Russians need a visa on arrival for Bali: 500,000 IDR for 30 days, extendable by another 30. Plus a separate Bali tourist levy and the problem of paying with Russian cards.

Bali greets you with a visa on arrival — a simple procedure, but with three traps: you cannot pay for it online with a Russian card, since 2025 an extension requires a personal visit to the immigration office, and besides the visa you will be charged a separate tourist levy, which many only learn about at the airport.

Current as of July 8, 2026. Visa on arrival (VoA/e-VoA): 500,000 IDR (≈$35) for 30 days, extendable once for another 30 (60 in total). Separately — the Bali tourist levy of 150,000 IDR (≈$10) and the All Indonesia electronic customs declaration (mandatory since October 2025). Russian cards do not work for online payment.

Which visa you need for Bali

Bali is part of Indonesia, so we are talking about an Indonesian visa. Citizens of Russia can get a visa on arrival (Visa on Arrival, B1) in two ways:

  • VoA — issued at the counter at the airport on arrival;
  • e-VoA — applied for online in advance, and at the border you use a separate lane.

The cost is the same: 500,000 Indonesian rupiah, about $35. The permitted stay is 30 days.

Trap one: paying with a Russian card

Applying for an e-VoA online in advance is convenient, but cards from Russian banks do not go through on the Indonesian payment gateway: not Visa, not Mastercard, not Mir.

What to do:

  • Pay in cash at the airport — the most reliable option for Russians. Dollars, euros and rupiah are accepted. Bring $40 in cash with a margin.
  • Use a foreign card — one issued in Kazakhstan, Armenia, Georgia and so on.
  • Go through an agency — for a fee.

If you are flying without a foreign card, do not try to get an e-VoA in advance. Just go to the VoA counter and pay in cash: it works and takes about fifteen minutes.

Trap two: the Bali tourist levy

Besides the visa, the province of Bali collects its own levy from foreign tourists — the Bali Tourism Levy, 150,000 IDR (about $10) per person. It has been in force since February 14, 2024 and goes toward preserving the island’s natural and cultural heritage.

What is important to know:

  • It is a separate payment that is not included in the cost of the visa. It is paid online before arrival or on arrival.
  • The levy is one-off for the whole trip, not per day.
  • It is paid by everyone, including children.
  • If you leave Bali for neighboring islands and come back, you do not have to pay again.

Trap three: extensions only in person

A visa on arrival can be extended once for another 30 days. That makes 60 days at most. The extension costs another 500,000 IDR.

Previously part of the procedure was done online. Since June 2025, under an immigration service circular, all foreigners must appear in person at an immigration office to extend any visa or stay permit — biometrics are taken and a photo is made.

Practical takeaways:

  • Apply for the extension at least a week before the period ends, not on the last day.
  • The nearest office to the south of the island is in Denpasar. In high season there are queues.
  • Agencies will handle the extension for you, but a personal visit is still required.

Two more mandatory items

The All Indonesia electronic customs declaration. Since October 2025 it has to be filled in by all arriving foreigners. It is submitted on the official website within three days before arrival (or on arrival, if you did not manage it). The result is a QR code, which you show at customs.

Proof of funds. Border services have gained the right to ask for bank statements and proof of available funds — the amount must correspond to the length of the trip and the stated purpose. It used to be a formality; now the checks are real. Keep a statement or a screenshot of your balance at hand.

What you need at the border: a checklist

  • A passport valid for at least 6 months on the date of entry.
  • A return ticket or a ticket to a third country — asked for both at check-in and at passport control.
  • $40 in cash for the visa (if you did not get an e-VoA).
  • The paid tourist levy — a QR code or a receipt.
  • The All Indonesia customs declaration QR code.
  • Proof of accommodation — a booking for the first nights.
  • A bank statement in case of questions about your finances.

How many days to take for Bali

For a first acquaintance, 8–10 days is comfortable: the south with its beaches, Ubud with its rice terraces and a couple of trips to temples and waterfalls. In 5–6 days you will see the main things, but the pace will be tight. If you are planning surfing or the neighboring islands — Nusa Penida, the Gilis — allow two weeks, and then the 30 days of the visa are more than enough.

Frequently asked questions

Can I work remotely on a visa on arrival?

The VoA is a tourist visa and work is not allowed on it. For remote work Indonesia has introduced separate long-stay visas. Working for an Indonesian employer without a permit is a violation that leads to deportation.

What happens if I overstay?

A fine of 1,000,000 IDR (about $65) for each day of overstay. For a long overstay — deportation and an entry ban. It is one of the strictest systems in the region, so watch your dates.

Do I need insurance?

There is no mandatory requirement. But the statistics on motorbike injuries among tourists in Bali are grim, and an evacuation to Singapore costs tens of thousands of dollars. Check whether your policy covers riding a scooter — most basic ones do not.

Can I leave and re-enter to get a fresh 30 days?

Technically yes: a new entry means a new VoA (and a new payment). But with frequent “hops”, the immigration service asks questions about where you actually live.

Do Russian cards work on the island?

No. Exchange cash at licensed exchange offices — not on the street, where the classic scheme with a short count of the notes is used. More in the article on money in Bali.

What’s next

With the visa sorted, now the substance of the trip: how to get from the airport, when the dry season is and where it rains less, ready-made routes in Bali and safety, scooters and money changers.

Sources

The cost of the visa and the levy and the extension rules change. Before your trip, check the official portal of the Indonesian immigration service evisa.imigrasi.go.id.