Last updated on September 3rd, 2026 at 11:14 am
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I got into a right pickle trying to extend my Indonesian tourist visa this year on my travels through Sumatra. Even though it is my 5th visit to the country, I haven’t been to Indonesia in a few years and was confused about the visa rules.
This happened because I was misled by the Google AI feature, I am ashamed to say, and instead of searching through travel blogs with recent, first-hand accounts, I just went with the information that AI scraped (stole) and summarised incorrectly at the top of the search results.
Lesson learned.
That is why travel blogs are still so relevant, as nothing AI can produce can compare to a recent, on-the-ground account from an independent traveller who has made all the mistakes first so you don’t have to.
So here’s me, making a mistake, learning the hard way, and giving you accurate information on how to extend your Indonesian tourist visa.
Indonesia Visa on Arrival
95 countries are eligible for a 30-day visa on arrival for Indonesia, the UK being one of them.
The fee is 500,000 Indonesian Rupiah (IDR), which in June 2026 is 21 GBP.
You can get this visa at the airport when you arrive, or better yet, you can apply online before you get to Indonesia. I did mine 3 days before my flight at the same time as the All Indonesia Application – which is another compulsory online form you have to complete within 72 hours before your arrival in Indonesia.
If you get the e-visa before you arrive, you should do so through the official government website, and it means you can just scan your passport at the e-gates and walk on through, rather than queuing up at immigration.
So you’ve got your visa, you’re happy frollicking around Indonesia, and you realise 30 days just isn’t enough (it definitely isn’t) – then you now have the option to extend your visa for another 30 days…
My Indonesia Highlights
- Scuba-Diving in Komodo National Park
- Scuba-Diving and Snorkelling in Raja Ampat
- Trekking to see the Orangutans in Bukit Lawang
- Learning to Surf on the Island of Nias
Extending your Visa in Indonesia
To extend your Indonesian tourist visa, you need to start the process online and finish it in person. Google AI had me believe you could do it all online, which is more fool me.
First, you need to retrieve your application and click on the button that says extend. Note: It will not let you do this until you are in the last 14 days of your 30-day visa.
When applying for the extension, it is going to ask you what hotel you are staying in; then it will automatically fill in the nearest immigration centre, which is where you will need to report in person WITHIN 3 days.
If you do not report to that specific immigration centre within 3 days, your visa extension will be rejected.
I had no idea I only had 3 days, so I thought I was being super prepared applying ahead of time, but actually I shot myself in the foot. My visa was rejected, and when I went to reapply online, that little extend button had disappeared- uh-oh.
Luckily, the Medan Immigration Centre in Sumatra has a WhatsApp line specifically for foreigners, and they were very reassuring; they said I could just come in and reapply in person, but I would lose the 500k IDR I had paid for the extension. Rats!
So 4 days before my initial 30-day visa expired, I went to the immigration centre to have another go.
NOTE – This is a government building, and you will not be allowed to enter in shorts, singlets, or flip-flops.
Travel Insurance for Indonesia
Perhaps the most important precaution you can take as a traveller to Indonesia and beyond is to get reliable travel insurance. For my adventures, I have put my trust in SafetyWing, and I use their 4-week rolling policy as it is affordable and covers almost every country.
Having travelled for 10+ years now, I have sort of done it all when it comes to travel insurance (even historically not using it at all) – but now I only ever use SafetyWing.
At the Immigration Office in Indonesia
Like almost every Indonesian I have ever met, the immigration officer was lovely and helpful when I explained the situation, and after reapplying on my behalf, taking my picture, and having me pay another 500,000 IDR, the extension was accepted.
It takes 3-4 days to arrive by email, which meant my current visa would have expired during that in-between time, but he said not to worry.
It was compulsory to have an outbound flight out of Indonesia booked to be granted the visa extension. I tried to tell them I wasn’t sure what day I was leaving, and I did have a flight from Thailand back to the UK booked, but they weren’t having any of it.
So, the lovely immigration man waited patiently while I quickly booked a flight from Indonesia to Malaysia for two weeks later. Et Voila, I was granted leave to stay in Indonesia another 30 days.
Extending your Indonesian Tourist Visa Beyond 60 Days
If you want to stay longer still, you CANNOT extend the visa a 2nd time. You’ll need to do a visa-run, which essentially means leaving the country and reentering.
It is strongly suggested to leave the country for at least 3 days, as border officials have been cracking down on same-day and next-day visa runs in recent years, and there is a chance you’ll be denied reentry if you try to return straight away. There is no official limit on how many times you can do a visa run in one year, just FYI.
Not sure what to pack for your trip to Indonesia? Check out the I Dream of Mangoes article:
The Only Female Backpacking Packing List You’ll Ever Need
Reasons to Visit Indonesia
Indonesia is one of my favourite countries in the world. It hands-down has the best scuba diving in the world anyway, theres not a doubt in my mind.
Pair that with awesome surfing, laid-back and friendly people, affordability, beautiful beaches, warm weather, and the fact that everything just feels so chilled-out.
It’s the perfect place to unwind and experience slow travel; there are 17,000 islands after all, so do yourself a favour and skip Bali and see what the rest is all about!!
Thank you for reading my travel guide for how to extend your tourist visa in Indonesia!
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Happy Travels! xx
