**LATEST UPDATE** As of February 1, 2022 the international airport in Denpasar is officially open! Garuda, Lion Air, and Singapore Airlines are now flying direct into Bali and you can complete your quarantine, now 5 days, in one of the appointed hotels here as opposed to Jakarta. Tourists must still acquire the B211 visa through a trusted visa agent.
Since March of 2020 Bali has been closed to international tourists. Like many places, Bali took a huge hit economically due to the lack of tourists, but things are finally looking up for both locals and those of you wanting to visit this magical island. If you’ve ever wanted to visit Bali, or better yet, relocate, this is exactly what you need to do to get on that next flight to the Island of the Gods.
Who can get into Bali?
Regulations have changed so much and so often over the past two years. At times, no one was allowed in, and I was terrified if I left, I couldn’t come back. Occasionally, borders would open back up - but not for everyone. What many people didn’t know was that there was a loophole to the international travel ban: the B211 visa. Although Bali HAS now actually reopened to tourists from certain countries, if you’re not on that list, this loophole is your way in.
So who is on that list?
Travelers from China, France, Hungary, Italy, Bahrain, India, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and South Korea can now enter as tourists. This is not just limited to passport holders; this includes anyone who has spent the last 14 days in any of these countries! The international airport has also recently opened for flights into Denpasar (after about a year and a half of strictly domestic flights!). There are still vaccine and quarantine requirements, which I will get into down below.
What is the B211 visa?
The B211 visa is essentially a business visa. But don’t let that deter you – you don’t need to have a business in Bali in order to qualify. You will need to apply through a reputable visa agency though. Do this and the process is actually very simple and fast (around 7-10 business days!). Again, this is NOT a tourist visa, so it is a little more costly. It may not be feasible to go through this process and pay the fees for a one-week vacation in Bali. However, if you are planning to spend even a month in Bali, I think it is well worth it (this visa is good for up to 6 months, but you will need to extend after the first 60 days). Please note that this visa does not allow you to work in Bali, but your visa agent can answer questions about other visas that do. There are a lot of visa agency scams out there, and some charging up to or over $300 for this visa, so here's a visa agency that I personally know and trust. Give them the code JANETTE250 to get it for a discounted 250 usd. You can also contact them by WhatsApp if you prefer: +1 (516) 851-5957.
Other Requirements
Regardless of which visa you enter on, there are a few additional requirements you'll need to meet. First, you must be fully vaccinated in order to get into Indonesia (there may be exemptions you can discuss with your visa agent). Then you must quarantine at your first port of entry, whether it be Jakarta or Bali. But you’re in luck because quarantine has now been reduced from 7 nights to only 2 nights! You must also have an insurance plan that specifically covers Covid, like this one from WorldNomads.
Let's Go!
If you’re ready to get that visa and book a flight, be sure to read my post on all things moving-to-Bali, like how to find accommodation, which area to stay in, and how to get around.