New countries for Indonesia Free Visa Entry

As of 21 March 2016 a total of 169 countries receive a free 30 day visit visa to Indonesia. This free visa is for a visit of maximum 30 days and is not extendable.

Find the current Indonesia visa requirements over here.

  • On 12 June 2015, Indonesia added another 30 countries to the visa free list bringing the total to 45 countries.
  • On October 2015, another 45 countries were added bringing the total to 90 countries.
  • On 21 December 2015, the Indonesian Government announces that another 84 countries will be added to the free visa list (yet to be put in action). This will then bring the total then to a whopping 174 countries.
  • On 2 March 2016 President Joko Widowo signs the new Presidential Law that adds 79 countries to the list of visa free entry into Indonesia countries.  Pakistan, Somalia, Guinea, North Korea, and Montenegro will continue to require a visa prior to visit Indonesia.

The increase in visa free countries are expected to add a boost to the Indonesian Economy.

Minister of Tourism Arief Yahya increases Indonesia free visa

Arief Yahya, the Minister of Tourism, says that by extending a visa free entry to additional countries, the government expects 10 million foreign visitors this year (2015) and a revenue of nearly 11 billion US Dollars.

The original 15 countries that were receiving an Indonesia free visa entry;

  1. Thailand
  2. Malaysia
  3. Singapore
  4. Brunei
  5. Philippines
  6. Hong Kong SAR
  7. Macao SAR
  8. Chile
  9. Morocco
  10. Peru
  11. Vietnam
  12. Ecuador
  13. Cambodia
  14. Laos
  15. Myanmar

The 30 countries added for Indonesia free visa entry on 12 June 2015;

  1. Austria
  2. Bahrain
  3. Belgium
  4. Canada
  5. Czech Republic
  6. China
  7. Denmark
  8. England
  9. Finland
  10. France
  11. Germany
  12. Hungary
  13. Italy
  14. Japan
  15. Kuwait
  16. Mexico
  17. Netherlands
  18. New Zealand
  19. Norway
  20. Oman
  21. Poland
  22. Qatar
  23. Russia
  24. South Africa
  25. South Korea
  26. Spain
  27. Sweden
  28. Switzerland
  29. United Arab Emirates
  30. USA

The 45 countries added in October 2015 for Indonesia free visa;

  1. Algeria
  2. Angola
  3. Argentina
  4. Azerbaijan
  5. Belarus
  6. Bulgaria
  7. Croatia
  8. Cyprus
  9. Dominica
  10. Egypt
  11. Estonia
  12. Fiji
  13. Ghana
  14. Greece
  15. Iceland
  16. India
  17. Ireland
  18. Jordan
  19. Kazakhstan
  20. Kyrgyzstan
  21. Latvia
  22. Lebanon
  23. Liechtenstein
  24. Lithuania
  25. Luxembourg
  26. Maldives
  27. Malta
  28. Monaco
  29. Panama
  30. Papua New Guinea
  31. Portugal
  32. Romania
  33. San Marino
  34. Saudi Arabia
  35. Seychelles
  36. Slovakia
  37. Slovenia
  38. Suriname
  39. Taiwan
  40. Tanzania
  41. Timor-Leste
  42. Tunisia
  43. Turkey
  44. Vatican City
  45. Venezuela

The 79 countries added for the Indonesian free visa on 21 March 2016;

  1. Albania
  2. Andorra
  3. Antigua and Barbuda
  4. Armenia
  5. Australia
  6. Bahamas
  7. Bangladesh
  8. Barbados
  9. Belize
  10. Benin
  11. Bhutan
  12. Bolivia
  13. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  14. Botswana
  15. Brazil
  16. Burkina Faso
  17. Burundi
  18. Cape Verde
  19. Chad
  20. Comoros
  21. Costa Rica
  22. Cote D’Ivoire
  23. Cuba
  24. Dominican Republic
  25. El Salvador
  26. Gabon
  27. Gambia
  28. Georgia
  29. Grenada
  30. Guatemala
  31. Guyana
  32. Haiti
  33. Honduras
  34. Jamaica
  35. Kenya
  36. Kiribati
  37. Lesotho
  38. Macedonia
  39. Madagascar
  40. Malawi
  41. Mali
  42. Marshall Islands
  43. Mauritania
  44. Mauritius
  45. Moldova
  46. Mongolia
  47. Mozambique
  48. Namibia
  49. Nauru
  50. Nepal
  51. Nicaragua
  52. Palau
  53. Palestine
  54. Paraguay
  55. Puerto Rico
  56. Rwanda
  57. Samoa
  58. Sao Tome and Principe
  59. Senegal
  60. Serbia
  61. Solomon Island
  62. Sri Lanka
  63. St Kitts and Nevis
  64. St Lucia
  65. St Vincent and Grenadines
  66. Swaziland
  67. Tajikistan
  68. Togo
  69. Tonga
  70. Trinidad & Tobago
  71. Turkmenistan
  72. Tuvalu
  73. Uganda
  74. Ukraine
  75. Uruguay
  76. Uzbekistan
  77. Vanuatu
  78. Zambia
  79. Zimbabwe

Continue here to see the current Visa On Arrival and Visa Free entry regulations for Indonesia.

This visa free entry is supposed to be based on a reciprocal agreement. The Indonesian Immigration law (No. 6/2011) says that for other countries to be allowed a visa free entry into Indonesia, they need to offer free visa entry into their country to Indonesian nationals as well.

The Indonesian version of the law;

 Penjelasan atas Undang-Undang Republik Indonesia nomor 6 tahun 2011 tentang keimigrasian – Pasal 43 – Ayat 2 – Huruf a; 

Yang dimaksud “pembebasan Visa” dalam ketentuan ini misalnya untuk kepentingan pariwisata yang membawa manfaat bagi perkembangan pembangunan nasional dengan memperhatikan asas timbal balik, yaitu pembebasan Visa hanya diberikan kepada Orang Asing dari negara yang juga memberikan pembebasan Visa kepada warga negara Indonesia.

The translated version;

Explanatory on law of republic of Indonesia number 6 of 2011 concerning immigration – Article 43 – Paragraph 2 – Letter a; 

“Exemption of Visa” in this provision shall mean e.g. for the interest of tourism that benefits for national development regarding the reciprocal principles, i.e. exemption of Visa shall only be provided to Foreigner from a country that also provides an exemption of Visa to the Indonesian citizen.

Some countries (e.g. France) have commented that although they welcome the change in visa requirements, it is unlikely they will be able to return the favour. France for example is part of the Schengen agreement for visas. France cannot change visa regulations without consulting the other Schengen countries.

Vincent Jemadu (Ministry of Tourism) understands that not all visa free countries may be able to offer free visa entry to Indonesian nationals.

Sources; www.imigrasi.go.idCNN Indonesia, Sekretariat Kabinet Republik Indonesiawww.thejakartapost.com

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