Indonesia Introduces New Visitor Visa Exemption.

 

The Indonesian government recently issued Presidential Regulation No. 69 of 2015 regarding Visitor Visa Exemptions (“PR 69/2015″). The purpose of PR 69/2015 is to improve the relationship between Indonesia and other countries by waiving the visa requirement for visitors from certain countries to enter Indonesia. PR 69/2015 is also intended to benefit national development in general and the economy in particular.

 

Visitor visa exemptions were previously regulated under Presidential Decree No. 18 of 2003 regarding Short Visit Visa Exemptions, which has been amended several times, lastly by Presidential Regulation No. 43 of 2011 regarding the Third Amendment of Presidential Decree No. 18 of 2003 (“PR 18/2003″). PR 69/2015 introduces new countries whose citizens are exempted from the requirement to obtain a visa to enter Indonesia for tourism purposes. PR 69/2015 also requires foreign nationals taking advantage of such visitor visa exemption  to enter the country through specified immigration checkpoints, which was not stipulated under PR 18/2003.

 

Below is the list of new countries whose citizens are exempted from visitor visa for tourism purposes and the said specified immigration checkpoints:

 

List Of Special Countries Exempted From Visitor Visa For Tourism Purposes

 

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

 

Immigration Checkpoints

 

Airports:

 

1. Soekarno-Hatta International (Tangerang)
2. Ngurah Rai International (Bali)
3. Kualanamu International (Medan)
4. Juanda International (Surabaya)
5. Hang Nadim International (Batam)

 

Seaports:

 

1. Sri Bintang
2. Sekupang
3. Batam Center
4. Tanjung Uban

 

The visitor visa exemption is valid for up to 30 days and cannot be extended or converted to a different type of visa. If foreign nationals who qualify for such visitor visa exemption wish to remain in Indonesia for more than 30 days or engage in activities other than for tourism purposes, they must apply for and obtain a different type of visa regulated under the applicable laws and regulations.

 

Pursuant to PR 69/2015, foreign nationals from special countries and administrative regions listed and regulated under PR 18/2003 are given visitor visa exemption to enter Indonesia forgovernment, educational, social and cultural, tourism, business, family, journalistic or transit purposes, and may enter Indonesia through any immigration border or checkpoint. The visitor visa exemption for foreign nationals from special countries and administrative regions listed under PR 18/2003 is also given for up to 30 days and may not be extended or converted to a different type of visa.

 

Below is the list of special countries and administrative regions exempted from the visitor visa requirement for government, educational, social and cultural, tourism, business, family, journalistic or transit purposes:

 

List Of The Special Countries And Special Administrative Regions Exempted From Visitor Visa For Government, Educational, Social And Cultural, Tourism, Business, Family, Journalistic Or Transit Purposes

 

Special Countries

 

1. Brunei Darussalam
2. Cambodia
3. Chile
4. Ecuador
5. Laos
6. Malaysia
7. Morocco
8. Myanmar
9. Peru
10. Philippines
11. Singapore
12. Thailand
13. Vietnam

 

Special Administrative Regions

 

1. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong SAR)
2. Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR)

 

Immigration Checkpoints

 

May enter Indonesia through any immigration border or checkpoint

 

PR 69/2015 revokes and replaces PR 18/2003, and has been in effect since June 10, 2015. Therefore, PR 18/2003 is no longer valid after the date of enactment of PR 69/2015. However, any visitor visa exemption granted to foreign nationals from the above listed special countries and administrative regions pursuant to PR 18/2003 before the issuance of PR 69/2015 will remain valid until its expiration.

 

 

For further information, please contact:

 

Awang Fahrizal Bahrin, Soewito Suhardiman Eddymurthy Kardono 

awangbahrin@ssek.com