Bali's New Entry Rules in 2026: What Retreat Leaders & Guests Need to Know

If you're planning to host a retreat in Bali in 2026 — or you're helping a group of guests prepare for arrival — there are some important changes to the entry process that weren't in place even a year ago.

The good news: Bali has actually made entry more streamlined and digital. The new systems are faster once you know how they work. The catch: there are now more steps to complete before you board your flight, and if your guests arrive unprepared, they'll face queues, delays, and in some cases on-the-spot payments at the airport.

Here's exactly what has changed, what's now required, and what to share with your participants before they fly.

What's Actually New in 2026

Three key changes have come into effect that affect every international visitor arriving in Bali:

1. The All Indonesia e-Arrival Card — a mandatory digital form replacing all previous paper cards

2. The Bali Tourist Levy — a mandatory fee per visitor, now actively enforced

3. The e-VOA (Electronic Visa on Arrival) — now recommended over the traditional airport queue

Each of these is separate from the others. Completing one does not cover the others. Here's what each one involves.

1. The All Indonesia e-Arrival Card

What it is: A free, mandatory digital form that replaces the old paper immigration, customs, and health declaration forms your guests used to fill out on the plane.

Launched: September 2025 at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), rolled out nationwide by October 2025.

Who needs it: All international visitors, including children and infants — every passenger needs their own individual QR code.

When to complete it: Within 72 hours before arrival. The system won't accept submissions earlier than that window.

How to complete it: Via the official All Indonesia portal at allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id or the All Indonesia mobile app. It's free — if any website charges you to complete it, it's not the official one.

What happens without it: Guests can complete the form at the airport using airport Wi-Fi, but this causes delays, especially during peak arrival hours. Completing it before departure is strongly recommended.

Key things to know:

• It's completely free — no cost to complete

• Every person, including infants, needs their own individual form and QR code

• It does not replace the Bali Tourist Levy — both are required

2. The Bali Tourist Levy

What it is: A mandatory fee charged to every international visitor entering Bali. Set under Bali Provincial Regulation No. 6 of 2023, the funds go towards cultural preservation, environmental protection, and tourism infrastructure.

Amount: IDR 150,000 per person (approximately USD 10 / AUD 15) — paid once per trip, not per day.

Who pays it: All international visitors. Indonesian citizens are exempt. Some foreign visa categories are also exempt (KITAS/KITAP holders, diplomatic visa holders, student visa holders, Golden Visa holders) but most must apply for the exemption in advance through the official portal.

How to pay: Via the official Love Bali portal at lovebali.baliprov.go.id — pay before you fly, receive a QR code, present it on arrival. Payment can also be made at the BRI Bank counter in the International Arrival Hall at DPS airport if online payment fails.

Enforcement in 2026: This is the key change. For the first two years the levy ran largely on an honour system, with only around a third of visitors actually paying. In 2026, enforcement has tightened significantly. Dedicated levy checkpoints now operate at the airport, and Bali's local enforcement officers (Satpol PP) run spot checks at major attractions including Tanah Lot, Uluwatu, Besakih, and Tegallalang. Guests without a QR code will be directed to pay on the spot before proceeding.

Warning about scam sites: Fake Tourist Levy websites are common and charge significantly more than the real fee. The only legitimate official site is lovebali.baliprov.go.id — it ends in .go.id, which indicates an official Indonesian government domain. If the website ends in .com, .net, or anything else, it is not official.

3. The e-VOA (Electronic Visa on Arrival)

What it is: An electronic version of the standard Visa on Arrival, applied for online before departure rather than in the airport queue.

Cost: IDR 500,000 (approximately USD 35) — the same as the standard Visa on Arrival, applied in advance.

Who it applies to: Citizens of around 97 countries, including Australia, the UK, the US, and most of Europe, can enter on a Visa on Arrival or apply for the e-VOA online. Check evisa.imigrasi.go.id for the full list.

Duration: 30 days, extendable once for an additional 30 days (maximum 60 days total).

Why apply in advance: Applying for the e-VOA before departure allows guests to use the faster automated e-gates at Ngurah Rai Airport, skip the VOA queue, and start a visa extension more easily if needed. It's not mandatory — guests can still queue for a Visa on Arrival on arrival — but it makes the airport experience significantly smoother for large groups.

What This Means for Your Retreat Group

If you're bringing a group of 10, 15, or 20 guests to Bali, managing these three requirements across your whole group before departure is genuinely worth building into your pre-retreat communication.

A few practical steps:

1. Send a pre-departure checklist to your guests covering all three requirements (e-Arrival Card, Tourist Levy, e-VOA or visa), with links to the official portals only. The confusion caused by scam sites and unofficial advice is avoidable.

2. Set a deadline — ideally 72 hours before departure for the e-Arrival Card (that's the official window), and as early as possible for the Tourist Levy and e-VOA.

3. Remind guests to screenshot or download their QR codes rather than relying on airport Wi-Fi to access them on arrival.

4. Check your passport validity — Indonesian immigration requires a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the arrival date, with at least 2 blank visa pages. This catches people out more often than it should.

What We Handle for You

When you host your retreat through Soul Bliss Journeys, we provide clear pre-arrival information for your guests as part of our planning support — so you're not left managing a flurry of confused messages in the week before departure.

We'll make sure your group knows exactly what to prepare, what's changed, and what to do if they hit a snag at the airport.

For everything else involved in planning a retreat in Bali, visit our complete hosting guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all three requirements apply to every visitor? Yes — the e-Arrival Card, Tourist Levy, and visa (or Visa on Arrival) are three separate requirements. Completing one does not cover the others.

Can guests complete the e-Arrival Card at the airport? Yes, using airport Wi-Fi — but it causes delays, particularly during busy arrival periods. Completing it within 72 hours before departure is strongly recommended.

Is the Tourist Levy the same as the visa fee? No. They are completely separate payments, paid to different bodies. The Visa on Arrival fee (IDR 500,000) goes to Indonesian national immigration. The Tourist Levy (IDR 150,000) goes to the Bali provincial government. Both are required for most visitors.

What if a guest arrives without paying the Tourist Levy? They will be directed to pay on the spot at the airport or, if checked at an attraction, pay via a mobile payment at that location. As of mid-2026, no fines are applied for non-payment — but paying in advance avoids the queue and the inconvenience.

Where is the only safe place to pay the Tourist Levy online? The official portal is lovebali.baliprov.go.id — always check that the URL ends in .go.id. Any other site is unofficial.

Have questions about getting your guests ready for Bali? Book a free discovery call, and we'll walk you through everything.