Bali to Welcome Back Tourists: Updated Visa and Entry Requirements
Bali to Welcome Back Tourists. Bali has had a busy year on the entry-requirements front, with several changes rolled out through 2025 and into 2026 and a recent stretch of regional volcanic ash disruption serving as a reminder of how quickly conditions can shift. The good news for anyone planning a trip: Ngurah Rai International Airport has continued operating normally through recent disruptions affecting other Indonesian airports, and Bali remains firmly open for visitors. Here’s exactly what’s changed, and what Australians need to have sorted before they fly.
Bali’s Airport Remains Open Despite Regional Disruption
In early September 2026, increased volcanic activity from Mount Anak Krakatau led to the cancellation or rescheduling of over a hundred flights connecting Bali with Jakarta and Bandung. Despite this, Ngurah Rai Airport itself stayed open throughout, with international flights and passenger services continuing as normal. The disruption was specific to certain domestic routes rather than Bali’s own airspace, and Indonesia’s transport ministry ordered full refunds for travellers whose flights were affected. For anyone with an upcoming trip, the practical takeaway is simple: check your specific flight status directly with your airline rather than assuming a regional disruption affects Bali itself.
The Visa Basics Haven’t Changed But Read the Fine Print
Trip to Bali to Welcome Back Tourists, with the same two main options as before:
- Visa on Arrival (VOA) purchased at the airport counter
- Electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VOA) applied for and paid online before departure
Both allow a 30-day stay, extendable once for a total of up to 60 days. One detail that trips travellers up: choosing a VOA at the airport counter means you can’t use the automated immigration e-gates, even if you hold an e-passport. Only those who’ve applied for the e-VOA online and pre-registered their passport or who qualify for visa-free entry from an eligible country can use the faster autogate lanes. Australia isn’t currently on the visa-free list, so applying for the e-VOA in advance is the only way to skip the manual queue.
The Biggest Change: One Digital Form Replaces Them All
The standout update for 2026 is the All Indonesia Arrival Card, a single digital form that has replaced every previous separate immigration, customs, and health declaration including the old SATUSEHAT health form. It needs to be completed online within three days of your arrival, and generates a QR code that’s checked on landing.
Older Bali travel guides still reference multiple separate forms that information is now outdated. If you’re using an older checklist, replace it with the current single-form system to avoid confusion at the airport.
The Tourism Levy Is Now Standard Practice
A Bali Tourism Levy of IDR 150,000 (roughly AUD 14) applies to all international visitors, on top of visa costs. It can be paid online before you fly or at counters on arrival, though paying in advance remains the faster option and avoids an extra line after a long flight.
What’s Still Being Finalised: Proof of Financial Means
In early 2026, Balinese authorities flagged plans to require proof of sufficient funds from visitors potentially including bank statements, confirmed return tickets, and detailed travel itineraries. As of the most recent updates, enforcement details for this requirement remain unclear, and it isn’t being applied consistently at the border yet. It’s sensible to carry documentation of your financial means and a confirmed return ticket regardless, since these are already commonly requested even without formal enforcement of a new rule.
New Scrutiny on Tourist Visa Use
Indonesian authorities have also sharpened enforcement around what a tourist visa can and can’t be used for, particularly targeting travellers who use tourist entry for paid content creation or influencer work. For anyone travelling purely for leisure sightseeing, relaxing, exploring this change has no practical impact, but it reflects a broader push toward tighter compliance around visa categories generally.
Quick Checklist for 2026 Bali Entry
- Passport valid for at least six months, undamaged
- e-VOA applied for online (recommended over airport VOA to access autogates)
- All Indonesia Arrival Card completed within three days of arrival
- Bali Tourism Levy paid, ideally online in advance
- Return or onward flight ticket
- Confirmed accommodation booking
- Documentation of financial means, as a sensible precaution
Is Now a Good Time to Book?
Between the digital arrival system settling in, the tourism levy now firmly part of the process, and Bali’s airport continuing to operate normally through nearby regional disruptions, the entry process is arguably more streamlined than it’s been in years even with a few new steps added. Compare flights and accommodation for your Bali trip on airdealio.com, and check out our Travel Essentials range to make sure you’re fully prepared before you fly.
