Update 6th April
Indonesia has now revealed its nationwide quarantine-free arrival scheme for fully vaccinated travellers, leading to an even simpler Bali trip process with less testing, no CHSE hotel booking requirement and no VoA for ASEAN nationals.
See our latest article for up-to-date details.
This article is now out of date.
Following a long two-year wait for most Singapore residents, it’s finally possible once again to make relatively simple quarantine-free trips to one of the most popular destinations in the region – Indonesia’s holiday island of Bali.
With 33 weekly non-stop flights from Changi, 14 of which return as designated VTL flights operated by four different airlines, there are both full-service and low-cost options available, plus a KrisFlyer redemption deal with 30% off the usual miles required for a saver award in April and May.
That could make the next couple of months the perfect time to rediscover Bali, as the island moves into the dry season and hotel rates are at all-time lows.
Here’s how it works.
In a nutshell
Before we get into the details, here’s a summary of the process in each direction for quarantine-free travel to Bali and back, for a Singapore resident.
Singapore Bali
| Eligibility & Vaccination |
|
| COVID-19 Test(s) |
|
Bali Singapore
| Eligibility & Vaccination |
|
* Short-term visitors only
| COVID-19 Test(s) |
|
Singapore to Bali
Bali relaxed its quarantine requirements for international visitors in early March 2022, replacing a three-night / four-day “resort quarantine” arrangement with a new policy allowing travellers to roam freely around the island once the negative results of their on-arrival PCR test have come through.
Unfortunately a minimum three-night hotel booking is still required, though practically all properties on the island are eligible, but aside from a self-isolation period awaiting the results of the on-arrival test there is no quarantine and you are free to explore Bali almost straight away.
Here’s how the eligibility restrictions and process look for travel from Singapore.
Singapore to Bali
Eligibility
In normal circumstances, if you’re travelling on a Singapore passport (or several others including those issued in Australia, the Netherlands and the UK) you do not need a visa to enter Indonesia for visits of up to 30 days. This service is currently suspended.
Since 7th March 2022, Singapore Citizens and those with passports issued in 22 other countries who are entering Indonesia via Bali for tourism purposes can instead apply for a Visa on Arrival (VoA) at a cost of IDR 500,000 (~S$47).
You can pay by cash or credit card after disembarkation at Bali Airport. You cannot apply in advance.
Update: From 22nd March 2022, citizens of 19 additional countries are now eligible for the VoA when arriving in Bali as tourists.
This VoA is valid for 30 days, and can be extended once (for a maximum of 30 further days) by making an application to an immigration office once you are in Bali. You must extend your visa within the initial 30 days, to avoid an overstay fine.
Here’s the full list of 23 42 nationalities (based on your passport) you’ll have to hold to enter Bali under the VoA programme (the latest 19 additions from 22nd March 2022 are highlighted).
- Argentina
- Australia
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- Canada
- China
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hungary
- India
- Italy
- Japan
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- Myanmar
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Philippines
- Poland
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Spain
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- UAE
- UK
- USA
- Vietnam
If you are not Indonesian and your passport is not on the list above, you can still travel to Bali but you will need to obtain a B211A visit visa in advance.
You will require a company or travel agency to sponsor your application, and there are several services available online, though it is expensive.
Those entering on the B211A visa are also eligible for the quarantine-free process, as well as VoA passengers.
Singapore to Bali
Vaccination
To travel to Bali quarantine-free you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Your primary vaccine course (i.e. the second dose in a two-dose vaccine, or the only dose of a single-dose vaccine) must have been administered at least 14 days before departure.
The certificate must be issued in both English and the local language of the country where you were vaccinated, if different.
Most of our readers fully vaccinated in Singapore will have no issues here. The Notarised vaccination certificate (i.e. with QR code) issued by the Ministry of Health will be accepted by Indonesia.
Bali does not require travellers to have a booster dose to travel to the country at this stage.
Children younger than 12 are exempt from the requirement to be fully vaccinated to enter Indonesia, when travelling with fully vaccinated parents.
Singapore to Bali
Vaccine Verification
You can verify your overseas (i.e. non-Indonesian) vaccination certificate in advance through the Non-Indonesia Vaccination Verification website, which can then be uploaded to the PeduliLindungi contact tracing app for the purposes of entry to public places while you’re in Bali (like you do with the TraceTogether app in Singapore).
Turnaround time for having your vaccination verified is approximately three working days, so you may want to get this process underway around a week before your trip if possible, since it should simplify your visit.
To do so you’ll need to upload your notarised vaccination certificate (or equivalent from the country you were vaccinated in) and your identity document.
Update: My Singapore vaccination certificate verification was approved and is now loaded in my PeduliLindungi app. Turnaround time was two days and the process is relatively simple. I now have ‘Green’ status to show while in Bali for check-in purposes, etc.
Singapore to Bali
Pre-Departure Testing
You must have a negative COVID-19 test before departing to Bali, which must be:
- a PCR test taken within 48 hours of departure
The timing applies prior to departure at the first embarkation point in a continuous journey to Indonesia.
For most of our readers that means taking a PCR test within 48 hours of the departure time of your non-stop flight from Singapore.
For example, if you are departing Singapore for Bali with KLM on KL835 at 4.50pm on Thursday, simply take a pre-departure PCR test from 4.50pm on Tuesday onwards.
Here’s our latest rundown of the cheapest locations to get a pre-departure PCR test suitable for travel in Singapore, starting at S$90.
Children are not exempt from the requirement to have a pre-departure test to enter Indonesia, nor are recently recovered travellers.
Singapore to Bali
Insurance
To travel quarantine-free to Bali, you must have a travel insurance policy covering COVID-19 treatment costs, with a minimum coverage of US$25,000, valid for the duration of your stay.
Technically, the stated requirement in the regulations in S$20,000+, however the IATA Timatic system, used by many airlines to determine travel eligibility at the check-in desk, still states a minimum US$25,000 level (~S$34,000).
We therefore strongly recommend having a policy that meets that higher requirement, which is why we are quoting this US$25,000 in the article for now.
Singapore Airlines states the lower S$20,000 requirement on its website, but other airlines relying on Timatic (e.g. Jetstar or KLM) may insist on the higher cover.
Our advice is to play it safe here, while the programme is in its infancy.
Singapore to Bali
Accommodation
You must also have a confirmed booking of accommodation at a single CHSE-approved hotel for a minimum of three consecutive nights from your arrival date, for all members of your travelling party.
This will be checked by the airline before you board your flight, and also on arrival in Bali itself.
You cannot split your three-night stay across more than one CHSE property.
Room rates in Bali are currently at all-time lows, and with almost all properties on the CHSE list there should be no shortage of great deals out there, somewhat offsetting the testing costs.
Unfortunately you cannot stay in a private villa / Airbnb or private residence for the first three nights, though you are free to move to such accommodation on Day 4.
Several CHSE hotels in Bali are offering “warm up vacation” packages, inclusive of three nights accommodation, both on-arrival and Day 3 PCR tests and in some cases COVID-19 travel insurance accepted by Indonesia.
However, you can also make your own arrangements separately if you wish, a “warm-up” package is not mandatory.
Update: I have arranged with my CHSE hotel to have the Day 3 PCR test conducted in my room at a cost of IDR 490,000 (around S$46). That’s about S$20 more than heading to a local testing centre, but worth it for the convenience.
Otherwise I’m booking the on-arrival test and insurance directly myself, the hotel is just providing the accommodation (five nights in my case) and transport from the airport.
Singapore to Bali
App & Health Declaration
All inbound passengers to Bali from overseas must download the PeduliLindungi app, register a profile including a local mobile number or email address, and complete the heath declaration (e-HAC) within the app prior to arrival.
This is also where you’ll receive notification of your on-arrival PCR test result.
Singapore to Bali
Flight options
You must enter Bali on a direct international flight to use the quarantine-free scheme for tourists.
From the start of the summer schedule on 27th March 2022 there are 33 weekly non-stop options loaded for flights from Singapore to Bali, as shown below:
From 27th March 2022
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
 |
TR280 787-9 |
||||||||
| SIN 07:10 |
DPS 09:50 |
||||||||
 |
SQ938 787-10 |
||||||||
| SIN 09:15 |
DPS 11:55 |
||||||||
 |
3K241 A320 |
||||||||
| SIN 10:45 |
DPS 13:40 |
||||||||
|
TR284 A320 |
||||||||
| SIN 11:15 |
DPS 13:50 |
||||||||
|
SQ944 787-10 |
||||||||
| SIN 16:10 |
DPS 18:50 |
||||||||
 |
KL835 777-300ER |
||||||||
| SIN 16:50 |
DPS 19:25 |
||||||||
Singapore to Bali
Arrival process (testing and isolation)
Once you land in Bali you will follow the arrival process:
- Complete the Health Declaration (or show your completed e-HAC on the PeduliLindungi app)
- Show your pre-departure PCR test and minimum three-night CHSE hotel reservation confirmation
- Complete the on-arrival PCR test (book in advance here)
- Pay for your Visa on Arrival (by cash in IDR or SGD, or by credit card)
- Complete immigration formalities
- Baggage reclaim and customs formalities (show customs your completed Electronic Customs Declaration)
- Take transport directly to your hotel. The driver is not allowed to make en-route stops.
Once you are at your hotel, you must self-isolate in your room until you receive a negative result via the PeduliLindungi app from the on-arrival PCR test conducted at the airport.
We only have a few data points regarding the wait so far, showing that the test result can come through as quickly as three hours after the swab in some cases, but another data point of six hours.
If you arrive on SQ944 at around 7pm, for example, you should probably count on getting your results the following morning, but if you’re on SQ938 landing at 12pm it’s reasonable to assume you’ll be free in time for dinner that night, based on what we know so far.
Following the negative result you can roam and explore Bali freely, you are not confined to your hotel.
The reason for the three-night minimum hotel booking is so that the authorities ‘know where you are’ for the mandatory Day 3 PCR test, which will be conducted at your hotel.
You are not required to isolate after the second test on Day 3, while awaiting the results (this isn’t Thailand!).
Once you get the all-clear from the second test you are free to check out of your hotel on Day 4, if you wish, and transfer to any other property on the island, or to private accommodation / Airbnb.
Travel elsewhere in Indonesia
If you wish to leave Bali and travel to other parts of Indonesia, like Jakarta or Lombok, this will be based on the negative result of your second PCR test on Day 3.
That means you’ll have to commit to a minimum of three nights in Bali before heading elsewhere in the country. You can then leave the island only from Day 4 onwards.
For example, you can arrive in Bali on Monday then leave for Jakarta on Thursday, if your Day 3 test result is negative.
What if your test is positive?
If either your on-arrival or Day 3 COVID-19 PCR test in Bali returns a positive result:
- With no symptoms or mild symptoms, you are required to undergo isolation in a designated isolation hotel.
- With moderate or serious symptoms, or if you have co-morbidities, you may be transferred to a hospital for isolation and monitoring.
- All isolation and treatment costs are borne by the traveller (except for Indonesian citizens).
Bali to Singapore
Prior to returning to Singapore from Bali on the VTL, you’ll need to ensure you meet all the following requirements.
Bali to Singapore
Eligibility
To return to Singapore from Bali on the VTL you must have stayed in Indonesia, Singapore, any Category 1 country, any VTL country or a travel history approved country (EEA + 3) for at least seven consecutive days.
Bali to Singapore
Vaccination
To travel to Singapore on the VTL you must be fully vaccinated with a WHO-approved vaccine. Proof of vaccine administration must have been issued:
- in Singapore, or
- in any VTL country (e.g. Indonesia), or
- in any EU member state (e.g. Portugal), or
- in any non-EU countries that have joined the EU DCC system (e.g. Panama)
You must also have an accepted digital proof of vaccination.
If you were fully vaccinated in Indonesia, you will have to provide an International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate issued via the PeduliLindungi app.
Bali to Singapore
Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP)
Unless you are a Singapore Citizen, Permanent Resident or eligible Long-Term Pass Holder, you will have to apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass between three and 60 days before travelling to Singapore on the VTL.
This will require you to upload your vaccination credentials (QR code), if you were not vaccinated in Singapore itself and you have not had your overseas vaccination ingested into Singapore’s national register.
Apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP)
Once approved (typically instant), your vaccinated travel pass will be valid for entry on the intended date or up to 13 days later (total 14-day window).
Pro Tip: Apply for a VTP with an intended date of entry a few days before you will actually fly to Singapore, to give you a buffer either side in case your plans change.Here’s our latest rundown on how the VTP application works.
Bali to Singapore
Testing
You will need to take a pre-departure COVID-19 PCR or Antigen (ART) test up to calendar 2 days before departure from Bali to Singapore.
For example, if your flight is scheduled to depart on a Wednesday (any time until 11.59pm local time), you must take the test any time on Monday (0.01am local time onwards), Tuesday or Wednesday.
Pre-departure tests in Bali including a certificate for travel cost around:
ART: ~S$8
PCR: ~S$25
There is obviously no need to have a PCR test before returning to Singapore on the VTL (rather than a cheaper, quicker ART), but if you choose to do so, or that is the only option the most convenient clinic provides, it should come in at a fraction of the cost you paid in Singapore before departing to Bali!
Bali to Singapore
Insurance & Other documents
Unless you are a Singapore Citizen, Permanent Resident or Long-Term Pass Holder, you must purchase COVID-19 travel insurance with a minimum coverage of S$30,000 before travelling on the VTL to Singapore.
Bali to Singapore
Pre-departure form & App
All VTL passengers flying to Singapore must complete the SG Arrival Card up to three days prior to departure.
Additionally, short-term visitors must install the TraceTogether contact tracing app on their personal device and register a profile.
Bali to Singapore
Post-arrival test
You will need to book and travel on a designated VTL flight to Singapore to use the quarantine-free arrival process and avoid seven days of mandatory home isolation (see below for the list of VTL flights from Bali).
After arrival, you must complete a self-swab ART test using your own approved test kit within 24 hours of clearing immigration, and report the result via a weblink provided to you.
While you can choose to do this almost straight away, or up to a day later, do bear in mind that you will be expected to self-isolate until you have taken the test and received a negative result.
Bali to Singapore
VTL flights
You can take any flight from Singapore to Bali as shown above and enjoy quarantine-free arrival. It’s the return portion of your trip back to Singapore itself where you must take a specifically-approved designated VTL flight to arrive under the quarantine-free process.
14 weekly designated VTL flights from Bali to Singapore have been confirmed by KLM, Jetstar, Singapore Airlines and Scoot.
Hopefully we will also see AirAsia and Garuda Indonesia adding flights in future.
Designated VTL flights
27th March 2022 - 31st March 2022
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ939 787-10 |
||||||||
| DPS 13:05 |
SIN 15:50 |
||||||||
|
3K242 A320 |
||||||||
| DPS 14:25 |
SIN 17:10 |
||||||||
|
TR285 A320 |
||||||||
| DPS 14:30 |
SIN 17:15 |
||||||||
|
KL836 777-300ER |
||||||||
| DPS 20:35 |
SIN 23:15 |
||||||||
Important
From 1st April 2022, there will be no more designated VTL flights to Singapore.All fully vaccinated travellers can enter quarantine-free on any flight operated by any airline on any route.
Do be aware that Scoot and Singapore Airlines are also operating non-VTL flights from Bali to Singapore, which will require you to complete a seven-day SHN period at home on your return, unless you are a vaccinated recently recovered traveller.
Cabin products
No surprise that when flying to or from Bali with Scoot or Jetstar it’s a fairly basic Economy Class seat offered on Airbus A320 services.
Scoot’s Boeing 787 flight does include a ScootPlus cabin option, but remember that one’s a non-VTL flight on the way back to Singapore (the A320 flight is VTL two days per week)
On Singapore Airlines you’ll find the two-class Boeing 787-10 aircraft flying to and from Bali, including on the designated VTL flights.
These have the latest Recaro Economy Class seats with integrated KrisWorld in-flight entertainment systems.
There’s no Premium Economy cabin on these 787s, but up in Business Class it’s the latest wide-body Regional Business Class seat, first launched in 2018.
Flights between Singapore and Bali only take around 2.5 hours, but if necessary you’ve got the option to convert the seat into a fully flat bed.
Don’t forget to manually lower the armrests too, for additional width! Here’s our full review of the product, plus a ‘middle seats’ focus.
Finally there’s a twice-weekly VTL option with KLM, on the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft which continues to Amsterdam from Singapore (but don’t worry – you can get off at Changi!).
Business Class seats are in a 2-2-2 configuration, which is quite sociable for couples. We tried it out on a Bali – Singapore flight in 2018 and it was more impressive than we expected, so check out our full review to find out what to expect with this one.
Award redemptions
Here are the regular one-way KrisFlyer redemption rates you’ll pay when flying on an SIA flight between Singapore and Bali.
| KrisFlyer Redemption Rates 🇮🇩 Indonesia to/from Singapore |
||
| Saver (one way) |
Advantage (one way) |
|
| Economy | 7,500 |
15,000 |
| Business | 19,000 |
35,000 |
Don’t forget though – Spontaneous Escapes is back and Bali is on the list in both Economy and Business Class.
Here’s how the award rates look if you can lock in a (non-refundable, non-changeable) Promo award before 31st March 2022, for travel in April or May 2022.
Business Class
| Singapore to Bali | |||
| Miles | Flights | Aircraft | Seats |
13,300 |
SQ944 | 787-10 | 2018 RJ |
| Bali to Singapore | |||
| Miles | Flights | Aircraft | Seats |
13,300 |
SQ939 SQ945 |
787-10 787-10 |
2018 RJ 2018 RJ |
Economy Class
| Singapore to Bali | ||
| Miles | Flights | Aircraft |
5,250 |
SQ938 SQ944 |
787-10 787-10 |
| Bali to Singapore | ||
| Miles | Flights | Aircraft |
5,250 |
SQ939 SQ945 |
787-10 787-10 |
Don’t forget though – SQ945 from Bali to Singapore is not a designated VTL flight, so stick to SQ939 for quarantine-free travel (or book a cheap Jetstar, KLM or Scoot VTL flight home if SIA isn’t being generous with award space on your preferred dates).
Testing costs
Here are the estimated testing costs for a round-trip from Singapore to Bali and back, for those taking a VTL trip.
VTL
|
| Test | Cost |
| SG pre-departure (PCR)* | From S$90 |
| Bali on-arrival (PCR) | ~S$26 |
| Bali Day 3 (PCR) | ~S$26 |
| Bali pre-departure (ART)* | ~S$8 |
| SG arrival (self-ART) | ~S$5 |
| Total | From ~S$155 |
* Prices vary between providers and locations.
Thanks to a recently relaxed VTL testing process in Singapore, additional costs for a Bali trip should be around S$160 per traveller for a total of five tests.
It should also be possible to use the Day 3 PCR test result as a pre-departure test for your return to Singapore, if you are departing Bali on Day 4 or Day 5.
That’s because the negative results certificate does contain the required details (i.e. in English, including your name, date of birth or passport number, and the date of the test), according to reader reports, saving you the hassle of the pre-departure ART test (not to mention S$8!).
Summary
Quarantine-free travel to Bali is certainly a lot more complicated than it was pre-COVID, with visitors from Singapore facing a Visa on Arrival fee, minimum three-night hotel booking and a short on-arrival self-isolation period prior to being allowed to explore the island.
On top of that, three PCR tests and two ART swabs will be necessary for a round-trip, but for those eager to revisit the island even these complications probably won’t be enough to put them off.
We’ve got our trip booked already, and hopefully there are some relaxations to come for the process in the weeks ahead. In particular we’d like to see the Day 3 test switched to an ART swab, or done away with completely!
Having four airlines to choose from on the VTL side for flights back to Singapore allows some nice low-cost options to save money, while the latest KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes promotion does the same on the redemption side, with attractive rates in Economy and Business Class.
Are you planning a quarantine-free trip to Bali? Let us know in the comments section below.
(Cover Photo: MainlyMiles)