The Indonesian Directorate General of Immigration has partnered with VFS Global to simplify the Visa on Arrival (VoA) process for international tourists. This collaboration aims to attract more visitors and improve the immigration experience for those entering Indonesia.
VFS Global, a leading outsourcing and technology services specialist for visa and passport issuance, will facilitate online VoA applications. This digitalization effort aims to make border crossing easier for foreign tourists and increase revenue from the tourism sector.
General Director of Immigration, Silmy Karim, stated that VFS Global’s services will enable tourists to apply for a VoA before arriving in Indonesia. By obtaining an e-visa, tourists can experience a smoother and faster process when passing through autogates at Indonesian airports.
“The hope is that this will further increase foreign tourist visits with VFS’s network in 153 countries and their cooperation with airlines,” said Silmy Karim after the MoU signing with VFS Global in Jakarta on Wednesday (16/10).
Foreign tourists from all countries are eligible to apply for a VoA, with the exception of citizens from the 13 countries granted visa-free entry by the Indonesian government. The VoA allows entry through various international arrival points, currently dominated by I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali and Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Banten.
Highlighting the positive trend in tourist arrivals, Karim shared that there is a significant increase in travellers to Indonesia.
In Bali alone, from January to September 2024, there has been a 30 per cent increase compared to last year. Compared to before COVID-19, it has increased by approximately over 25 per cent. In Cengkareng (Soekarno-Hatta), the increase is still single digit, at seven per cent, for foreign travellers, not Indonesian citizens.
Foreign tourists can also apply for a visa while purchasing their flight tickets, though this partnership is currently limited to Emirates. Silmy expressed his hope that national carriers like Garuda Indonesia and IndiGo will join this initiative.
“Garuda is assumingly in the process, followed by IndiGo. That would be very good because when buying tickets, they (foreign nationals) can get a visa,” he said.
The collaboration between VFS Global and the Directorate General of Immigration will be in effect for the next two years, with the possibility of extension. Silmy hopes this partnership will bring numerous benefits to Indonesia, including increased foreign exchange earnings and a surge in tourist visits.
Kaushik Ghosh, Head of Australasia at VFS Global, revealed that the online platform for prospective tourists to Indonesia will be ready by December 2024.
On this platform, tourists will be required to fill out forms, upload necessary documents online, and pay the visa processing fee of IDR 500,000 (or USD 35) per person, plus a service fee of IDR 230,000. “You can get a visa within 48 hours, 24 hours, or 72 hours, depending on immigration,” said Ghosh.
Additional benefits of applying for a VoA through VFS include the availability of services in six languages (English, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, and French), as well as 24/7 call center support, chatbot assistance, and email support. The platform also accommodates group visa applications, simplifying the process for travel agents managing group tours.
This partnership marks a significant step towards modernizing Indonesia’s immigration services and promoting tourism, making the country even more accessible and welcoming to international visitors.
