What to Know Before Traveling to Bali: Visa & Entry Guide

Here is what you need to know before traveling to Bali: Turkish citizens can enter visa-free for tourist trips not exceeding 30 days, but they must complete an online notification no more than 3 days before arrival, show a return ticket, and pay the Bali tourist levy. This page brings together the rules, exceptions, step-by-step preparation, and a checklist in one place.

In short

• Visa-free stay is a maximum of 30 days; it cannot be extended in the country, and a suitable visa is required for a longer stay.
• Complete the QR notification no more than 3 days before arrival and keep the code.
• A return or onward ticket is mandatory; pay the tourist levy cashlessly.
• Airports may close due to volcanic activity; pay attention to insurance and buffer days.

Visa: visa-free entry for Turkish citizens

As of July 3, 2025, Turkish citizens can enter Indonesia visa-free for tourist trips not exceeding 30 days. The type of passport does not matter. Since Bali is a region of Indonesia, there is no separate Bali visa; the country's rule applies.

The permitted stay is 30 days. Visa-free stay is a maximum of 30 days; it cannot be extended in the country, and a suitable visa is required for a longer stay. This page is not a sufficient resource for purposes other than tourist travel; check the current status on the Indonesia visa page.

One point to note at the airport: if you are entering visa-free, do not go to the Visa on Arrival counters; go directly to passport control.

There is no verified figure on this page for details such as the remaining validity period of the passport. Check your airline's and the consulate's current rule; review your passport from this perspective as well before setting off.

Digital notification and return ticket

Being visa-free does not mean traveling without documents. As of October 1, 2025, all passengers traveling to Indonesia must complete a notification no more than 3 days, i.e. 72 hours, before arrival via allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id. The system will send you a QR code; you must present this code to border officials upon entry.

Practical tips:

• Complete the notification in the last few days before your flight; if you do it too early, you may not fit within the 3-day window.
• Save the QR code as a screenshot on your phone, and if possible, also print it on paper.
• On connecting flights, calculate the 3-day window based on your arrival date in Indonesia.

The second mandatory document is the return ticket. For visa-free entry, you must present a ticket showing your departure from Indonesia, whether to Turkey or a third country. If you have a round-trip ticket, there is no problem; do not buy a one-way ticket and leave your journey open-ended. Keep your ticket with you both as a printout and digitally; also check your airline's ticket conditions in advance.

Bali tourist levy

All foreign tourists visiting Bali pay a tourist levy of 150,000 Indonesian Rupiah per person. This amount is not a visa fee; it is requested separately.

The levy is paid once during your stay in Bali. Payment must be made cashlessly. There are two options:

• In advance: via the Love Bali system, before entering Bali.
• On arrival: at the payment counters at airports and ports in Bali.

The first option reduces the likelihood of waiting in line upon arrival. If you pay in advance, keep proof of payment stored on your phone, similar to the QR notification.

If you are traveling with family or a group, the levy is calculated per person; verify everyone's payment separately. There is no verified information on this page regarding children or exemptions; check the current conditions on the official Love Bali page. The Turkish lira equivalent of the levy amount varies with the exchange rate; check the equivalent at your bank on the day of payment.

Since cashless payment is mandatory, make sure your card is enabled for transactions abroad.

Length of stay and the penalty for overstaying

Visa-free stay is a maximum of 30 days; the entitled period cannot be extended in the country, and a suitable visa is required for a longer stay. In other words, it is not possible to increase the number of days while on the island. If you are planning a trip longer than 30 days, you must arrive with an appropriate visa from the start.

The cost of overstaying is high: if you do not leave the country by day 30, an administrative fine of 1 million Indonesian Rupiah (approximately 60 US Dollars) per day is applied.

Common mistakes:

• Not accounting for the day of entry; leaving the departure flight to the last day of the period.
• Overlooking the fact that a flight departing late at night may spill over into the next day.
• Not checking the duration in case of a flight cancellation or delay.

The way to make the plan safe is to schedule the return flight to a date well below 30 days. Our editorial recommendation: if you plan to see both Ubud and the coastal areas on the same trip, allow at least a week; for first-time visitors, one to two weeks is often sufficient.

If your flight is postponed, contact your airline immediately and check whether your new departure date exceeds the permitted length of stay.

Transportation, driving license, and natural disaster risk on the island

Renting a scooter on the island is common, but know the rule: citizens arriving for tourist purposes can directly use their driving license obtained in Turkey for the first 30 days without any additional document. However, be sure to check before renting whether your license class is suitable for the vehicle you intend to rent (for example, a scooter/motorcycle); there is no class-based verified information on this page. Also, ask in writing about accident and insurance conditions when renting a vehicle. For general preparation regarding driving licenses, you can check the steps for applying for an international driving license.

Also factor natural disasters into your planning. Disasters such as earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions can occur frequently in Indonesia. Due to volcanic eruptions, major airports can occasionally be closed to air traffic. This means your flight could be canceled or delayed.

Precautions you can take:

• Read your policy to see whether your travel health and cancellation insurance covers flight disruptions.
• Leave a buffer day before your return flight and subsequent connections.
• Follow the airline's notifications; add your phone number to your reservation.

It is also useful to know in advance what to do if your luggage is damaged; our article on compensation steps for luggage damage has them all together.

Choosing between independent travel and a tour

It is possible to make independent plans in Bali; however, transfers within the island, temple and rice terrace visits, and accommodation arrangements take time for first-time visitors. Ready-made tours package this process. Tours that include Ubud on the route are suitable for those who want to combine the island's cultural interior with a coastal holiday.

Some of the options on sale:

• Wonderland Bali - Ubud Tour Route: 8 days, first departure October 24, 2026.
• Full Wonderland Bali - Ubud Tour Route: 8 days, first departure October 24, 2026.
• Dream Island Bali - Ubud Tour, 6 Nights with Qatar Airways Semester Special: first departure January 23, 2027.
• Wonderland Bali - Ubud Tour Route: 8 days, first departure January 24, 2027.

To see all options, check the Indonesia tours page. Even if you join a tour, learn from the contract which of the QR notification, return ticket, and tourist levy procedures is handled by you and which by the organizer. If unsure, ask in writing.

Step-by-step preparation and checklist

The recommended order is as follows:

1. Determine your travel dates; make sure your stay does not exceed 30 days.
2. Purchase your round-trip flight ticket or book your tour.
3. Check your passport; verify the validity requirement with your airline.
4. Get travel insurance; check whether it covers flight disruption due to natural disasters.
5. Complete the notification via allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id no more than 3 days before arrival, and save the QR code.
6. Pay the tourist levy in advance via Love Bali or cashlessly at the airport.
7. At the airport, go directly to passport control without stopping at the Visa on Arrival counters.

Checklist before departure:

• Passport and return ticket (printed and digital)
• QR code screenshot
• Proof of tourist levy payment
• Bank card enabled for use abroad
• Insurance policy
• Driving license obtained in Turkey (if you will drive)
• Accommodation and transfer information

For general document, ticket, and luggage preparation, also take a look at the checklist for travel abroad.

Frequently asked questions

Can Turkish citizens travel to Bali without a visa?

Yes. As of July 3, 2025, Turkish citizens can enter Indonesia visa-free for tourist trips not exceeding 30 days. The type of passport does not matter. Check the current status on the visa page.

How many days can you stay in Bali without a visa?

Visa-free stay is a maximum of 30 days. This period cannot be extended in the country. A suitable visa is required for a stay longer than 30 days.

What online notification must be made before entering Bali?

You must complete a notification no more than 3 days (72 hours) before arrival via allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id. The system sends a QR code. You must present this code to border officials upon entry.

What is the Bali tourist levy and how is it paid?

All foreign tourists visiting Bali pay a tourist levy of 150,000 Indonesian Rupiah per person. It is paid once during the stay and cashlessly. You can pay in advance through the Love Bali system or at the counters at airports and ports in Bali.

Can you enter Bali without a return ticket?

No. For visa-free entry, it is mandatory to present a ticket showing departure from Indonesia, whether to Turkey or a third country. Keep the ticket with you both printed and digitally.

What happens if I stay longer than 30 days?

If you do not leave the country by day 30, an administrative fine of 1 million Indonesian Rupiah (approximately 60 US Dollars) per day is applied. For this reason, plan your return flight well below the 30-day mark.

Can you drive with a Turkish driving license in Bali?

Those arriving for tourist purposes can use their driving license obtained in Turkey for the first 30 days without any additional document. Check in advance whether your license class is suitable for the vehicle you will rent (for example, a scooter). When renting a vehicle, ask about insurance and accident conditions in writing.

Sources

• T.C. Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Embassy In Jakarta - Announcements — cakarta-be.mfa.gov.tr
• Attention to Turkish Citizens Traveling to Indonesia / T.C. Ministry of Foreign Affairs — mfa.gov.tr
• Visa Applications Applicable to Turkish Citizens / T.C. Ministry of Foreign Affairs — mfa.gov.tr
• FAQ (frequently asked questions) - Love Bali — lovebali.baliprov.go.id