A guide to Visa Run Destinations

If you intend to live in Bali for an extended period, you might need to exit the country and come back on a new visa. In this article, we provide some useful tips about the visa run destinations.

So, you arrived in Bali for a month, but after 30 days, you suddenly realize that you don't want to go home. What should you do? As a holder of a visa on arrival (VoA), you can extend your visa for another 30 days at your local immigration office.

However, after that, you will definitely have to leave. Don't worry though; you can return to Bali on another VoA.

First, you'll need to decide where to go for your visa run. You need to plan this ahead of time because, in order to extend your VoA, you'll need to show a copy of a confirmed flight as proof that you will indeed leave the country in the next 30 days.

Kuala Lumpur tends to be the most budget-friendly option. It's about a three-hour flight from Bali, and you can buy a round-trip ticket for around $170-$190.

There are plenty of things to see in Kuala Lumpur. In fact, many people fall in love with this city. Here's a great itinerary for the capital of Malaysia. You can briefly immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the metropolis and reminisce about the charms of life in the concrete jungle.

Flying from Bali to the Thai capital takes over four hours, making the flights more expensive than those to Kuala Lumpur. Return flights range between $320 and $370.

With the recent legalization of marijuana in Thailand, doing a visa run in Bangkok has its appeal. However, it is important to remember that you should under no circumstances attempt to bring any drugs back to Bali, and travelers from Thailand are subject to extra scrutiny by customs officers in Indonesia.

A three-hour plane ride and you're in Singapore - a destination worth visiting at least once in a lifetime. Return tickets to Singapore cost around $220 to $250.

Prices in this futuristic metropolis are sky-high. The average restaurant bill is around $30 to $50. Alcoholic beverages start at $8 for a beer, $15 for a glass of wine, and $20 for cocktails. You can eat more affordably at Chinese eateries and food courts where meals (without a drink) start at $8. Hotels start from $80 for 2-3 stars, while hostels are around $25 to $30 per person.

The main drawback of Singapore as a visa run destination is that citizens of some countries need a visa. However, there is a free transit visa available if you are doing a route like Bali-Singapore-Kuala Lumpur-Bali, for example.

If you find yourself doing a visa run in Singapore, here's a great three-day guide for you.

Another visa run option is the island of Penang.

Penang is a Malaysian state with its capital, George Town, being the main attraction. In general, there is a lot to see in George Town, including the historical center of the city that is protected by UNESCO.

You can fly directly from Bali to Penang in 3.5 hours with AirAsia. However, note that there are no daily flights, so it may be challenging to find a round-trip ticket without any layovers. Another option is to fly with Scoot airlines with a layover in Singapore.

According to recent reports, Balinese border officials have been asking more questions to foreigners who leave and return on the same day. There is no official ban on the same day exit and entry yet, but passport control officers can make decisions at their discretion. Therefore, we recommend staying away for a few days (24-72 hours) to avoid issues at the border.

Another option is the B211a visa, which many foreigners have opted for.

What do you prefer, leaving the country every 60 days or getting a long-term visa? Share your thoughts in the comments; we'd love to hear from you!