American tourist Claire Gallam Volkman was unable to spend her vacation in Bali, even though she had already arrived in Indonesia.
After nearly a 17-hour flight, she was stopped at passport control at the airport: her document did not have any blank pages. According to Indonesian regulations for entry with a Visa on Arrival, a passport must be valid for at least six months and have at least two blank pages for visas and stamps. This is not always checked, especially when using autogates, but a lack of space in the passport can cause entry refusal.
Claire spent several hours waiting for the immigration service's decision and ultimately, despite having travel experience in more than 70 countries, was forced to urgently buy a return ticket home and fly back the same day. A friend helped her purchase the return ticket, after which she had to endure another 15-hour flight back to the USA. She admitted that she usually checks passport requirements in advance, but this time overlooked this detail. The mistake resulted in lost thousands of dollars and a canceled vacation.
Let's recall the main requirements for entry into Indonesia:
— Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry;
— At least two blank pages must be available for visa stamps;
— An online 'All Indonesia Arrival Card' is mandatory, which combines immigration, customs, and health control (completed several days before the trip);
— A return or transit ticket is required for obtaining a Visa on Arrival (VoA or e-VoA);
— Foreign tourists must pay the tourist tax.
Many travelers currently bypass this rule, but the authorities intend to tighten control.
Sources: Kompas, businessinsider
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