Indonesia Resumes Visa-Free Entry for Tourists from Southeast Asian Countries

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Tourists originating from Southeast Asian countries are now exempted from obtaining a visa before entry to Indonesia.

“There’s a directive from President [Joko Widodo] that the visa-free travel program for ASEAN countries has been resumed,” Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto told a virtual press conference on Monday, April 4.

However, the visa-on-arrival policy for tourists from other countries remains in place, Airlangga said.

International travelers who intend to enter Indonesia are required to present a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result with the test taken within 2x24 hours before the departure time and a Covid-19 vaccine certificate. International travelers with high fevers are required to undergo a PCR test upon their arrival in Indonesia.

Also read: Indonesia Mulls Plan to Expand Visa-on-Arrival Program to More Countries, Entry Points

“Travelers are required to use the Covid-19 contact tracing app PeduliLindungi and the President has said that the visa-free program for Southeast Asia countries has been resumed, while other countries are required to apply for the visa on arrival,” he said.

It was previously reported that the Indonesian government planned to expand its visa-on-arrival program to more countries and more checkpoints after a trial allowing foreigners to apply for a visa on arrival for tourism in Bali on March 7.

The government had reintroduced its visa on arrival for tourism to foreigners from 23 countries such as Australia, the US, South Korea, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Aiming at promoting the country’s tourism and business amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the decision was taken into consideration the decline of coronavirus infections.

(Writer: Haryanti Puspa Sari | Editor: Dani Prabowo)

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2022/04/04/16391871/pemerintah-kembali-terapkan-bebas-visa-bagi-turis-di-kawasan-asean.