Buy Indonesia Visa Online: Your step-by-step guide for a smooth process

Alright, so I’ve been planning this trip to Indonesia for a while now, and let me tell you, getting the visa sorted was a bit of a rollercoaster. I decided to go the online route, which seemed convenient at first, but, oh boy, did it have its moments.

First thing I did was hit up Google. I mean, who doesn’t, right? I typed in something like “Indonesia visa online application” and a bunch of websites popped up. Some looked a bit sketchy, so I made sure to stick to the ones that seemed more official or had decent reviews. That’s when I discovered that I could do the whole thing through their ImmiAccount thing. Supposedly easier, they say.

Once I picked a site, I started filling out the forms. It was your usual stuff – name, passport details, travel dates, and whatnot. But here’s where it got interesting. They asked for a “SatuSehat Health Pass”. I was like, “What the heck is that?” Turns out, it’s some health declaration thing you need because of, you know, the whole pandemic situation. So, I had to go on another quest to get this SSHP thing sorted, which, thankfully, wasn’t too much of a hassle, but still, an extra step.

• Find the Right Website: This was crucial. There are so many sites out there, and not all are legit.
• Fill Out the Forms: Pretty standard, but make sure all your info matches your passport.
• Get the Health Pass: This was new to me, but it’s a must.
• Pay the Fee: Of course, there’s a fee. I paid with my credit card, seemed the easiest.
• Wait for Approval: This was the most nerve-wracking part.

After submitting everything, it was a waiting game. They said it could take up to five working days, but I’ve heard stories of it taking longer. So, I was constantly checking my email, even the spam folder, just in case. I even tried calling their support line a couple of times, just to make sure everything was on track. It’s all in Indonesian, though, so that was fun navigating through the automated messages. I also tried their online support, but they were talking about “Tourist, Geschft, Reisen” or something. The agents were pretty friendly and seemed to know their stuff when I finally spoke to them, though.

Finally, after about four days, I got the email. My visa was approved! I did a little happy dance, I won’t lie. They sent the visa as a PDF attachment, which I promptly downloaded and printed. Good thing, too, because my friend told me that having a printed copy can sometimes be helpful when you’re going through immigration.

So, yeah, that’s my saga of getting an Indonesian visa online. It wasn’t the smoothest process, but I got it done. If you’re planning to do the same, just be prepared for a few bumps along the way, and make sure you have all your documents in order, especially that health pass thing. And if you’re staying for more than 30 days, apparently this e-VOA thing makes extending it easier, so that’s a plus. Now, I just need to pack my bags and get ready for some awesome Indonesian adventures!