Do you need an onward ticket for Bali?
Most visitors enter Indonesia with a visa on arrival or its online version, the e-VOA. Both are tourist visas for a short stay, and one of the conditions is that you are leaving again - shown by a return or onward ticket. Airlines flying to Denpasar (DPS) and Jakarta (CGK) commonly ask one-way passengers to show their onward booking at check-in.
What counts
- A confirmed flight leaving Indonesia within your visa's validity. A domestic flight to Lombok or Jakarta does not count.
- A booking that shows your name, flight, date and a booking reference you can be asked to verify.
Before you fly
- Apply for the e-VOA on the official Indonesian immigration site before traveling, or be ready to pay on arrival. Beware of third-party sites that charge extra.
- If you are heading to Bali, pay the provincial tourist levy through the official channel.
- Carry your onward reservation PDF and passport valid for at least six months.
Popular onward routes
Denpasar to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok are the most common onward choices; from Jakarta, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
Staying longer
The visa on arrival can usually be extended once in Indonesia through an immigration office or online. Your onward reservation needs to cover the initial stay only.
Common mistakes
- Using a lookalike e-VOA website. Search results are full of agents that charge several times the official fee. Apply only on the official immigration site.
- Showing a domestic flight. Denpasar to Lombok, Labuan Bajo or Jakarta is domestic - the onward flight has to leave Indonesia.
- An onward date beyond 30 days. The visa on arrival is granted for a short initial stay; pick an onward date inside it even if you intend to extend later.
- Passport validity. Indonesia is strict about six months' validity and enough blank pages - airlines check this alongside onward travel.
Onward reservations out of Indonesia (Bali)
Choose a route, then add your date and passenger names.
Frequently asked questions
Will Jetstar or AirAsia ask for my onward ticket to Bali?
Airlines flying into Indonesia are responsible for passengers meeting entry rules, so travelers on one-way tickets are often asked at check-in. Have your reservation ready.
Is an e-VOA the same as a visa on arrival?
It is the online version of the same visa, applied for before you travel, which can speed up arrival.
Does a flight to Lombok count as onward travel?
No - Lombok is in Indonesia. The ticket must take you out of the country.
I want to extend my visa on arrival. Which date should my onward ticket show?
A date inside the initial stay you are granted on arrival. Extensions are applied for later, in Indonesia; the onward booking only needs to satisfy the airline and immigration on the day you arrive.
Official sources
Entry requirements can change. The airline and immigration officers make the final decision. Please check official sources before you travel.