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Legal Updates | Indonesia Introduces New Visitor Visa Exemption

The Indonesian government recently issued Presidential Regulation No. 69 of 2015 regarding Visitor Visa Exemptions (PR 69/2015). The purpose of PR 69/2015 is to improve the relationship between Indonesia and other countries by waiving the visa requirement for visitors from certain countries to enter Indonesia. PR 69/2015 is also intended to benefit national development in general and the economy in particular.

Visitor visa exemptions were previously regulated under Presidential Decree No. 18 of 2003 regarding Short Visit Visa Exemptions, which has been amended several times, lastly by Presidential Regulation No. 43 of 2011 regarding the Third Amendment of Presidential Decree No. 18 of 2003 (PR 18/2003). PR 69/2015 introduces new countries whose citizens are exempted from the requirement to obtain a visa to enter Indonesia for tourism purposes. PR 69/2015 also requires foreign nationals taking advantage of such visitor visa exemption to enter the country through specified immigration checkpoints, which was not stipulated under PR 18/2003.

Below is the list of new countries whose citizens are exempted from visitor visa for tourism purposes and the said specified immigration checkpoints:

List of Special Countries Exempted from Visitor Visa for Tourism Purposes 

The visitor visa exemption is valid for up to 30 days and cannot be extended or converted to a different type of visa. If foreign nationals who qualify for such visitor visa exemption wish to remain in Indonesia for more than 30 days or engage in activities other than for tourism purposes, they must apply for and obtain a different type of visa regulated under the applicable laws and regulations.

Pursuant to PR 69/2015, foreign nationals from special countries and administrative regions listed and regulated under PR 18/2003 are given visitor visa exemption to enter Indonesia for government, educational, social and cultural, tourism, business, family, journalistic or transit purposes, and may enter Indonesia through any immigration border or checkpoint. The visitor visa exemption for foreign nationals from special countries and administrative regions listed under PR 18/2003 is also given for up to 30 days and may not be extended or converted to a different type of visa.

Below is the list of special countries and administrative regions exempted from the visitor visa requirement for government, educational, social and cultural, tourism, business, family, journalistic or transit purposes:

List of the Special Countries and Special Administrative Regions Exempted from Visitor Visa for Government, Educational, Social and Cultural, Tourism, Business, Family, Journalistic or Transit Purposes 

PR 69/2015 revokes and replaces PR 18/2003, and has been in effect since June 10, 2015. Therefore, PR 18/2003 is no longer valid after the date of enactment of PR 69/2015. However, any visitor visa exemption granted to foreign nationals from the above listed special countries and administrative regions pursuant to PR 18/2003 before the issuance of PR 69/2015 will remain valid until its expiration.

SSEK - 8th July 2015

icone share

Indonesia Services Snapshot - Tourism

Contribution to GDP: 9.6% (2016)
Number Employed in the Sector: 12.16 million (2015)
Monthly Average of Foreign Tourists: 940,361 (Jan-Oct 2016)
Domestic Tourism: 270 million trips (estimated, 2016)
Competitiveness Score: 37/140 (WEF, 2016)
Regional Rank: 4/15 in Asia-Pacific, 4/9 in Southeast Asia (WEF, 2016)
Most Popular Locations: Bali, Jakarta, Yogjakarta, Bandung, Batam, Medan.