Three different things, three different systems
The single biggest source of confusion for Bali-bound travellers in 2026 is thinking they've "paid for entry" when they've only done one of three separate jobs. The visa, the tourist levy and the arrival card are run by different bodies, cost different amounts, and are handled in different places. Sort all three and you sail through; miss one and you're sorting it on the spot.
Here's the whole thing on one screen:
| Visa on Arrival / e-VOA | Bali Tourist Levy | All Indonesia Arrival Card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Permission to enter Indonesia | A provincial tourism charge for Bali | A customs/health declaration |
| Cost | ~$35 (IDR 500,000) | ~$10 (IDR 150,000) per person | Free |
| Run by | National immigration | Bali provincial government | National customs |
| Where | e-VOA online, or airport on arrival | lovebali.baliprov.go.id, or a facilitator | Online form |
| How often | Per entry (30 days, extendable once) | Once for your Bali stay | Each arrival, within 3 days of travel |
| Mandatory since | Long-standing | 14 Feb 2024 | 1 Oct 2025 |
Get those three lined up and you've covered what almost everyone needs. Now the detail on each.
The visa (or e-VOA)
This is your actual permission to enter the country, issued by Indonesia's national immigration. Most popular nationalities — Australians, Indians, Brits, Americans, most of Europe and much of Asia — qualify for a Visa on Arrival, which costs around $35 (IDR 500,000), is valid for 30 days, and can be extended once for another 30.
You can buy it as an e-VOA online a few days before you fly (recommended — you skip a queue), or pay at the airport when you land. A small number of countries are visa-free for short stays, so it's worth checking your specific passport rather than assuming.
This is the most expensive of the three and the one with the most rules, so it's the one to sort first.
The Bali Tourist Levy
This is the one people miss, because it isn't a visa and isn't run by immigration. It's a provincial charge from the Bali government — IDR 150,000 (about $10) per person — introduced in February 2024 to fund environmental and cultural upkeep across the island.
Key things that make it different from the visa:
- It's per person including children, with no age exemption.
- It's a one-time charge for your Bali stay, not a daily fee.
- It's collected separately from your visa, which is exactly why paying your e-VOA doesn't cover it.
- You get a QR code by email as proof, which tourism officers can ask to see at major attractions.
The official portal is lovebali.baliprov.go.id, the only .go.id government site. You can also have it handled in English with the QR emailed for your whole group, which is the easy route if you'd rather not do it five times for a family.
The All Indonesia Arrival Card
The newest piece, and free — but skip it and you can hold up your own arrival. Since 1 October 2025, every international arrival into Indonesia must complete the All Indonesia Arrival Card, an online customs and health declaration. You fill it in within three days of your flight and show or store the confirmation.
It replaced the old paper customs form. It's quick, it's free, and it's separate from both the visa and the levy — it doesn't cover either of them.
So what does a typical traveller actually pay?
For most visitors who need a Visa on Arrival, entering Bali in 2026 looks like this:
- Visa on Arrival / e-VOA: ~$35 per person
- Bali Tourist Levy: ~$10 per person
- Arrival Card: free
So roughly $45 per person in entry costs, plus the free declaration. A family of four is looking at around $180 — most of it the visa, with the levy the small add-on people forget. (If you're visa-free, you still owe the levy and the arrival card.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Bali tourist tax the same as the visa?
No. The visa or e-VOA (around $35) is national immigration permission to enter Indonesia. The Bali tourist levy (around $10) is a separate provincial charge collected by the Bali government. They're different systems, paid separately, and you can't combine them.
Do I need to pay both the visa and the tourist levy for Bali?
If your nationality requires a Visa on Arrival, yes — you pay the VOA/e-VOA and the tourist levy, and complete the free arrival card. Visa-free travellers skip the visa but still owe the levy and the arrival card.
What is the All Indonesia Arrival Card?
It's a free online customs and health declaration, mandatory for every international arrival into Indonesia since 1 October 2025. You complete it within three days of travel. It doesn't replace your visa or the tourist levy.
How much does it cost to enter Bali in 2026?
For most visitors needing a Visa on Arrival, about $45 per person: roughly $35 for the VOA/e-VOA and about $10 for the tourist levy, plus the free arrival card. Visa-free travellers pay just the ~$10 levy.
Which one do I pay at the airport and which one online?
All three can be done online before you fly, which is the smoothest option. The visa and the levy can also be paid at the airport on arrival, but expect queues. The arrival card is online only.
Does paying my e-VOA cover the Bali tourist levy?
No. They're run by different government bodies and billed separately. Paying your e-VOA does not pay the levy, which is the most common reason travellers arrive thinking they're covered when they're not.
In short
Three things, not one: the visa lets you into Indonesia, the levy is Bali's own tourism charge, and the arrival card is a free declaration. Line all three up before you fly and there's nothing left to sort when you land.