present at the checkpoint at Bali airport. It is important to remember that the Love Bali levy is a separate payment and should not be confused with the visa fee.

Indonesia arrival card & documents

In addition to the visa and tourist levy, you must fill out the electronic All Indonesia arrival card before your trip. This is a mandatory procedure for all foreign nationals arriving in Indonesia.

The card must be completed online no earlier than 72 hours before arrival on the official website allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id. Be careful: the website must have the domain go.id — this ensures you are using an official government resource and not a fraudulent site.

To fill out the card, you will need

• A passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival in Indonesia.
• At least one blank page in your passport for the entry stamp.
• A return or onward ticket with a departure date within the permitted stay period.
• Proof of accommodation booking for the trip (it is advisable to have it with you).

Extending your stay

If 30 days granted by the VOA or e-VOA is not enough, you can extend the visa once for an additional 30 days. The maximum stay on this visa is 60 days.

The extension procedure is carried out at the immigration office in Bali. You must start the process before your current visa expires. The overstay fine is 1,000,000 IDR (approximately AED 235) per day. For serious overstays (more than 60 days), deportation with a re-entry ban is possible.

Common mistakes to avoid

Based on our experience, here are the most common mistakes travellers make when preparing for a trip to Bali.

• Confusing the visa and the tourist levy. Many believe that paying the Love Bali levy replaces the visa or that the visa includes this fee. In reality, these are two separate payments.
• Forgetting the arrival card. You need to fill it out online 72 hours before arrival. Without it, you may face difficulties upon entry.
• Leaving the e-VOA too late. Don’t put off applying for your e-VOA until the last day — although the process is usually fast, technical glitches can occur.
• Not paying the tourist levy. If you haven’t paid the levy before arrival, you can do so at the airport. However, if you leave Bali through another point where payment is not possible, problems may arise.