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There’s a running joke that Bali is practically Australia’s seventh state. Last year, more than 1.5 million Aussies visited the Island of the Gods in search of surf, sunshine and ice-cold Bintangs by the pool. Now, a holiday to everyone’s favourite Indonesian hotspot could become a whole lot easier (and cheaper), thanks to a new visa-free travel proposal.
The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism is pushing to restore visa-free travel for eight countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and India. The move comes as officials look to boost tourism numbers, following a reduction in visitors due to global flight disruptions.
Currently, Australians travelling to Indonesia have to pay around $40 AUD (500,000 IDR) for a 30-day Visa on Arrival – completed either at the airport or online pre-departure. But it hasn’t always been this way.
Between 2016 and 2020, Aussie passport holders enjoyed visa-free travel to Indonesia for up to 30 days. This perk was phased out in 2023 as international travel resumed post-pandemic.
In early June, Indonesia’s Tourism Minister, Widiyanti Wardhana, confirmed to the media that the plan is officially under active review.
“We have held a number of detailed discussions with relevant ministries and institutions, and the discussions have actually narrowed down to the possibility of granting visa-free visits,” Minister Wardhana told The Bali Sun.
There is no official timeline just yet for the final decision, but you can bet that we – along with the rest of the country – will have our passports ready to go the second it's approved.