The Arrivals Process into Bali Airport: what you can expect! (UPDATED AS SEPTEMBER 1, 2025)

Arriving at Bali Airport (Denpasar) after a long flight can feel a little overwhelming if it’s your first time. Preparing a few things in advance will make the process smooth and stress free. We’ve gathered some tips and tricks to help you breeze through the airport so you can arrive relaxed and ready to switch into holiday mode.

In the past, Bali Airport was known for long lines at some of the arrival stages. This can still vary depending on the season, but the airport has improved a lot in recent years with more staff, better systems, and fewer entry requirements.

If you are pre-arranging your VOA and staying with us at Saudara Villas, please use the following address on your paperwork:

Saudara Villas

Gg. Kahyangan No.6, Seminyak, Bali 80361, Indonesia

Before you leave for your holiday, you need to make sure you have completed the below. We have highlighted in yellow what needs to be completed:

PREPARE IN ADVANCE:

VOA(Visa on Arrival) & CUSTOMS FORM

NEW CUSTOMS DECLARATION FORM(SEPT 2025)

Tourism Tax Levy

🛃 Customs and Arrival Forms

As of September 1, 2025, the old Electronic Customs Declaration Form has been replaced with one form that covers everyone in your travelling family. This New Customs Declaration Form (Sept 2025) is required for all arrivals. You will also need to complete the MPOX Declaration Form, which is part of the World Health Organisation travel requirements.

Once each form is completed, you will be asked to download a QR code. Please screenshot the code if you complete it on your phone, or take a photo if you have used a computer, and save it to your Favourites Album for easy access. While it is not always checked, the one time you do not have it could be the time they ask. If you do not have a phone, you will need to print the QR code.

⚠️ Important: There are unauthorised websites that try to charge you for completing these forms. Please never make an online payment for a Customs Declaration. Only use the links provided in this blog, as they are the official and free versions.

We recommend completing the New Customs Declaration Form (Sept 2025) before you leave Australia. One form can be completed for all family members travelling together. If you do not complete it before departure, you will need to line up at the airport to use the computers. Bali Airport has free WiFi, which helps if you have forgotten, but it can be unreliable, so it is much easier to do it in advance.

After you have submitted the form, you will receive a QR code. You will show this to the customs officials after collecting your luggage and before the final security inspection. They will simply scan it as you walk past.

🚗 Express and VIP Services You may come across companies offering “express” or “VIP” airport services for around USD 70 to 100. These services usually include a chauffeur to guide you through the process and sometimes a faster immigration line. In our experience, they are generally not worth the cost. You will still need to line up for your Visa on Arrival, and the longest part of the process is usually waiting for your bags, which no VIP service can speed up. The only time this service may be worthwhile is if many international flights arrive at the same time, which can create longer queues. However, bag collection times will always vary, and there is no guarantee which flight’s luggage will come out first. As a guide: + Early morning or late evening arrivals usually mean fewer international flights and faster processing. + Midday arrivals (11 am to 4 pm) often coincide with several incoming flights, which can mean longer lines and waiting times. For the latest details, you can check the International Arrivals Schedule

PREPARE IN ADVANCE OR AT THE AIRPORT:

Tourism Tax Levy

✈️ VOA and Tourism Levy

You can choose whether to complete the Tourism Tax Levy and the VOA (Visa on Arrival) in advance or upon arrival at the airport. Both can be done online or at the counters in Bali Airport.

In recent months, the online VOA application has become much simpler. You can now scan your passport using your phone or computer and pay in advance, which makes the process much easier. If you pre-complete your visa online, you will bypass the visa desk and head straight to the auto gates. At the gates you simply scan your passport and smile. Your online visa will automatically link to your passport details.

🛬 Once You Step Off the Plane

Here is the order you will follow once you land: + VOA (Visa on Arrival) counter + Tourism Levy counter + Immigration + Baggage collection + Customs + Driver waiting area

It may sound like a lot, but if you are prepared, it can be a smooth process. The main factor that can affect waiting times is the number of other international flights arriving at the same time.

A helpful tip is to use the bathroom on the plane before landing, so you can head straight into the lines. Once you are in the luggage arrivals section, this is the next best place for a bathroom break while you wait for bags to come out.

After leaving the plane, you may need to walk through the arrival halls to reach the main area, or your airline may direct you onto a bus that takes you to the terminal. This depends on where your plane parks.

Waiting times can vary greatly depending on the time of day. In some cases, you may get through in under an hour, while at busier times it can take more than two hours if several flights land together. You can check the international arrivals schedule on the airport website before you travel to get an idea of what to expect. In general, mornings tend to have fewer flights than the afternoons and evenings.

🛂 Visa on Arrival (VOA)

The first counter you will see is the VOA counter, where you purchase your visa to stay in Indonesia for 30 days. The 30 day tourist visa costs IDR 525,000 (around AUD 53). If you overstay, Indonesia enforces strict rules with a fine of IDR 1,000,000 (around AUD 100) per extra day.

The exchange rate changes daily, so if you are paying in another currency it is best to have AUD 55 in notes ready, just in case. Please note that only notes are accepted, not coins, and any change will be given in rupiah. You can pay in AUD, IDR, or by credit card. In our experience, AUD or credit card are the easiest options.

🌺 Tourism Tax (as of February 14, 2024)

The Bali Government has introduced a Tourism Levy of IDR 150,000 (around AUD 15) per person to support the sustainable growth of tourism on the island.

You can pay the levy at the airport on arrival, but we recommend completing it in advance through the Love Bali Website or the Love Bali App for a quicker and smoother experience. You will need your passport number, name, email address, and arrival date. Payments can be made by credit card, bank transfer, virtual account, or QRIS.

Once payment is complete, you will receive a QR code. Save this on your phone and show it at the checkpoint in arrivals at Ngurah Rai International Airport. The QR code is not always checked, but we recommend being prepared.

🛃 Immigration

After landing, the best strategy is to move quickly to the immigration area and join the queues.

If you have already completed your VOA online, you can use the automatic gates, which will save you a lot of time. Travellers with young children may be directed to a separate line, as the auto gates are not available for kids.

If you need to line up because you have children, or you purchased your visa on arrival, take a moment to check the counters in front of each line. Some queues may look shorter but only have one officer processing passports, while others have up to three officers working. Choosing a line with more staff will usually get you through faster.

At the counter, officials will ask for your passport and airline ticket. They may also ask how long you are staying in Bali. It is very important that you have booked a return flight, as this is required for entry into Indonesia. If you plan to stay longer than the 30 days covered by the VOA, you must have booked a return flight and then update it later. You cannot simply arrive with no return ticket. If officials see you do not have one, they may require you to book it on the spot.

At this stage, you will also have your fingerprints scanned and a photo taken for their records.

There is a separate queue for families with young children (under 5), the elderly (over 60), diplomats, and flight crew. This line is usually on the far right side of immigration, but sometimes it moves to the far left. Look out for the signage directing you to the correct spot.

🛄 Collecting Luggage

Bali Airport is well known for its slow baggage handling, so the best strategy is to clear immigration quickly and then take a bathroom break in the baggage and customs hall.

As you enter the baggage hall, check the destination boards for your carousel number. These often change, so wait near the boards until you are certain of the correct one.

Checked luggage usually comes out slowly. If it arrives in 20 minutes you are very lucky, while an hour is considered normal. Oversized items are not sent to the carousels — instead, they are placed in a separate area with other oversized luggage.

Be sure to check the screens regularly, as carousel numbers can change even after they are first displayed. It is easy to lose time waiting at the wrong one.

🛃 Customs

Before leaving the baggage area, make sure your QR code from the customs form is ready to show.

If your bag has a bright coloured cable tie attached, it means the baggage team has flagged it for inspection. This can be for extra alcohol, excess electronics, or simply an unusual shape. As you walk past the checkpoint, an officer looks specifically for these tags. If your bag is marked, you will be directed to the right-hand side where it will be scanned again and possibly opened for inspection.

If you are directed for checks, stay polite, smile, and follow the requests.

Important rules to note: + Only 1 litre of alcohol per person is permitted. This applies to duty free bottles and bottles purchased elsewhere. Always carry alcohol as hand luggage. It is best to purchase duty free before arriving in Indonesia, as there are sometimes shortages and concerns with counterfeit alcohol. + The duty-free allowance for goods is USD 500 per person, but this is generally not enforced for personal items like laptops or cameras. Expensive or unusual items, especially household appliances, may attract duty. + If you are asked to pay duty, it is usually genuine and often cheaper than buying the same item in Bali. To avoid confusion, keep receipts for high-value electronics in case you need to prove their value. + If you are bringing multiple electrical items, remove packaging so they appear as personal belongings.

🚘 The Arrivals Hall and Driver Waiting Area After exiting customs, you will step into a large atrium filled with drivers standing behind a barrier, each holding up signs and calling out names. There will also be local taxi drivers approaching you for fares. It can feel crowded and overwhelming, but do not worry; your driver will be waiting for you in this area. The best way to find them is to start at one end and carefully scan the signs one by one. Most signs will display the booking name, so make sure you are looking for the exact name used in your reservation.

Once you spot your driver, you can relax and know that your holiday is about to begin.

🌺 Welcome to Bali! 🌺