Starting September 1, 2025, international travelers heading to Bali (and other major Indonesian airports) face new entry requirements. All arriving passengers must fill out the unified “All Indonesia” digital arrival card and, if traveling to Bali, pay a tourism levy of about $14 before obtaining a visa-on-arrival.
The All Indonesia declaration replaces the separate immigration, customs, and health forms previously required, consolidating them into one online form.
Authorities are phasing in the system at Indonesia’s three busiest airports, Jakarta (CGK), Bali (DPS), and Surabaya (SUB), with a nationwide rollout to all international entry points by October 1.
For travelers, this means a bit more preparation before departure, but promises a faster, smoother arrival process in Indonesia.
The New Unified ‘All Indonesia’ Arrival Card
Indonesia’s new All Indonesia Arrival Card is a mandatory digital entry form designed to streamline the arrival process. It centralizes immigration, customs, and health declarations into a single online portal, replacing legacy systems like the SATUSEHAT health form and e-CD customs form.
Travelers no longer need to juggle multiple paper forms; instead, they submit one electronic declaration and receive a QR code confirmation via email. Completing the form is free of charge and should be done within 3 days (72 hours) before arrival but the official guidance is at least 48 hours prior to departure.
To fill out the All Indonesia card, visitors enter personal data (passport details, nationality, contact info), travel details (flight number, arrival/departure dates, accommodation), and make required health and customs declarations (e.g. any symptoms or goods to declare).
Once submitted, the system generates a QR code that travelers must show to immigration and customs officers on arrival (either on a device or printed). Importantly, this digital card is not a visa or entry permit; it’s a separate prerequisite.
Travelers still must have the appropriate visa for entry (e.g. be eligible for Visa on Arrival or hold an e-visa), the All Indonesia card simply streamlines the paperwork at the border.
Initially, the All Indonesia Arrival Card is required only at the airports in Jakarta, Bali, and Surabaya, starting in September. However, from October 1, 2025, it will be mandatory at all international airports across Indonesia. Land and sea entries are expected to follow as well.
This means anyone flying into popular destinations like Yogyakarta, Lombok, or Medan will soon need to use the system. Travelers are strongly encouraged to complete the online arrival card before travel – those who haven’t done so can still fill it out upon landing by scanning a QR code at the airport, but doing it on arrival will likely cause delays at customs/immigration due to the extra processing time.
In other words, failing to complete the form in advance could lead to longer queues and wait times at Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport, as officials will require you to finish the digital declaration on the spot before you clear entry formalities.
Bali’s New Tourist $14 Fee
In addition to the unified arrival card, travelers bound for Bali must budget for a new tourism tax introduced by the provincial government. Since early 2024, Bali imposes a levy of IDR 150,000 (approximately USD $10, or ~AUD $15) on each foreign visitor per entry.
In practical terms, many sources are calling it a “$14-$15 tourist levy” for Bali arrivals. This fee is mandatory for all international tourists (regardless of age) visiting Bali, with only a few categories of travelers exempt (such as diplomatic visa holders or long-term permit holders).
The purpose of the levy is to fund the preservation of Bali’s environment, culture, and infrastructure, supporting sustainable tourism on the island. Bali’s governor and officials have stated that the contribution will go toward programs to protect the island’s natural beauty and unique cultural heritage, and they expect that responsible tourists will understand its importance.
Travelers are advised to pay the Bali tourism levy before arrival if possible. The official “Love Bali” online portal and app allows visitors to pay the 150,000 IDR fee in advance by entering their passport details and arrival date. Upon payment, you receive a voucher with a QR code via email, which can be saved to your phone or printed.
Presenting this QR code at Bali’s airport will prove you’ve paid the tax. For those unable to pay online, payment can be made on arrival at Ngurah Rai International Airport. Bali has set up special cashless payment counters at the airport, staffed by over 20 officers to assist with transactions and manage queues.
However, paying on arrival may mean waiting in an extra line, so pre-paying online is recommended to save time. The levy is collected only once per entry, so after you pay it and get it scanned at the airport, you’re free to enjoy your stay (until your next trip to Bali, when it would be due again).
Why These New Requirements Matter
These new entry rules reflect Indonesia’s efforts to modernize and simplify travel procedures, but they also introduce an extra step (and cost) that visitors need to be aware of before they fly.
The All Indonesia digital card is meant to streamline airport processing by unifying multiple declarations into one, and it should reduce paperwork and cut down on immigration/customs clearance times.
In theory, travelers who complete the form in advance will spend less time fumbling with forms upon landing, allowing for faster queues through passport control and customs.
This is part of a broader push toward paperless, contactless travel in the post-pandemic era, aligning Indonesia with global trends in digital travel documentation.
However, the flip side is that visitors must now take care of more formalities online before their trip. Forgetting to fill out the arrival card or not realizing you need to pay a tourist tax could result in unexpected holdups at the airport and you might be pulled aside to complete the form on your phone or asked to step out of line to pay the levy, causing you to lose time and potentially miss transfers or keep your driver waiting.
Travel authorities warn that not completing the declaration in advance “may cause delays” at Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) checkpoints. In short, being unprepared could turn what is meant to be a streamlined process into a bit of a scramble on arrival.
From a traveler’s perspective, cost is another consideration. The $14 (IDR 150k) Bali tourist levy isn’t a huge amount, but it’s a new expense on top of visa fees and airfare that travelers must budget for. It’s essentially a tourist tax to support Bali’s sustainability efforts, and while many will be willing to pay it for a good cause, it does add to the upfront trip cost (especially for families or frequent visitors making multiple short trips).
Visitors should also remember that the visa-on-arrival itself costs IDR 500,000 (USD $33), unless one is from an ASEAN country eligible for visa-free entry. So, for example, an Australian tourist arriving in Bali can expect to pay roughly IDR 650,000 in total fees (visa + tourist levy) at the airport, which is about $40-45 USD in sum. Being aware of these requirements ahead of time means no last-minute surprises at the immigration counter.
Overall, the new system centralizes entry procedures for efficiency, but it places more responsibility on travelers to be informed and prepared. Those who complete the online card, pay the levy, and arrange their visa before traveling should breeze through a much smoother arrival.
On the other hand, those unaware of the changes might experience confusion or delays. Knowing about the “All Indonesia” form and Bali’s tourist fee before you go is crucial to avoid any hiccups at the airport. It’s a classic case of an ounce of preparation being worth a pound of cure – a few minutes spent online before departure can save a lot of hassle upon landing.
How to Prepare Before Your Trip to Bali
To ensure you meet the new requirements and enjoy a quick arrival process, follow these key steps and tips before your trip:
- Complete the All Indonesia Arrival Card online – Fill out and submit the digital arrival form at the official portal (or via the All Indonesia mobile app) no later than 48 hours before your flight. It’s free and only takes a few minutes. Be thorough and accurate when entering your details. Once done, check your email for the QR code confirmation and save it (take a screenshot or print it out) for your trip.
- Apply for your visa (if needed) – If you plan to use the Visa on Arrival (VoA), you can apply for an e-VOA online after submitting the All Indonesia card (Indonesia’s system will allow the visa application only after the arrival card is on file). Alternatively, you can get the VoA at the airport in person – but either way, be ready to pay the visa fee (IDR 500k) and ensure your passport meets validity requirements. Note: Some nationalities are visa-exempt or may require different visas; the arrival card does not replace visa requirements, so double-check what visa you need.
- Pay the Bali tourism levy – If your itinerary includes Bali, go to the official Love Bali website/app and pay the IDR 150,000 tourist levy for your arrival. Doing this online before you depart is recommended: you’ll receive a QR code voucher after payment. Save that code alongside your other travel documents. (If you forget or prefer, you can pay at a Bali airport counter on arrival, but expect some waiting in line.) Travelers headed to other parts of Indonesia (Jakarta, etc.) do not have a tourist levy – it’s only for Bali province.
- Prepare your documents and screenshots – Before flying, make sure you have easy access to the necessary QR codes and documents: the All Indonesia arrival QR code, the Bali levy payment QR code (if applicable), your e-VOA approval printout (if you obtained a visa online), and of course your passport. It’s wise to have both digital copies (on your phone) and physical printouts as backup, in case of any technical issues or phone battery problems.
- At the airport in Indonesia – Upon arrival, present your passport along with the QR code from the All Indonesia card at immigration. The officer will scan it to verify you submitted the form. If you paid the Bali tax in advance, you’ll also show the “Love Bali” QR code at a checkpoint (usually right before or after immigration). Once your visa is processed and the QR codes are scanned, you can proceed to baggage claim and customs without filling out any paper forms. By having everything ready, you should pass through immigration and customs smoothly, with minimal hassle.
- Tip: Don’t leave the online declaration for the last minute. If you encounter website issues or don’t receive your QR code, you’ll want time to resolve it before you travel. The form must be submitted at least 2 days before departure, so plan to do it a few days in advance.
- Tip: If you’re traveling as a family or group, each person needs their own arrival card submission. The online system does allow you to add multiple family members under one account and form, but you still need to input each traveler’s details. Likewise, the Bali levy is per person; currently the system only processes one payment at a time (no group payments) , so pay for each traveler separately and get each their own QR code.
- Tip: Budget for the fees in cash or card. The online levy payment accepts credit/debit cards. On-site at Bali airport, payment is cashless (card or digital payment only, no physical cash). The visa-on-arrival fee can be paid by card or sometimes cash – having a credit card or some Indonesian rupiah on hand is helpful. Being financially prepared will expedite your entry.
- Tip: Stay informed via official sources. Indonesia’s entry rules can evolve, so it’s a good idea to check the latest travel advisories (e.g. the Australian Smartraveller site or Indonesian immigration website) a few days before your flight. This way you’ll know if any last-minute changes or technical updates to the All Indonesia system occur. Airlines may also send reminders or have information on these requirements – keep an eye on your booking emails.
The introduction of the All Indonesia arrival card and the Bali tourist levy represent a new era of travel to Indonesia. One that asks visitors to do a bit more groundwork, but ultimately aims to make the travel experience more efficient and sustainable.
Know before you go, and your Bali arrival should be straightforward, leaving you with more time and peace of mind to hit the beach or explore Bali’s vibrant culture as soon as you land.