Visiting Bali is often smooth and straightforward. Familiarising with the island’s sun-drenched sands, warm hospitality, and rich culture, even the Bali Belly seems to be quite an attractive experience for travellers from across the globe.
But when your stay stretches beyond the days originally planned, things can quickly become complicated. That’s when understanding the visa extension process becomes essential.
While Indonesia offers several visa options for visitors, once the expiry date approaches, you must either depart the country or apply for an extension. Failure to comply can result in penalties, deportation, or future travel bans. With that in mind, here’s what you need to know.
What is an Indonesian Visa Extension?
When you arrive in Indonesia, you’re granted stay permit valid for a certain period; typically 30 or 60 days. Beyond that date, you’re required to leave unless you’ve secured an extension or a new permit. To stay legally longer, you must initiate the visa extension process, which allows foreign nationals to prolong their stay while remaining compliant with Indonesian immigration law.
Extensions are available for many visit-purpose permits, but the eligibility, timeline, and documentation vary. It’s therefore crucial to understand the requirements and policies ahead of time to avoid last-minute hurdles.
Why do foreign tourists in Indonesia need Visa Extension?
Your visa is your permit to conduct lawful activities in Indonesia, whether that’s tourism, business meetings or family visits. If you wish to stay beyond the period granted by your entry visa, you must update your status accordingly. Without that, you risk non-compliance, which can lead to fines, detection by immigration safeguards and potential denial of future entry.
Extending your visa also means preserving your legal standing in Indonesia, eliminating stress around expiry, and allowing you to enjoy your visit or business venture without the looming worry of an order to depart prematurely.
Extending a Visa in Bali: Types of Bali Visa for Tourism You Can Extend
For many visitors, Bali’s allure extends far beyond the first few weeks. Whether you’re staying to surf longer, work remotely, or explore potential business ventures, understanding how to extend your visa legally is essential. Indonesia’s immigration process allows several types of visas to be extended, each with its own duration, conditions, and procedures.
Bali Visa on Arrival Extension (VoA)
The Visa on Arrival remains one of the most popular entry routes for tourists arriving in Bali via airports and seaports. Valid for 30 days, this visa can be extended once for an additional 30 days. The process involves submitting an application at the Immigration Office in Bali before the initial period expires.
Travellers may apply either through an e-VoA (electronic visa) system or in person upon arrival. With the right guidance, however, the VoA extension is straightforward and can be completed within a few working days.
Also read: How to Extend your VoA through LMI Consultancy
Single Entry Tourist Visas
For travellers planning to stay longer, Indonesia offers a Single Entry Visa for tourists, one of the most flexible Indonesia visa types for extended tourism. Typically valid for 60 days, this visit visa can be extended twice, granting up to 180 days total stay, which is perfect for those looking to experience Bali’s culture, wellness scene, or creative economy at a slower pace.
Extensions are processed through the local Immigration Office (Kantor Imigrasi) or website (evisa), and applicants must ensure that all documents, such as proof of accommodation and return tickets, are in order.
Single Entry Business Visas
For professionals exploring business purposes or investment research opportunities in Bali, the Single-Entry Business Visa is the ideal option. This visit visa is valid for 60 days and can be extended twice, allowing up to an additional 120 days of stay.
Though this visa doesn’t permit direct employment in Indonesia, it is well-suited for attending meetings, conducting feasibility studies, or preparing for company establishment. Many investors use it as a first step before registering their entity and applying for a work permit (ITAS/KITAS).
ITAS / KITAS Extension
Those holding an ITAS (Izin Tinggal Terbatas) or KITAS (Limited Stay Permit) must also plan ahead for extension. This Indonesian visa category is extendable, but the process requires formal approval from the Directorate General of Immigration.
In most cases, holders must renew their limited stay permit before expiry to maintain lawful residence. However, certain visa holders, especially those on short-term KITAS, may need to exit and re-enter Indonesia to finalise an extension. LMI Consultancy provides professional assistance in navigating this process, ensuring that documentation, reporting, and immigration filings comply fully with current regulations.
How to Extend Your Visa in Bali: General Requirements
According to the official Indonesian immigration portal (e-Visa) at Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi (Immigration Directorate) the following are the general criteria that apply:
- A valid passport with at least six (6) months’ validity from the date of application.
- A current visa or stay permit that allows for extension (check whether your visa type is eligible).
- Proof of onward travel or exit from Indonesia.
- Payment of the applicable extension fee as per immigration regulations.
- Adherence to immigration and visa rules: you cannot work on a tourist permit or overstay without extension.
- For some visa types, you may not be able to convert your permit or apply online purely. Always check eligibility.
Application Process
Check the expiry date
Ideally, 14 days before your current visa expires, confirm the exact date to avoid last-minute stress or overstay penalties.
Gather required documents
Passport, current visa/stay permit, flight ticket, address in Bali, and photographs as required by the official Indonesian immigration website.
Note: Consider partnering with trusted local visa consultants who can help you sort and prepare the correct documents for your visa application.
Submit the Visa Extension Application
Start the visa extension process online via evisa.imigrasi.go.id.Enter your details, upload supporting documents, and pay fees (often through the online portal).
Choose whether to engage a visa agent – If you’re based in Bali and prefer convenience, a visa agent in Bali can manage the paperwork, monitor status updates, and coordinate with immigration on your behalf.
Monitor your application status
After submission, track progress. For some visa types, you may still need to visit the immigration office in person.
Once the extension is granted, you’ll receive a new stay stamp or permit and you can safely extend your stay in Bali.
Make sure to avoid overstaying. Until your extension is fully processed and approved, ensure you’re not preventing departure illegally. Overstaying carries fines and immigration penalties.
About Bali Tourism Levy
As of 2024, every visitor coming to Bali is now subject to an additional fee of IDR 150,000 (around USD 10) as part of the province’s sustainability programme. The levy supports environmental conservation, local culture, and tourism infrastructure.
Payment is typically made online before arrival through the official Love Bali platform or at designated counters at Ngurah Rai International Airport. Whether you’re a short-term traveller or a long-stay resident, it’s important to factor this tax into your entry arrangements to avoid delays at immigration.
Streamline Smooth Visa Extension Bali with LMI Consultancy
Partnering with LMI Consultancy means allowing our experienced visa agents to help you extend your Indonesian visa smoothly and compliantly.
LMI Consultancy has been named one of the Most Trusted Visa Agencies in Indonesia, operate out of our offices in Jakarta and Bali (Canggu, Seminyak, and Sanur), offering comprehensive support for your entrance and stay in Indonesia.
We guide foreigners through the step-by-step process to apply for a new visa, apply for a different visa, and extend their visas to enter Indonesia seamlessly, cutting the administrative headaches while still adhering to the official immigration regulations.
Common Questions
How can consultation services help me with my Indonesia visa?
Visa procedures in Indonesia can vary depending on your purpose of stay, visa type, and duration. Through consultation services, you gain expert guidance on selecting the right visa, understanding extension timelines, and avoiding common pitfalls such as documentation errors or overstays.
What happens if I overstay my visa?
Overstaying your visa in Indonesia can lead to daily fines and potential entry bans. In some cases, you may be required to leave the country before reapplying for a new visa. To prevent complications, it’s best to consult immigration experts before your visa expires.
LMI Consultancy offers proactive monitoring and extension support to ensure your stay remains fully compliant with immigration regulations.
Can I convert Visa on Arrival into another type of visa while in Indonesia?
The answer is no. Under any circumstances, a Visa on Arrival cannot be converted into other visa type.
How does the Indonesia Visa Extension process work?
Extending your visa in Indonesia requires submitting your passport, extension request, and supporting documents to the local immigration office, typically 14 days before expiry. The process involves biometric data collection, verification, and final approval. Our consultants at LMI handle every step of the visa extension process, ensuring that all requirements are fulfilled without unnecessary delays.
What should I know about the Multiple Entry Visa?
The Multiple Entry Visa allows you to enter and exit Indonesia multiple times within its validity period, usually one year. Once it expires, you’ll need to leave Indonesia and reapply for a new visa before re-entering.
LMI Consultancy can coordinate your reapplication and documentation so that your travel and business schedules remain uninterrupted.
