Cheap and Easy way to extend Tourist Visa | indonesia experience
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Note : Each rules in Immigration office might be different, so it's best to check their website. However, sometimes what's written in the website is rather confusing. This article is written based on current experience while extending a VOA ( visa on arrival) in Indonesia.Visa on arrival is given to 62 countries by paying 35$ after you land through several major airports or harbor in Indonesia. Unlike free visa, VOA is extendable up to the next 30 days. Meanwhile, Free visa is given to 90 countries for only 30 days stay and non extendable.Dealing with Indonesian government officers can be exhausting so it's best to add up some patience in your vocabulary otherwise you can use VOA agent service but of course it'll cost.
I browsed over google but unable to find a correct ways to do visa extension as it was outdated and the rule have changed. After I browsed, I decided to use the suggestions on those website to be our basic guidelines.We extended a week before the visa expires, This is important. It is best to do it seven days before the visa expire because it'll take about 3-4 days work day to process your request. We picked Yogyakarta as our choice to extend the visa. There isn't much applicants so likely it's faster than in Bali or Jakarta. However, be ready with bitter service and lack of good explanation, especially if you don't speak Bahasa Indonesia.Here are several things which you need to extend VOA in Indonesia
- Photocopy of your front page passport
- Your passport ( this will be held in immigration for the process)
- Photocopy of your VOA page
- Your VOA receipt
- Photocopy of your return ticket
- A form which is obtained in the immigration and free
- And A pen to fill out the form :)
According to several blogs we read, they wrote that we need a sponsor,a local resident who is willing to give us the signature and guarantee our stay in Indonesia. So based on this, we decided to contact our bestfriend and asked for her photocopy ID (KTP) and asked her to come with us to the immigration offices to make things simple.important
note : Come as early as possible for the first day and dress properly par example, in yogyakarta, you have to wear long pants with t-shirt.
Even in the main gate, there'll be a sign of " How to dress" and what not.Day 1We entered the immigration office around 9 which was already overcrowded by Indonesian who apply for passport. We asked the front officer about extending a visa. Then, they lead us to the special room for foreigners. Before that, don't forget to pick queue number. Next, we filled the form which was given by the front officer and also attached necessary documents along with our sponsor ID card. Then, We went back inside and put the map on the stack and wait.Suddenly, the officer call us up and said that we don't need to fill the sponsor name and sponsor related field because our purpose of staying is tourism. Then, we picked a new form and filled it with information but leaving the sponsor section. Next, the officer gave us a receipt which was written a date of when we should return to take a photograph and the passport.The bottom line is if you visit as a Tourist, you don't need a sponsor.
Day 2
Since we applied on Thursday, The officer asked us to be back on tuesday as Saturday and Sunday they are closed. This time, all we have to do is back to the counter, confirmed our receipt, and make payment in the cashier located inside the office. As soon as we've done the payment they will ask us to wait for photograph and fingerprint scanning. We were waiting about half hour to get the things done. As we finished taking photograph and fingerprint, the officer asked us to be back on the next day exactly at 1 pm
Day 3
Finally, all we have to do is placing the payment receipt on the stacks and wait for our name to be called. after the officer called our name, all you have to do is write your name and the passport number on their books. Voila, you get your passport back and ready to begin other adventure in Indonesia.
Notes :
1. The officers speak limited English which is difficult for us to understand especially to fill in some form. To avoid unnecessary things, just follow what they say
2. Best to bring water, lunch and full charged phone because it'll be boring. Be fearless because sometimes they can be bitter
3. Proper dressing seems to be a thing, and you have to follow it but you're maybe " OK" to wear sandals as it won't be visible from the counter
4. Again, You don't need a sponsor for Tourism Purpose.
5. Don't do a visa run, if there's a simple and cheaper way to do it. saves you the plane ticket going back and forth.
Bon voyage folks