The Legal Indonesia team regularly advises clients on visa matters and has noticed a growing trend. Before buying tickets, people first ask a chatbot whether they need a visa instead of checking official sources.
The answer comes instantly and sounds convincing, but that very confidence can sometimes lead to cancelled trips and significant expenses.
Let’s look at several real cases and explain why you should not rely solely on AI when applying for visas, including visas for Indonesia.
Cases
Puerto Rico: no visa required, but travellers denied boarding without ESTA
In August 2025, a Spanish couple were unable to fly to Puerto Rico after AI told them that they did not need a visa.
Technically, this was correct: Spanish citizens do not need a US visa to travel to Puerto Rico. However, the answer failed to mention the mandatory ESTA electronic travel authorisation. The travellers only learned that they needed it when checking in for their flight.
The problem was not that the answer was incorrect, but that it was incomplete: the question concerned a visa, but the AI failed to mention another mandatory entry requirement.
North Macedonia: mistake cost 50 thousand roubles
In the summer of 2026, a family from Russia was planning a holiday in North Macedonia. After AI told them that Russian citizens did not need a visa, they bought tickets.
At check-in, they learned otherwise: the airline requested the documents required for entry. According to media reports, the relevant requirements have applied to Russian citizens since March 2022. The family had to change their route at short notice and fly to Bosnia and Herzegovina after checking the rules on the official website. They lost around 50 thousand roubles.
Chile: outdated information
In March 2025, an Australian tourist asked AI whether he needed a visa for Chile. The answer was no, but at the airport he discovered that he had to apply for a visa in advance through the consulate.
The information was outdated. Visa-free entry had indeed once been available, but it had been abolished several years earlier. The AI relied on information that had once been current but no longer reflected the rules in force.
Why AI makes mistakes about visas
Cases like these do not mean that the technology is malfunctioning. The problem is that visa rules change much faster than a model’s knowledge is updated.
In addition, short questions such as “do I need a visa?” rarely include all the necessary information. The answer depends on citizenship, the purpose of the trip, the length of stay, the method of entry and other conditions. Even if most of the answer is correct, one missing detail can make the trip impossible.
Another risk is AI’s confident communication style. An answer may appear definitive when it actually needs to be verified.
The same applies to Indonesian visas
Indonesia’s immigration rules are regularly updated. The requirements for obtaining an e-VOA or KITAS and extending a stay can change, as can the list of countries subject to different entry arrangements.
Relying solely on a generalised AI answer can result not only in being denied boarding, but also in fines, deportation or problems on future trips.
How to check visa requirements
Before travelling, it is worth following a few simple rules:
- check information on the official websites of embassies and immigration authorities;
- confirm the requirements with the airline, as it is the airline that decides whether a passenger can board;
- use AI answers only as a starting point, not as a definitive source of information;
- consult specialists who work with current visa rules every day.
If you are planning to apply for a visa or KITAS, or extend your stay in Indonesia, and want to make sure that the requirements are current for your specific situation, contact Legal Indonesia.
We will check the current rules, recommend the best solution and help you avoid mistakes that could cost you time, money and the trip itself.
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