Indonesia: Current Travel and Safety Information for Visa Applicants

Current travel and safety advisories for Indonesia highlight several points that are relevant to travel planning. Although a forest fire in Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park in East Java Province has since been extinguished, new hotspots have been discovered near the caldera. The national park will therefore remain closed until further notice. Travelers who had planned to include this park in their itinerary should consider alternative destinations and check the current status before departure.

Generally speaking, forest fires occur regularly during the dry season in Indonesia—particularly on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan (Borneo)—and can significantly impair air quality. Those traveling during this time should keep an eye on local weather forecasts and warnings and strictly follow the instructions of the fire department, emergency services, and local authorities on site. People who are particularly sensitive—such as those with respiratory conditions—should check the air quality indices for affected regions in advance.

Regarding the security situation, travel that is not absolutely necessary is expressly discouraged in five of the six provinces in the Indonesian part of New Guinea: Papua, Papua Barat, Papua Pegunungan, Papua Tengah, and Papua Selatan. These regions regularly experience clashes—some of them violent—between separatist groups and security forces, and kidnappings have also occurred. Special police regulations and restrictions apply to these areas, which must be observed before traveling.

There are also risks outside of Papua that travelers should be aware of. Incidents of piracy occur in the waters of the Celebes Sea, the Strait of Malacca, and the South China Sea around the Natuna Islands. There is an increased risk of kidnapping in the border regions of East Kalimantan with Malaysia and the Philippines, as well as in North Sulawesi. In addition, there is an increased risk of terrorist attacks nationwide, with international hotels, shopping centers, airports, and Western institutions in major cities such as Jakarta, Bandung, Medan, Makassar, Surabaya, and Bali considered particularly at risk.

For most tourist destinations in Indonesia—such as Bali, Java, Lombok, or the numerous other islands outside the aforementioned high-risk areas—there are no changes to the general entry requirements. However, anyone planning a vacation or business trip should still familiarize themselves with the current situation in their destination region and exercise particular caution when traveling to sensitive areas, avoid large crowds, and opt for organized tours rather than independent excursions. Particular caution is advised during Ramadan, on holidays such as Nyepi or Chinese New Year, and in the context of political events.

Most travelers still need a valid visa to enter Indonesia, depending on the purpose and duration of their stay. We’ll handle the application process for the appropriate document on your behalf, such as an e-visa for tourist stays or an e-VOA for tourists, which is activated upon arrival. Those entering the country for business purposes will find the business visa for Indonesia to be the right option for their travel plans.

Given the sometimes dynamic security situation in certain parts of the country, we recommend that travelers take care of the formalities well in advance and plan their itinerary with flexibility. Careful preparation of entry documents and a realistic assessment of your planned itinerary, taking current advisories into account, contribute significantly to a smooth and safe stay.