JAKARTA – Foreign nationals planning to visit Indonesia for tourism or family purposes often face confusion when choosing between a Visa on Arrival (VoA) and a Tourist Visit Visa (VKW). According to the Minister of Law and Human Rights Decree No. M.HH-02.GR.01.04 of 2023 on Visa Classification, both VoA and VKW are intended for activities such as tourism, family visits, or transit. However, there are several distinctions between these two types of visas.

"VoA and VKW may appear similar in terms of their intended activities, but they differ significantly in other aspects," explained Felucia Sengky, Director of Immigration Traffic.

Sengky highlighted seven fundamental differences between VoA and VKW:

1. Visa Index

   - VoA uses the B1 index, while VKW uses the C1 index.

2. Eligible Countries

   - Not all countries are eligible for VoA. Only 97 countries can obtain VoA, whereas VKW can be applied for by nationals of any country.

3. Length of Stay

   - VoA allows an initial stay of 30 days in Indonesia, whereas VKW permits a stay of up to 60 days.

4. Cost

   - VoA is available for Rp. 500,000, while VKW costs three times more at Rp. 1,500,000, offering twice the duration of stay compared to VoA.

5. Application Process

   - VoA can be obtained directly at Immigration Checkpoints at airports or seaports upon arrival, or applied for online via evisa.imigrasi.go.id. For VKW, applicants must first create an account on evisa.imigrasi.go.id.

6. Approval

   - VoA is granted immediately upon application, either in person or online, without the need for an account or sponsor. In contrast, VKW applicants must have an account and/or sponsor, and wait up to five working days for visa verification. If approved, the electronic visa will be sent to the registered email of both the sponsor and the applicant.

7. Extension

   - VoA can be extended once for an additional 30 days, either online via evisa.imigrasi.go.id (for e-VoA) or by visiting any immigration office in Indonesia. VKW, on the other hand, can be extended up to a total stay of 180 days, with extensions available online through evisa.imigrasi.go.id or at any immigration office in Indonesia.

"Choose the visa that best suits your needs. If you have further questions about immigration information, you can use the live chat feature on the Directorate General of Immigration's website at imigrasi.komodo-airport.com, available Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 15:00 WIB," Sengky advised.