surfers79
Hi everyone,I have lived and worked in Bali before and was on a KITAS so im not so knowledgeable about the other types of Visas and how to make use/extend them. Its been a couple of years and I plan to head down to Bali, first few months (september to december) to get a feel for the island again, and look forward to planning for business start later in 2016.For the initial 3 months I would like to know how i can enter without leaving.60 Day Tourist visa - can this be extended for an extra 30 days in Bali (i heard it can be converted to a Sobud by some agents)Sobud visa - this is for 60 day initially correct? then if you want to extend you need a sponsor letter right?Option 3 is of course a visa run to Singapore after 2 months - depends on costs which is more affordable.anyone with some useful experience?cheersneil
DenpasarHouse
60 Day Tourist visa - can this be extended for an extra 30 days in Bali (i heard it can be converted to a Sobud by some agents)[/QUOTE]This option is possible because the visa number (i.e. 211) is the same for the Sosial Budaya visa and the 60 day Tourist visa, at least for Aussies. It's really just a loophole, it may or may not still work. I haven't heard that it's been closed though. I'd go with this option. You could do the visa extension yourself at the Immigration office, it's not so hard that you need an agent to do it.
Steve Rossell
G'day surfers79, I have recently arrived in Bali on a social cultural visa from Oz. I have 60 days and then need to do a renewal which entails a run to Denpasar for mugshots, fingerprints, paperwork and money. Once that is done I can repeat the money bits and paperwork for up to 6 months, all with a covering letter of I.D. from my sponsor. Then an out of country run to re-apply for another 6 month period which will entail another visit to Denpasar for mugshots and fingerprinting. Hope this helps.
davita
The Visas available to enter Indonesia have been questioned and answered many times in the archives of this forum.The Visa on Arrival (VOA) was changed 1 July 2015 to make it free for many more countries than before and those free countries can be searched. The obvious is that Australian passport holders are NOT included, but, the new free VOA is NOT extendable. Can anyone confirm if the previous Australian paid VOA still can be? I understand that ports, not authorised for free VOA, still use the previous system which permits extension for a further 30 days. It is true that the Tourist visa...issued by a foreign RI Embassy/Consul is NOT extendable but, because it has the same B211 number it's possibly assumed to be the same as a Sosbud...or Immigrasi just ignore. This is NOT accepted in Jakarta but apparently IS in Bali...I would not trust this as guaranteed .......nevertheless....good luck!Agents in Bali, for a price, can perform visa miracles. A friend of mine, not yet 55 which is a requirement, told me he recently acquired a retirement Kitas using an agent.
davita
For the initial 3 months I would like to know how i can enter without leaving.1. 60 Day Tourist visa - can this be extended for an extra 30 days in Bali (i heard it can be converted to a Sobud by some agents)2. Sobud visa - this is for 60 day initially correct? then if you want to extend you need a sponsor letter right?3. Option 3 is of course a visa run to Singapore after 2 months - depends on costs which is more affordable.anyone with some useful experience?cheersneil[/QUOTE]After posting my #4 Neil I realized I actually hadn't answered your specific questions...and it's too late to edit.1. The Tourist Visa can be applied for at the nearest RI Embassy/Consul to where you live. It does not need a sponsor but is not-extendable. However, as DPH has explained, because it has the same number as a Sosbud, in Bali, they often do extend it. Therefore, in your case, well worth a try to extend and, if not possible, a quick trip to S'pore/Kl and return with a VOA should suffice. I never heard of an agent able to change to Sosbud without leaving and returning.2. A Sosbud requires a sponsor from Indonesia when applying...usually also needs a recent copy of a bank statement to satisfy that the sponsor has the means to support you. If you don't have a suitable sponsor when applying from your home country, then an agent from Bali can do it (for a price). A Sosbud is extendable monthly in Indonesia for up to 6 months (roughly, as it is measured in days).Both of the above require a copy of an 'out' ticket when applying....and some airlines need it when checking-in. Any ticket suffices.3. That's correct, you can leave in the morning and return later that day with a bottle of duty free and acquire a 30 day VOA.
tamaraofarabia
Hi Davita,I do have a friend who will sponsor me and my family but she is from Jakarta , I have heard they have to be Balinese to be my sponsor if I am staying in Bali? Does that sound correct to you ?
davita
Hi Davita,I do have a friend who will sponsor me and my family but she is from Jakarta , I have heard they have to be Balinese to be my sponsor if I am staying in Bali? Does that sound correct to you ?[/QUOTE]Not necessary to be Balinese. Any Indonesian or Permanent Resident who has a KTP (Indonesian I.D. card) [B]issued[/B] in Bali.Your sponsor could be used, and you could travel to Bali, but any extensions to the sosbud would need to be done where the sponsor lives.Frankly I wouldn't recommend that...better get someone from Bali or pay an agent the required fee....there are many agents and they all have different rates.
tamaraofarabia
What a prompt revert Davita, thanks so much!I have just received a quote for a sosbud full service with 4 extensions . In your knowledgeable opinion on all things Bali , what is a reasonable price to pay PP?
davita
Oh! I don't know Tam...I'm on a retirement visa so never check. There are other members here who use agents for Sosbuds and leave their passport with the agent to get the extensions done...maybe they can help.
Steve Rossell
Hi tamaraofarabia, I organised a sosbud myself before I left Australia and it was a relatively straight forward process. I was close to the R.I. consulate in Melbourne, I was in constant contact with my sponsor in Bali and everything required in duplicate I provided in triplicate, even for some documents not required in duplicate. Bureaucrats love and respect lots of paperwork.That was initially about $AUS75. The first extension, after 60 days, an agent represented me and looked after the paperwork and on the appointed day I rode to Imigrasi in Denpasar for fingerprinting and mugshots. The agent that I used in Ubud had a partner in Denpasar that met me and took my paperwork to the counter and directed me where to sit and wait until they called my number. She was with me for all of 5 minutes. That cost came to Rp700.000.I've just had my stamped passport returned after its second visa extension (30 days) after again using an agent but this time I just handed my passport to the agent and it was returned to me, job done. That cost came in at Rp.600.000 and would presumably be the same for the next two extensions at which time I'll need to go offshore and start again, if I decide to keep on using the sosbud visa.Some thoughts so far.Using an agent is a cost I'd rather not be paying and I reckon I could do it myself now but the convenience of having someone else do it for me and deal with the bureaucrats and hiccups along the way are worth it to me at the moment.My passport is in the hands of someone else for a week or two at a time so you have to be able to have absolute trust in that agent.I'll probably stay on the same program for my first 6 month and when I have to do my first 'visa run' I'll decide whether to continue with the sosbud or take the free tourist visa option and do the fly in fly out in a day thing to Singapore for the next six months.Plenty of options.
Markit
Just a word of caution in this discourse: always check the stamped and annotated dates on all your visas. Just because you asked for and paid for a 30 or 60 day extension does not mean that is what you have received. You would not be the first to attempt to leave the country after a lovely 6 month social stay only to find they are clapped in irons and have overstayed their visa by 30 days or so due to some idiot in an office marking the wrong month on the visa. You can explain all you want but it will do you no good.
Normy
From what I have read the free voa for Australians has still not commenced.
tamaraofarabia
Hi tamaraofarabia, I organised a sosbud myself before I left Australia and it was a relatively straight forward process. I was close to the R.I. consulate in Melbourne, I was in constant contact with my sponsor in Bali and everything required in duplicate I provided in triplicate, even for some documents not required in duplicate. Bureaucrats love and respect lots of paperwork.That was initially about $AUS75. The first extension, after 60 days, an agent represented me and looked after the paperwork and on the appointed day I rode to Imigrasi in Denpasar for fingerprinting and mugshots. The agent that I used in Ubud had a partner in Denpasar that met me and took my paperwork to the counter and directed me where to sit and wait until they called my number. She was with me for all of 5 minutes. That cost came to Rp700.000.I've just had my stamped passport returned after its second visa extension (30 days) after again using an agent but this time I just handed my passport to the agent and it was returned to me, job done. That cost came in at Rp.600.000 and would presumably be the same for the next two extensions at which time I'll need to go offshore and start again, if I decide to keep on using the sosbud visa.Some thoughts so far.Using an agent is a cost I'd rather not be paying and I reckon I could do it myself now but the convenience of having someone else do it for me and deal with the bureaucrats and hiccups along the way are worth it to me at the moment.My passport is in the hands of someone else for a week or two at a time so you have to be able to have absolute trust in that agent.I'll probably stay on the same program for my first 6 month and when I have to do my first 'visa run' I'll decide whether to continue with the sosbud or take the free tourist visa option and do the fly in fly out in a day thing to Singapore for the next six months.Plenty of options.[/QUOTE]
tamaraofarabia
Thanks Steve,So an agent in Ubud supplied you with the Sponsor letter and ID required for the sosbud visa ,then sent you the photocopy documents and you went to RI consulate and Viola ?
tamaraofarabia
Well noted Markit . That is one part of Bali life I could well do without .
tamaraofarabia
Not sure Normy , probably not , but by the time we are ready to come back to Bali it might be .
Steve Rossell
Tidak 'Tam'. My sponsor recommended an agent and the sponsor supplied their details and accounts etc.I am learning bahasa Indonesia at a sekola and that qualifies for a sosbud. It was organised before I came to Bali and my status has since been supported and approved for an extension of my sosbud visa.
Markit
For all the documents and explanations you will need for various visas contact Bali IDE (agent) and talk to Yani or Citra 0361 726200. Say Hi from Mark.
Steve Rossell
Thanx for the contact market. Could Yani assist with a new sosbud that needs to be organised in Singapore?
Markit
Yep, she will org the invite letter and application. You will then have to set up the meeting with the SNG agent Malek or the other one - Yani will tell you what to do. They are then happy to stay in the loop with your extensions so it's not as altruistic as it initially seems. Don't forget 14th of Oct is an islamic holiday.Markit
