Indonesia
Phone Code
+62
Capital
Jakarta
Population
277 Million
Native Name
Indonesia
Region
Asia
South-Eastern Asia
Timezones
Western Indonesian Time
UTC+07:00
+3 more
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Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago — over 17,000 islands stretching 5,000 km between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, home to 277 million people making it the fourth most populous country on earth, with an astonishing diversity of cultures, languages (over 700) and religions. Jakarta on Java is the capital (a new capital, Nusantara, is under construction on Borneo). Bali — the 'Island of the Gods' — is the only Hindu-majority island in the world's largest Muslim-majority country.
Indonesia Visa & Entry System
Indonesia offers several visa options. Citizens of ASEAN countries and a few others enjoy visa-free entry for up to 30 days (not extendable). Most Western nationalities — including United States, United Kingdom, EU countries, Canada, Australia and New Zealand — can obtain a Visa on Arrival (VOA) at major international airports and seaports for tourism, valid for 30 days and extendable once for another 30 days, for a fee payable in cash or card — confirm the current amount before travel. The Tourist e-Visa, applied for online before travel at evisa.imigrasi.go.id, offers greater flexibility — 60 days initially, extendable up to 4 times for 30 days each (maximum 6 months); check the current designation for this visa category on the official portal, as Indonesia's visa index codes are periodically renamed. For long-term stays, the Second Home Visa allows retirees and digital nomads to stay up to 5 years with proof of income or assets above a published threshold. The KITAS temporary residence permit covers work, study, family reunification, investment and retirement — requiring an employer or sponsor and applied for after entry with the correct visa. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months with at least 2 blank pages. Immigration requires proof of onward or return travel.
Common Visa Types
Visa on Arrival (VOA)
For tourism, family visits, social and cultural activities for 90+ eligible nationalities including US, UK, EU, Australia, Canada. Available at all major international airports (Jakarta, Bali/Ngurah Rai, Surabaya, Medan, Yogyakarta) and designated seaports. A fee applies, payable in cash or card — confirm the current amount before travel.
Visa-Free Entry
For ASEAN nationals and select countries for short tourism visits. Free of charge. NOT extendable — if you may need more than 30 days, use the VOA instead.
Tourist e-Visa
More flexible option for tourism, business or visiting family. Applied for online before travel at evisa.imigrasi.go.id — check the official portal for the current visa index designation. Especially suited for stays beyond 30 days or when a longer stay is planned from the outset.
Second Home Visa
For long-term stays: retirees (minimum age 55), digital nomads, remote workers and high-net-worth individuals. Requires proof of income or assets above a published minimum threshold, held in an Indonesian bank account or equivalent — confirm the current amount. Allows multiple entries and exits.
Business Visa
For business activities without local employment: meetings, conferences, contract negotiations, market research. Invitation letter from an Indonesian company recommended.
KITAS (Temporary Residence Permit)
Temporary residence permit for work, study, family reunification, investment or retirement in Indonesia. Applied for at immigration after entry with the correct visa. Requires employer or sponsor.
Important Travel Information
Indonesia is an archipelago of over 17,000 islands spanning the Hindu temples of Bali, the orangutans of Borneo, the largest Buddhist temple in the world, the Komodo dragons, the waters of Raja Ampat and the volcanoes of Java. Bali dominates the headlines and earns it, but it's only one island among many: Java holds the cultural heartland, Komodo and Flores reveal an older, less-visited Indonesia, and Sumatra offers orangutans and the world's largest volcanic lake. Costs across the country remain notably low relative to comparable destinations.
Discover Indonesia
Islam spread through the Indonesian archipelago from the 13th century onward largely along trade routes, arriving in Java and Sumatra's coastal sultanates first — but Bali's Hindu-Buddhist Majapahit court fled there specifically to escape that spread in the 16th century, and the island's relative geographic isolation let that displaced Hindu culture take root and persist rather than gradually convert like the rest of the archipelago. That single historical accident is why Bali's temple architecture, caste-influenced village structure and offerings-based daily ritual look nothing like neighboring Java's, despite the two islands sitting only a narrow strait apart.
Ways to Experience This Destination
The only Hindu-majority island in the world's largest Muslim country, with over 20,000 temples. Ubud: Tegallalang rice terraces, Sacred Monkey Forest, art galleries and yoga retreats. Uluwatu: clifftop temple with Kecak fire dance at sunset and Bali's best surf breaks. Tanah Lot: sea temple at sunset. Seminyak/Canggu: beach clubs, restaurants and digital nomad life. Nusa Islands (Penida, Lembongan): Kelingking Beach, mantas, crystal-clear water. Budget travel in Bali is notably affordable compared with other Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian beach destinations.
Borobudur (9th century, 504 Buddhas, 2,672 relief panels — sunrise visit from 4:30am, unforgettable). Prambanan (9th-century Hindu temple complex with Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu temples). Yogyakarta's Sultan's Palace (Kraton), Malioboro Street, batik workshops. Bali's Hindu temples (Tanah Lot, Uluwatu, Besakih 'Mother Temple' on Mount Agung).
Mount Bromo on Java (iconic sunrise over the Tengger caldera — jeep tour from 3:30am). Ijen crater: blue sulphur flames visible only at night (midnight hike from 1am). Mount Rinjani on Lombok (3,726 m, 2–3 day trek). Mount Agung on Bali (highest point, sacred mountain). Kelimutu on Flores (three different-coloured crater lakes).
Indonesia sits in the Coral Triangle — the most biodiverse marine area on Earth. Raja Ampat (mantas, whale sharks, 1,500+ fish species), Komodo (drift diving with mantas), Bunaken in North Sulawesi (wall diving), Gili Islands (turtles, PADI certification among the most affordable and beautiful settings in the world), Nusa Penida (mantas and Mola Mola). Water 27–29°C year-round.
Komodo National Park (UNESCO): three-metre carnivorous dragons that exist only here and on Flores. Boat trips from Labuan Bajo (1–3 days). Flores: Kelimutu volcano with three colour-shifting crater lakes, traditional villages, and the spectacular coastal road from Labuan Bajo to Ende. Raja Ampat (West Papua): the richest marine ecosystem on the planet.
Nasi goreng and mie goreng (fried rice and noodles), satay from charcoal grills, rendang (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage — slow-cooked spiced beef), gado-gado (vegetables with peanut sauce), fresh grilled fish on the beach, Bintang beer at sunset. Warungs (local restaurants) serve meals at prices that make eating out an everyday habit rather than a splurge. Each island has its own cuisine, language and culture — Indonesia is not one country but a federation of thousands.
Money & Currency
Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)
Currency code: IDR
Practical Money Tips
Currency in Indonesia
Indonesia uses the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR, Rp). The numbers are large — 1 USD ≈ 16,000 IDR, 1 EUR ≈ 17,000 IDR — which takes adjustment. For the best rates, use ATMs on arrival rather than airport exchange counters. Currency exchange offices (money changers) exist in Bali's tourist areas (Kuta, Seminyak, Ubud) and in Jakarta — reputable ones include Central Kuta, BMC, and Dirgahayu. Avoid money changers with ‚no commission' signs that use sleight-of-hand tricks to shortchange you — a well-known scam in Kuta and Legian. Banks exchange currency but with limited hours and paperwork. The best strategy: withdraw IDR from a bank ATM using your international card.
ATM Availability
ATMs are widespread in Indonesian cities and tourist areas — at banks (BCA, BNI, Bank Mandiri, BRI, CIMB Niaga), shopping malls, convenience stores (Indomaret, Alfamart) and airports. Most ATMs dispense either IDR 50,000 notes (lower limit, typically Rp 1,250,000 max) or IDR 100,000 notes (higher limit, typically Rp 2,500,000 max per withdrawal). BCA ATMs are the most reliable for international cards and tend to have higher limits. Always use ATMs inside banks or shopping centres — standalone street ATMs carry skimming risks. Many ATMs charge Rp 5,000–15,000 per withdrawal, and your home bank may add $2–5. In rural areas, outer islands and remote destinations (Flores interior, Raja Ampat, rural Sumatra), ATMs can be scarce or unreliable — withdraw enough cash before leaving major towns. Always decline Dynamic Currency Conversion.
Card Acceptance
Card acceptance varies dramatically by location. In Bali's tourist areas (Seminyak, Canggu, Ubud, Nusa Dua), most established restaurants, hotels, shops and beach clubs accept Visa and Mastercard. Some add a surcharge of 2–3% for card payments. In Jakarta, cards work at malls, hotels and larger restaurants. But across most of Indonesia — warungs (local restaurants), markets, small shops, transport, temple entrance fees, and the majority of businesses outside tourist zones — cash is the only option. The further you go from Bali and Jakarta, the more cash-dependent the economy. Carry Rp 500,000–1,000,000 (~$30–65) in mixed denominations at all times. GoPay and OVO (Indonesian mobile payment apps) are used by locals but require an Indonesian phone number and bank account.
Tipping Customs
Tipping is not traditionally part of Indonesian culture, but it has become common in tourist areas — especially Bali. In upscale Bali restaurants, a 5–10% service charge may be included on the bill; if so, no additional tip is expected. At warungs and local restaurants, tipping is not expected at all. For good service at tourist-oriented restaurants without a service charge, leaving Rp 20,000–50,000 is generous. Hotel porters: Rp 20,000–50,000 per bag. Taxi/Grab drivers: round up or add Rp 5,000–10,000. Tour guides and drivers: Rp 50,000–100,000 per person per day. Spa therapists: Rp 20,000–50,000. At dive centres, tipping the divemaster/instructor Rp 50,000–100,000 per dive day is appreciated. Outside Bali, tipping is less common but always welcome.
Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.
Indonesia — Embassies worldwide
Popular Destinations
Top destinations with verified missions
Embassies in Indonesia
These foreign embassies and consulates are based here. Choose a mission to open its in-depth guide and contact details.
Key origin countries
Accredited missions for Indonesia
Most Western nationalities — including the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and New Zealand — get a Visa on Arrival (VOA) for 30 days at major airports and seaports, extendable once for another 30 days. ASEAN citizens and a few others get free visa-free entry for up to 30 days, non-extendable.
The VOA is paid in cash or card on arrival and covers 30 days extendable to 60. The Tourist e-Visa, applied for online before travel, starts at 60 days and can be extended up to four times for 30 days each, for a maximum of 6 months — better suited to longer or open-ended trips.
A week covers Ubud, the Uluwatu coast and one of the Nusa islands without rushing. Ten days to two weeks lets you add a volcano sunrise (Bromo or Ijen) or a Gili Islands stop.
Planning a trip to Indonesia — Bali, Yogyakarta, Komodo, Raja Ampat, digital nomad or long-term stay? Get step-by-step guidance on your visa application.
Arrange your visa on arrivalAlso required: digital arrival card
This overview comes from Visaja's worldwide missions database (visaja.com), checked against official government sources; for binding answers, the mission itself always has the final word.