Indonesia is not visa-free for Brits, and Bali adds a levy on top

British visitors need a visa for Indonesia, and the visa on arrival costs IDR 500,000 for a single entry. Bali also charges a tourist levy of IDR 150,000, about £8, and your passport must be valid for six months beyond arrival with two blank pages. GOV.UK's entry page sets out those rules. The overstay fine is the cost people underestimate: IDR 1,000,000 a day if you stay past the permitted period.

Do British citizens need a visa for Indonesia?

Yes. GOV.UK lists Indonesia as a country where British citizens need a visa, and a visa on arrival is one of the routes available. Plan the visa before you fly, because the rules and the forms can change, and the page you read today is the one to recheck on the day you book.

What does the visa on arrival cost?

The visa on arrival costs IDR 500,000 for a single entry, according to GOV.UK. That is the figure to budget for, not an estimate. Pay it in the currency and by the method the official process accepts, and keep the receipt with your passport until you have left the country.

What passport and declaration do I need?

Your passport must be valid for six months beyond your arrival date and have two blank pages, and GOV.UK asks for an online customs and health declaration within 72 hours of arrival. The declaration is a form you complete yourself on the official site. Do not pay an agent to file it, and keep a copy on your phone in case the connection is slow when you land.

What is the Bali levy, and how much does it cost?

The Bali tourist levy is IDR 150,000, about £8 at the rate GOV.UK uses. It is an extra charge on top of the visa, and it applies to visitors to Bali. Budget for it separately, so that the visa figure does not look like the full cost of the trip.

How do I avoid the overstay fine?

Extend the visa within its first 30 days if you want to stay longer, because an overstay costs IDR 1,000,000 a day. GOV.UK sets out the overstay fine as a daily charge, so a few extra days can cost more than the visa itself. Note the date your visa runs out the day you arrive, and plan any extension before that date.

How does Indonesia compare with Vietnam for British visitors?

Vietnam gives British passport holders 45 days without a visa, while Indonesia needs one, so the two trips are planned differently. Our guide to Vietnam for British visitors sets out the stay and the arrival card. For the wider picture, visas, passports and entry covers the checks to make before any flight.

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Sources: GOV.UK, Foreign travel advice: Indonesia, entry requirements, read 3 October 2026 (visa required; visa on arrival IDR 500,000 for a single entry; passport valid six months beyond arrival with two blank pages; online customs and health declaration within 72 hours; Bali levy IDR 150,000, about £8; overstay fine IDR 1,000,000 a day). This is general information, not legal advice.