Same But Different; Indonesia’s E-Visa Validity and The Period of Stay
Many foreigners visiting Indonesia mistakenly believe that Indonesia’s e-visa validity period and period of stay are the same. This misunderstanding often leads to overstays, that result in fines, legal consequences, or worse, a deportation. To avoid such issues, we will guide you to understand the key differences between these two terms.
An E-Visa (Electronic Visa) is a digital visa that is granted by the Indonesian immigration government, allowing foreign nationals to enter Indonesia for purposes like tourism, business, or other purposes. In other words, the Indonesia E-Visa applied for before arriving in Bali is your pre-ticket to enter and explore this beautiful country.
There are many different types of e-visas, including:
The validity period of e-visa is 90 days from the date of issue. This is the time frame within which the visa holder must enter Indonesia. If the traveller doesn’t enter within this period, the visa becomes invalid, and you’ll need to apply for a new one.
⚠️ Please note that this is not your designated stay period.
Upon arrival, immigration officials will process the traveller’s entry, which was sent to their email, and issue an ITK (Izin Tinggal Kunjungan) or a Visit Stay Permit. This permit determines how long the traveller can legally stay in the country. This is where the period of stay begins!
Since the ITK document is issued online and is accessible only by agencies with system access, travellers often don’t receive this crucial document. This leads to confusion, as many believe they can stay for 90 days, when in reality, their actual period of stay may only be 30 or 60 days. Without the ITK PDF, travellers may unknowingly overstay their visas, putting them at risk of legal consequences during sudden immigration inspections.
ℹ️ Usaha Expat always ensure every client receives a copy of their ITK document immediately after passing immigration.
If the visa permits extensions, travellers must apply for an extension before the current visa expires to avoid overstaying. For instance, a Visitor Visa is valid for 90 days from the date of issue, while an Electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VOA) is valid for 30 days from the date of issue.
This means the traveller must enter Indonesia within this time frame; otherwise, the visa will be void. However, the period of stay granted upon entry is different—e-VOA holders, for example, can stay for 30 days, with an option to extend once for another 30 days. Those needing a longer stay should ensure they apply for an extension before their period of stay expires.
If you overstay your visa in Indonesia, you may face:
