More good news for Singapore travellers heading to Bali and the rest of Indonesia, with the government there confirming in its latest protocol update that fully vaccinated travellers no longer need to undergo an on-arrival PCR test or any on-arrival isolation from 6th April 2022, the latest relaxation of the country’s quarantine-free scheme.
Additionally, tourists arriving with passports issued by the nine ASEAN countries outside Indonesia, including Singaporeans and Malaysians, no longer require a Visa on Arrival (VoA), and can instead enter via the special visa-free process as they did before COVID-19, saving these travellers around S$50 per trip.
This follows a recent scrapping of the Day 3 PCR test and minimum three-night CHSE hotel booking, which were part of the original scheme as Indonesia gradually unlocked its borders to foreign arrivals.
What’s changing?
With effect from 6th April 2022 (official document only in Bahasa Indonesia for now, but English translation available here), Indonesia is further streamlining its quarantine-free arrival requirements across the whole country.
Fully vaccinated travellers and their accompanying children will be able to enter Indonesia via any of the following ports and all follow the same procedure:
Airports
- Bali (Denpasar) Airport
- Batam Airport
- Bintan Airport
- Jakarta Airport
- Lombok Airport
- Makassar Airport (new)
- Manado Airport
- Medan Airport (new)
- Surabaya Airport
- Yogyakarta Airport (new)
Sea ports
- Benoa (Bali)
- Batam
- Bintan
- Dumai (new)
- Nunukan, North Borneo
- Tanjung Balai Karimun (new)
- Tanjung Pinang (Bintan)
Arrival PCR swab scrapped
Those arriving in Indonesia on international flights are currently required to undergo a PCR test on arrival, then proceed directly to their accommodation and self-isolate until a negative result is received.
For those arriving in Indonesia (including Bali) from 6th April 2022 there is no longer an on-arrival PCR swab test at the airport, provided you are fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to departure.
The removal of this test will save travellers around S$26.
Rather than the cost itself, mostly the issue was the inconvenience of having to wait for the test to be completed, then proceed directly to your accommodation and isolate there for a few hours, that is thankfully also being removed, since there is no more test result to await.
Once you clear immigration and pick up your bags at the airport, you are free to proceed with your trip, including travelling elsewhere in Indonesia if you wish.
This will also remove concerns some travellers may have about testing positive on arrival, which typically means being moved to an isolation hotel.
Unvaccinated travellers will still face a mandatory five day quarantine period.
All passengers will continue to require a pre-departure PCR test before leaving for Indonesia (find the cheapest here), taken no more than 48 hours before your flight departure time.
Hopefully in future Indonesia will also relax its pre-departure test requirement to a cheaper ART method, or do away with it altogether like Thailand has.
Arrival PCR for those with a temperature
Despite the on-arrival PCR generally no longer being required, there will be a new health screening protocol set up whereby those with a body temperature of 37.5 degrees celsius or greater must take a PCR test on arrival.
This will be paid for by tourists (S$26), or covered by the government if you are an Indonesian national.
In this case you must proceed directly to your accommodation and await the results of your on-arrival test. If the test is negative, you can then proceed with your trip, though it is recommended to carry out independent health monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms for a further 14 days.
Luckily we are hearing test results turnaround times from our readers of around 1.5 – 2.5 hours, so this isn’t too arduous if you’re unlucky enough to land with a high temperature.
What about children?
Those aged under 18 entering Indonesia will follow the arrival protocols applicable to their parents, regardless of their own vaccination status.
What about previously infected travellers?
If you have had a confirmed positive COVID-19 test taken a maximum of 30 days before departure to Indonesia, but have recovered from the virus, you are now exempt from the pre-departure PCR test requirement.
However, in this case you must then complete an on-arrival PCR test and carry a doctor’s certificate or COVID-19 recovery certificate from your country of departure, stating that you are no longer actively transmitting COVID-19.
It’s unclear what happens if the on-arrival PCR test result is positive, so for now we would advise these travellers to complete the pre-departure PCR test, and defer travel to Indonesia if it is positive, otherwise if negative continue with the trip under the normal process.
Hopefully there will be some more clarity on this soon.
Latest quarantine-free process for Indonesia
The new Indonesia arrival procedure from Singapore (or any other country) is as follows.
Singapore Indonesia
| Eligibility & Vaccination |
|
| COVID-19 Test(s) |
|
On return from Indonesia to Singapore under the Vaccinated Travel Framework (VTF) process, the procedure is as follows:
Indonesia Singapore
| Eligibility & Vaccination |
|
| COVID-19 Test(s) |
|
Testing costs
Assuming you don’t arrive in Indonesia with a temperature of 37.5 degrees celsius or higher, here are the estimated testing costs for a round-trip from Singapore, using Bali as an example, for those who are fully vaccinated.
VTL
|
| Test | Cost |
| SG pre-departure (PCR)* | From S$88 |
| Bali pre-departure (ART)* | ~S$8 |
| Total | From ~S$96 |
* Prices vary between providers and locations.
Additional costs for a Bali or Indonesia trip should now be around S$96 per traveller, for a total of two tests instead of the previous three.
While clinic ART testing in Bali is cheap at around S$8, those returning from Indonesia can now take a supervised video ART with a Singapore provider using their own test kit within two days of departure, with costs starting at S$12.
This is typically more flexible, allowing you to complete the requirement from the comfort of your hotel room or villa, and means you’ll only have to visit a clinic for a test once on a round-trip (in Singapore).
Even then, there are home visit options for PCR swabs available.
VoA scrapped for Singaporeans and others
Over the last couple of months, Bali and Indonesia have restarted their VoA process at a cost of IDR 500,000 (~S$47) for those holding 43 nationalities.
From 5th April 2022, those holding one of nine ASEAN passports, including Singaporeans, will no longer need a VoA, meaning a nice cash saving compared to the original immigration process.
Here are the approved ASEAN visa-free nationalities, for those arriving in Indonesia as tourists.
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Philippines
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Vietnam
Visa-free ASEAN tourist arrivals are limited to a 30 day stay in Indonesia, which cannot be extended.
If you hold one of the following nationalities (based on your passport used to enter Indonesia) you’ll have to continue to obtain a VoA at the airport. You cannot apply in advance and payment is by cash or credit card.
- Argentina
- Australia
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Canada
- China
- Denmark
- East Timor
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hungary
- India
- Italy
- Japan
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Seychelles
- Spain
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- UAE
- UK
- USA
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.
You can also opt for a VoA as an ASEAN national, if you wish to have the flexibility of an extended stay, however the IDR 500,000 fee will be payable.
Important: Your passport must have at least six months of validity remaining and contain at least one unused visa page for entry/departure endorsements by Indonesian immigration. This does not include any pages reserved for “Observations” or “Amendments and Endorsements”.If you are not Indonesian or holding ASEAN citizenship, and your passport is not on the VoA approval list above, you can still travel to Indonesia but you will need to obtain a B211A visit visa in advance.
Summary
Quarantine-free travel to Bali and many other parts of Indonesia continues to be simplified, with the country choosing to follow regional neighbours and relax its entry and quarantine requirements across additional entry points.
With no more on-arrival PCR test, fully vaccinated travellers will be free to roam Indonesia as soon as they leave the airport from 6th April 2022, provided they have a temperature of 37.5 degrees celsius or less!
Those with ASEAN passports will also save around S$50 per person, with no more VoA requirement if they are staying as tourists for up to 30 days.
It’s a far cry already from the initial “warm up” packages (resort quarantine) in early February, and the first quarantine-free process earlier this month, which also included a minimum three-night hotel booking and two in-country PCR tests!
Returning to Singapore has also become a lot more straightforward since 1st April 2022, with the new VTF process doing away with designated flights, travel history requirements and Singapore’s on-arrival test, meaning Singapore residents heading to places like Bali and back will now face only two COVID-19 tests at a total cost of around S$100.
Will these latest relaxations for travel to Indonesia be enough to convince you that it’s time for a long-overdue Bali trip? Let us know in the comments section below.
(Cover Photo: Amarterra Villa)
Any chance of Singapore scrapping it’s PDT for coming back to Singapore soon?
Yes should be this month, all being well.
Fantastic news and great article Andrew. On the step for verifying your certificate prior to travel using the link provided, I have been trying for a week and after registration do not get the email to verify my email address so am not able to log in, I have tried 3 different emails and checked junk mail. Any suggestions from your experience? Singapore to Bali question. Thanks
Oh that’s strange mine worked with no issue so I’m not sure what to suggest there.
On the plus side reader experiences from those in Bali now and recently suggests the fully vaccinated status on the app is rarely used anyway at bars / cafes / restaurants etc! Just bring along a soft or hard copy of whatever your vaccination country provided and don’t worry about the app verification too much – it’s not required for entry 👍🏼
Hi andrew how about uploading the vaccination cert to eHac. eHac seems to have been abandoned for international travellers. Do we just show the SG notarised vaccination cert at Changi and then again at Bali?
Anyone knows if we can take any flight for SG –> Bali? Including like Airasia flights
Yes any flight either direction 👍🏼
Thanks, Andrew!
Are we supposed to buy the travel insurance on the airport? Or where do we prepare it in advance?
Do I have to wait for my vaccination status to be verified with vaksinln.dto then I can book a flight or reach Bali?
No need. It is not mandatory
Do I have to wait for my vaccination status to be verified in https://vaksinln.dto before I can book a flight?
Do I need to book an DHSE hotel for rhe first 3 nichts or did they also quit this rule? Thank you very much
No that’s long gone. Stay wherever you like, including private villas or Airbnb. No min stay.
arrived in bali 6th evening and on-arrival visa fee scrapped but PCR test still going so I paid 275k idr cash for it.. i guess they didn’t get the memo! hopefully it is gone soon.
I believe the memo got through this morning! 👍🏼
Yes! My friend who arrived today 8th said no more pcr!
Hi Andrew, thank you for this. Can I check, I was covid positive first week of march. Do I still need to do the pcr when I leave Singapore towards bali?
If I do not need, where can I get the document too of me being covid positive?
Thank you
Andrew please do assist with this 🙁
Arrived on the 5th April. Still had to pay VoA and on arrival PCR test.
Some more additional tips in the airport and bali.
1) Please print out all documents, even those QR codes, staple it together and put in your passport. This saves alot of time for both you, the officers and other travellers. I have seen travellers hogging the lines struggling to find screenshots of their various documents when officers ask for it.
2) Don’t bother registering your vaccination cert online. Just print it and follow point 1. Then fill in the EHAC in the app once you receive your pre departure PCR results. There are many problems with app and the officers know it. They will still ask to see it, so download it, but tell them there are problems with it and they will just smile knowingly and not bother about it anymore.
3) They do not sell tourist sim cards outside anymore. Not at the airport or anywhere in Bali. You just have to make do without 4G.
4) There are so few tourists that the activities i joined, my party were the only customers, some places are still closed too, so please ask your reception or driver to call before going.
5) As they are so hungry for customers now, you can negotiate alot if you are travelling on a budget. I got a free airport pickup thrown in by booking directly with the hotel and asking for it. I am sure they would have thrown in a free spa if i asked too. Even the atv ride i negotiated half price for the full experience. But you should also negotiate for free photos. I had to pay 250K for the photos.
6) With point 5, please tip generously to your guide, driver, hotel staff… every little helps as they have been out of job for more than 1 year. If you can afford this trip and even negotiated a good price for your activities, don’t forget the low income staff as the tips will help alot. 20-50k if you are budget conscious, 50k-100k if you are middle to high SES.
Any information on whether recently recovered covid patients requiring PCR tests prior to departure? Was told that recently recovered individuals will continue to test positive on the PCR test for up to 60 days after infection
Following this. I had the same question.
Hi andrew, is it a must to take a direct flight from Singapore to Bali? or can we take a layover flight eg. Singapore to KL to Bali?
No you can take any eligible routing and arrive on an international flight. If you change in Jakarta you must ensure it is a “proper” connecting itinerary where you don’t leave the transit area, otherwise you’ll need to follow the arrival process there, which you may not be eligible for.
Hi Andrew, so I am guessing not necessary to book CHSE accommodation anymore? Also do we have to book a stay for the entire duration to enter Bali?
No accommodation bookings are necessary (though apparently SIA is still asking to see one at check-in 🙄).
If you don’t have an Indonesian passport you will need a ticket to depart Indonesia within 30 days, which you may be asked to show.
Hi Andrew! Thanks for the detailed updates. Just want to double check. So for Singaporeans we can now fly straight from Singapore to Jakarta as tourist, no visa required? As previously Jakarta not open for tourism yet.
Thanks for compiling these info! It’s super useful! Just wondering if you know whether Singaporeans are allowed to book airbnb accommodations in Bali now? Or are we restricted only to CHSE hotels?
Stay wherever you like. You don’t even need a booking
Hi Andrew, any updates on PCR upon arrival requirement if you bring a Singapore Recovery Memo from being COVID positive 30 days prior to departure? Worried that this might still turn out positive. Many thanks!
You are much better off doing a PCR before departure. If it’s still positive, don’t go!
Hi Everyone,
Checking if I will still need to book accommodation that is CHSE or i can book any villa I want (let’s say via Airbnb) – providing fully vaccinated and negative/no temp.
Thank you in advance!
Any property you want is ok 👍🏼
Thank you Andrew, I cannot wait for my trip!
Hi everyone,
do we still need to take pre-departure PCR or supervised ART should would suffice? (https://minmed.sg/supervised-art/) like this kind?
Appreciate and thanks in advance!
PCR
Any news when Indonesia will remove the requirement for a predeparture PCR test, like Australia did this week?
I imagine they will first loosen the requirement to also allow an antigen test as an alternative, before removing it completely.
No indication when that might be though.
Hi Andrew, I’m holding Singapore passport, I’ve trip to Jakarta on 28 Apr morning. I did submit my Vaccine cert (notarized by SG Gov) via https://vaksinln.dto.kemkes.go.id/ , but till now I did not receive any verification from kemkes.
Do you think I can still proceed with hard copy & digital copy cert?
I downloaded and registered at “PeduliLindungi” app. but my vacc status in the app is unvaccinated. 🙁
Yes you can. Just travel with your own copy to show 👍🏼
Thank you Andrew for your swift respond ! stay safe!
hi. i am a covid recovered since march 25. and today got my pcr test positive. i have a recovery memo from my Dr. am i eligible to fly to bali? thanks!
Wondering if any recently-recovered covid travellers still fly to Bali with positive PCR results? Or did you guys cancel the trip?
Thank you Andrew for your swift respond ! stay safe!