Indonesia & Bali · Review edition
Only sourced, verified records are shown. Every item includes who published it and when we checked it.
Indonesia has three time zones set by Presidential Decree 41/1987: WIB UTC+7 (Jakarta/Java), WITA UTC+8 (Bali) and WIT UTC+9 (Papua/Maluku); no daylight saving. Bali is on the SAME time as Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, and 1 hour ahead of Jakarta
BMKG time-standard references as summarised by iSeeIndonesia · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Bahasa Indonesia is the official national language and is spoken everywhere; Balinese is used locally in Bali; English is widely understood in Bali's tourist areas, hotels and attractions, and less outside them
Next Stop Anywhere — Indonesia travel tips (2026) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Indonesia drives on the LEFT, with right-hand-drive vehicles (same side as Singapore and Malaysia)
Next Stop Anywhere — Indonesia travel tips (2026) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Singapore and Malaysian passport holders enter visa-free under the ASEAN exemption (Bebas Visa Kunjungan) for 30 days; the stay CANNOT be extended and cannot be converted to another permit; passport must be valid at least 6 months and an onward/return ticket may be required
Directorate General of Immigration — official e-Visa portal · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
For nationalities that need it: Visa on Arrival costs IDR 500,000, valid 30 days and extendable once for another 30 days (60 days total); the official e-VoA channel is the immigration e-Visa portal evisa.imigrasi.go.id — apply before travel; an issued e-VoA must be used to enter within 90 days
Directorate General of Immigration — official e-Visa portal · verified 2026-11-09 · official
In August 2026 the Director General of Immigration publicly floated raising the VoA fee (figures of IDR 750,000 online / IDR 1,000,000 at the airport were reported), but cross-checks of the official e-Visa portal in October 2026 still showed IDR 500,000 and no implementation date had been set — always trust the fee shown on the official portal payment page
Directorate General of Immigration — official e-Visa portal · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Overstaying is fined at IDR 1,000,000 per person per day (short overstays are handled by fine; longer overstays risk detention and deportation)
Directorate General of Immigration — official e-Visa portal · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
All international arrivals must complete the free 'All Indonesia' arrival card at allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id (or the official app) within 3 days before arrival and show the QR code on entry; it merges immigration, customs, health and quarantine declarations into one form. It became mandatory at Jakarta (CGK), Bali (DPS), Surabaya and Batam from 2025-09-01 and the ONLY system at all international entry points from 2025-10-01. It is not a visa and does not include the Bali tourist levy
Directorate General of Immigration — All Indonesia arrival card · verified 2026-11-09 · official
The standalone e-CD customs form has been absorbed into the All Indonesia arrival card for air arrivals; the old e-CD site (ecd.beacukai.go.id) itself directs travellers to All Indonesia
Indonesia Customs (Bea Cukai) — electronic Customs Declaration site · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Personal goods up to FOB USD 500 per person are exempt from duty and taxes; above that, only the excess is charged (10% duty plus VAT; the old income-tax layer was removed by PMK 34/2025, effective 2025-06-06). Tobacco and alcohol are EITHER/OR, not cumulative: 200 cigarettes OR 25 cigars OR 100 g tobacco (age 18+), and 1 litre of alcohol (age 21+); excess tobacco/alcohol is DESTROYED by Customs, not taxed
Indonesia Customs (Bea Cukai) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Carrying IDR 100,000,000 or more in cash (or the equivalent in foreign currency) into or out of Indonesia must be declared — the declaration is made in the customs section of the All Indonesia arrival card
Indonesia Customs (Bea Cukai) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
The rupiah (IDR, symbol Rp), issued by Bank Indonesia, is the legal tender; by law, transactions inside Indonesia must be settled in rupiah
Bank Indonesia · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Current (2022-series) banknotes: Rp1,000 / 2,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 / 20,000 / 50,000 / 100,000; coins: Rp100 / 200 / 500 / 1,000. The Rp75,000 note is a 2020 commemorative issue, not regular circulation
Bank Indonesia · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Cutting three zeros off the rupiah is only a LEGISLATIVE PLAN, not law: a Redenomination Bill is listed in the 2025-2029 national legislation programme and the Finance Ministry targets finishing the draft by 2027; Bank Indonesia's governor told parliament in Nov 2025 there is no near-term implementation plan, and BI has officially debunked viral images of 'new redenomination notes' — no such notes have been printed. Travellers keep using today's denominations; nothing changes at the till
Bank Indonesia · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Foreign tourists visiting Bali pay a levy of IDR 150,000 per person, charged once per entry into Indonesia (including arrivals via Jakarta), covering the whole Bali stay. Pay ONLY on the official provincial site lovebali.baliprov.go.id (cashless: card, bank transfer, virtual account, UnionPay or QRIS); a QR-code voucher is emailed after payment. In force since 2024-02-14 under Bali Provincial Regulation 6/2023 (as amended by Regulation 2/2025). Payment counters also exist at DPS airport and Benoa harbour. It is NOT included in the All Indonesia card or any visa fee, and look-alike .com 'levy' sites are not official
Bali Provincial Government — Love Bali official portal · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Seven categories are exempt, including KITAS/KITAP holders, diplomatic and official visa holders, airline/ship crew, family-unification and student visa holders; some exemptions are automatic, others (e.g. Golden Visa holders) must be applied for in advance through Love Bali, at least 5 working days before arrival
Bali Provincial Government — Love Bali official portal · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Compliance is low: official figures reported by Antara/TIME put payment at roughly one-third of foreign arrivals in 2024 (about 32-33%) and about 35% in 2025, rising to about 43% in early September 2026 spot data. The levy itself carries NO statutory fine; enforcement is by spot checks at attractions (e.g. Uluwatu, Tanah Lot, Besakih, Tirta Empul, Ulun Danu Beratan, Nusa Penida piers), where officials scan the QR voucher and non-payers must pay on the spot or can be refused entry. Regulation 2/2025 added warning sanctions, which officials themselves acknowledged were not yet effectively enforceable as of September 2026
Antara (state news agency) and TIME reporting of Bali provincial levy figures · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
QRIS is Bank Indonesia's single national QR payment standard: one QR code at a merchant works with any Indonesian bank or e-wallet app, and it is accepted from malls down to small warungs and market stalls
Bank Indonesia — QRIS Cross-Border · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Bank Indonesia's cross-border QRIS links mean visitors can scan Indonesian QRIS codes with participating home apps: Malaysian users via DuitNow QR-linked apps (e.g. Maybank, CIMB, Public Bank, Touch 'n Go eWallet, Boost) and Singapore users via NETS QR-linked apps (e.g. DBS PayLah!, OCBC, UOB). Check inside your own banking app that QRIS payment is enabled before relying on it
Bank Indonesia — QRIS Cross-Border · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Cash in rupiah is still essential for warungs, markets, small vendors, parking and temple donations; international cards are widely accepted by hotels, malls, chain restaurants and larger businesses in Bali's tourist areas and Indonesian cities. Travellers without a linked home app pay by cash or card — QRIS itself needs an Indonesian or cross-border-linked app
Bali Startup and Tech — Banking in Bali for foreigners (bank pages checked Oct 2026) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Bali's Governor Circular instructs tourists to exchange money only at Bank Indonesia-licensed money changers (KUPVA) displaying the BI licence logo and certificate, and to transact in rupiah
Bali Provincial Government — Love Bali official portal · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Indonesia uses plug types C and F (two round pins; type F adds side earthing clips) throughout the country, including Bali
IEC World Plugs listing for Indonesia (via World Standards) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
230 V, 50 Hz nationwide. Singapore and Malaysia use Type G plugs at 230-240 V, so SG/MY travellers need a C/F plug adaptor but normally no voltage converter for modern chargers
IEC World Plugs listing for Indonesia (via World Standards) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Telkomsel is Indonesia's largest carrier and has the widest coverage, including rural Bali, the Nusa islands and mountain areas; the other national networks are Indosat (IM3) and XLSmart (XL/Smartfren). Telkomsel sells a Tourist Prepaid Card to foreign passport holders
Holafly — Indonesia SIM card buyer's guide (operator listings cross-checked) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Indonesian law requires every SIM to be registered to an ID; foreign tourists register with their passport at an operator outlet (e.g. Telkomsel GraPARI) or authorised seller — unregistered SIMs are deactivated. Foreign-tourist registration gives network access for up to 90 days (see IMEI rules)
Holafly — Indonesia SIM card buyer's guide (operator listings cross-checked) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
A data-only travel eSIM has no Indonesian phone number and cannot receive SMS one-time passcodes sent to a local number; register ride-hailing and other local apps that need OTPs before departure using your home number or email where the app allows it
Holafly — Indonesia SIM card buyer's guide (operator listings cross-checked) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Foreign phones used with a foreign SIM (roaming), including travel eSIMs running on roaming, do NOT need IMEI registration with Customs — the exemption is stated by the Ngurah Rai (Bali) Customs office. IMEI registration only matters if you insert an Indonesian SIM
Indonesia Customs (Bea Cukai) · verified 2026-11-09 · official
For stays of up to 90 days using an Indonesian SIM, have the operator's shop register your phone's IMEI against your passport; this gives temporary network access for up to 90 days, involves no Customs visit and no tax
Indonesia Customs (Bea Cukai) · verified 2026-11-09 · official
For stays over 90 days on a local SIM, the phone must be registered with Customs (Bea Cukai): best done at the arrival terminal (or by declaring via All Indonesia and showing the QR at the Customs desk). Limit is 2 devices per person; device value up to USD 500 is duty-free; value above that is charged 10% import duty + 11% VAT (+ income tax 10% with an Indonesian tax number / 20% without). Registering later at a Customs office (within 60 days of arrival) loses the USD 500 allowance
Indonesia Customs (Bea Cukai) · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Indonesia runs national ISP-level filtering (Komdigi, formerly Kominfo; the TrustPositif blocklist) that blocks adult and gambling sites nationwide, including Bali, and can block platforms that fail to register as electronic system operators (PayPal, Steam and Epic were briefly blocked in 2022; Wikimedia Commons for a day in March 2026). Reddit was blocked from 2015 until July 2026, when access was restored on conditions. Mainstream services (Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok) work normally; expect the blocked list to change over time
Gizmodo — Best VPN for Indonesia: blocked sites and filtering (2026) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Using a VPN is not banned in Indonesia and is legal for individuals; authorities have blocked several FREE VPN apps linked to online gambling (2024) and have discussed — but not enacted — VPN provider registration rules. A VPN does not make content that is illegal under Indonesian law legal
Gizmodo — Best VPN for Indonesia: blocked sites and filtering (2026) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Since 2018 the Bali provincial government has asked mobile operators to switch off mobile data across Bali for the 24 hours of Nyepi; hotel Wi-Fi generally keeps working. Do not rely on mobile data (or ride-hailing) on Nyepi itself
Bali provincial Nyepi arrangements as reported by Bali travel references · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Grab and Gojek (GoRide/GoCar) operate legally throughout Bali and Indonesian cities with in-app metered pricing; both serve DPS airport through official pickup lounges (see airport module). Foreign visitors can register with a foreign mobile number or email in most cases — set the apps up before departure, as data-only eSIMs cannot receive local SMS codes
TravelSmarterAsia — Bali airport arrival guide · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
In many Bali communities, village (banjar) and local transport cooperatives enforce INFORMAL no-pickup zones for app-based drivers — drop-offs are usually fine, pickups are not. Known hotspots: the DPS arrivals frontage, central Ubud (Monkey Forest / Palace / market), parts of Canggu (Batu Bolong, Echo Beach), the Bukit peninsula (Uluwatu, Padang Padang, Bingin), Sanur beachfront, Tanah Lot entrance and Padang Bai harbour. Drivers commonly ask passengers to walk to a buffer point outside the zone. This is a local social arrangement, not a government ban on Grab/Gojek
Next Stop Anywhere — Indonesia travel tips (2026) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Blue Bird is the widely trusted metered taxi brand (bookable via its MyBluebird app or street hail); like app drivers, kerbside taxis cannot pick up directly at the DPS arrivals level — use the official airport taxi counter or the ride-hailing lounges
TravelSmarterAsia — Bali airport arrival guide · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Visitors who drive or ride must hold a valid licence — an International Driving Permit together with the home licence for foreigners — and motorcyclists must wear a helmet; Bali's Governor Circular Letter 7/2025 restates these as obligations for foreign tourists, and riding unlicensed typically voids travel-insurance cover
Bali Provincial Government — Love Bali official portal · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Denpasar's Trans Metro Dewata bus network serves the airport area and main corridors (including an airport-Ubung corridor and a corridor to Ubud's Monkey Forest); the flat fare reported by the operator is IDR 4,400, paid cashlessly by QRIS or e-money card only — no cash
Trans Metro Dewata service information as reported by Bali transport references · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Bali's gateway is I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) at Tuban, next to Kuta, operated by InJourney Airports (Angkasa Pura); it is Indonesia's second-busiest airport and operates around the clock EXCEPT on Nyepi, when it closes completely for 24 hours
TravelSmarterAsia — Bali airport arrival guide · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
The Ngurah Rai Airport Taxi cooperative is the only taxi operator with a counter inside DPS arrivals; fares are fixed by destination zone and quoted at the counter before departure — there is no official published per-destination fare table online
TravelSmarterAsia — Bali airport arrival guide · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Grab and Gojek both have official meeting points/lounges at DPS international and domestic arrivals; order in the app and walk to the lounge — drivers cannot collect you at the arrivals kerb
TravelSmarterAsia — Bali airport arrival guide · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Secondary gateway: the Railink airport train runs from CGK (free Kalayang skytrain links all terminals to the station) to BNI City, Duri and Manggarai in about 45-55 minutes at a flat fare of IDR 70,000; state DAMRI buses serve Gambir, Blok M and other city/suburban points at around IDR 80,000. Fares change — confirm in the Railink/KAI or DAMRI channels before travel
Jakarta Airport CGK transport guide (fares cross-checked, Oct 2026) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
English is widely spoken in Bali's tourist belt (Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu, Ubud, Nusa Dua, Sanur) and by hospitality staff; elsewhere in Indonesia, English drops off quickly and a translation app plus basic Bahasa Indonesia phrases go a long way
Next Stop Anywhere — Indonesia travel tips (2026) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Nyepi, the Balinese Hindu new year (Saka 1948), falls on 19 March 2026. From 06:00 on 19 March to 06:00 on 20 March the whole island shuts down for 24 hours: DPS airport closes with no flights, no vehicles or pedestrians on the roads, and visitors must stay inside their hotel or villa (hotel restaurants and pools operate; lights and noise must be kept down at night). The four Nyepi abstinences (Catur Brata) are enforced by traditional pecalang wardens. The evening before, villages parade giant ogoh-ogoh effigies. Nyepi is a national public holiday across Indonesia, but the full shutdown happens only in Bali. The following day (Ngembak Geni) normal life resumes
Nyepi 2026 date and rules cross-checked across Bali references (bali.com, expat.or.id) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Bali has two seasons driven by rainfall, not temperature: a dry season roughly April to October and a wet season roughly November to March (Indonesia's national tourism board description for Java/Bali)
Indonesia national tourism board season description via Aparthotel Bali guide · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Denpasar is hot year-round: mean daily highs range 29.6 C (August) to 34.4 C (April), lows 22.5-24.8 C. Rain is the variable: January is wettest at 345 mm over 27 rain days; August is driest at 25 mm over 4 rain days. These are 1961-1990 station normals supplied by BMKG to the WMO — a pattern guide, not a forecast
WMO World Weather Information Service data (supplied by BMKG) via TravelShifu Bali guide · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Unlicensed street money changers advertising 'no commission' rates above bank rates commonly use rigged calculators or sleight-of-hand counting to short-change tourists. Use only BI-licensed KUPVA outlets, count the notes yourself as the last person to touch them, and walk away from rates that beat the market
Bali Startup and Tech — Banking in Bali for foreigners (bank pages checked Oct 2026) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Foreign-government advisories (UK FCDO, Australian Smartraveller) warn that locally produced or refilled spirits — including arak — have caused methanol poisoning, blindness and deaths among travellers in Bali and elsewhere in Indonesia. Buy only sealed, branded bottles from reputable sellers and never accept pre-mixed drinks of unknown origin
CleverTourists — Bali safety guide summarising UK FCDO and Australian Smartraveller advice (Nov 2026) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Drugs are strictly prohibited for visitors under Bali's Governor Circular 7/2025, and Indonesia's narcotics law imposes severe penalties including long prison sentences; there is no 'tourist tolerance' anywhere in Bali
Bali Provincial Government — Love Bali official portal · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Road crashes, especially scooter crashes, are the leading cause of serious injury to visitors in Bali according to foreign-government travel advice; unlicensed or unhelmeted riding also typically voids insurance. First-time riders should use cars/drivers instead
CleverTourists — Bali safety guide summarising UK FCDO and Australian Smartraveller advice (Nov 2026) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Bali Governor Circular Letter No. 7 of 2025 (24 March 2025, updating the 2023 circular) sets binding conduct expectations for foreign tourists: respect temples and religious symbols; dress modestly in public and especially at temples; pay the tourist levy; use licensed guides and accommodation; exchange money only at BI-licensed changers; transact in rupiah; obey traffic rules with a valid licence and helmet. Prohibited: entering temple sanctums other than to pray, climbing sacred trees/structures, stepping on offerings, single-use plastics in protected contexts, littering, unauthorised work or business, drugs, drink-driving and abusive behaviour including on social media. Enforcement is by Satpol PP with a public WhatsApp reporting hotline (+62 812-8759-0999)
Bali Provincial Government — Love Bali official portal · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Under the same Governor Circular, non-worshippers must not enter the inner and middle courtyards (utamaning and madyaning mandala) of Balinese temples; entering to pray requires traditional Balinese dress, and women who are menstruating must not enter temple grounds
Bali Provincial Government — Love Bali official portal · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Visitors wear a sarong and sash and cover shoulders to enter temple outer areas; give and receive with the right hand (or both hands); never touch anyone's head, including children's; and step around — never on — the small canang sari offerings placed on pavements and doorsteps
Next Stop Anywhere — Indonesia travel tips (2026) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Tipping is NOT obligatory in Indonesia and locals rarely tip in everyday settings. In Bali's tourist venues it is appreciated for drivers, guides, spa staff and porters. Check the bill first: hotels and many restaurants add a 10% tax plus a service charge of about 5-11% (menu prices marked '++'), up to 21% total — if service is already charged, an extra tip is optional; if not, 5-10% is the customary traveller range. Warungs and street stalls expect no tip
SB Excursion — Tipping in Bali 2026 (cross-checked against Bali Sun / Bali Holiday Secrets) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Police emergency number is 110, nationwide
Indonesian National Police emergency number as published in Bali travel references · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Fire brigade emergency number is 113, nationwide
Indonesia fire service emergency number as published in Bali travel references · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Medical emergency: 119 is the national health emergency number; 118 is also widely used for ambulances in many regions including Bali — in a serious emergency in Bali, also call your hotel or a private hospital directly, as public ambulance coverage is thin
Indonesia medical emergency numbers as published in Bali travel references · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
The free single emergency number 112 is being rolled out city-by-city by Komdigi (about 70 cities/regencies so far); in Bali it is live in Denpasar and Klungkung (including the Nusa islands) but NOT yet island-wide — outside those areas, dial the service numbers (110 / 113 / 119) directly
112 rollout status as reported by Indonesian local-government coverage · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) emergency number is 115
BASARNAS emergency number as published in Bali travel references · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Tap water in Bali is NOT safe to drink. Use sealed bottled or filtered/refill-station water; stomach upsets ('Bali belly') are the most common visitor health complaint
CleverTourists — Bali safety guide summarising UK FCDO and Australian Smartraveller advice (Nov 2026) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Rabies is present in Bali in dogs and monkeys: do not feed or touch animals, and after ANY bite or scratch wash the wound and seek post-exposure treatment immediately. Dengue occurs year-round and peaks in the wet season — there is no preventive tablet, so use repellent and cover up. Malaria risk in Bali is essentially nil (risk is concentrated in eastern Indonesia, e.g. Papua)
CleverTourists — Bali safety guide summarising UK FCDO and Australian Smartraveller advice (Nov 2026) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Foreign-government advice notes that good private medical care in Bali is expensive and medical evacuation very costly; travellers should arrange insurance that includes medical evacuation. On YohoTrip this module carries only an editorial link to the travel-insurance guide, with no prices or product recommendations
CleverTourists — Bali safety guide summarising UK FCDO and Australian Smartraveller advice (Nov 2026) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Bali is majority-Hindu in a Muslim-majority country: pork is celebrated rather than avoided — babi guling (suckling pig) and pork lawar are signature dishes — and alcohol is openly sold across tourist areas, unlike in Indonesia's more conservative regions
Next Stop Anywhere — Indonesia travel tips (2026) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
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