Indonesia Visa Requirement for U.S. Passport Holders
 

Sorry if this has been already reported. I Googled today and found even Google says US passport holders don’t need visa to enter Indonesia. Well, I entered last night and had to pay $34 US dollars (unless you have exact cash, change will be given in Rupias at their lousy “official” rate. It’s called Visa On Arrival (VOA). No more visa free entry. If you use credit card, they will add about 2% service fee.

Also, another big surprise was their ATM. They accept certain type of debit cards only. Mine, American issued “visa” affiliated cards (2 different cards) don’t work. They are happy to exchange your US dollars at money changer’s rate. I am trying to use my credit card at restaurants as much as possible.

This is not new. Indonesia has always required visas for U.S. passport holders. The convenience is that we can obtain it on arrival, and it's straightforward.

I’ve spent time in Indonesia 3 times and don’t recall the visa process. Which is exactly what I like, not having to keep track of one more detail and I believe tripplanner saying there is one. I do recall that I had no issue whatever getting cash from ATMs. So regarding the visa, I consider their system a plus, not something to complain about. Don’t know what to say about your cash issues.

Hi,

Indonesian here. There is a Visa on Arrival, which you can purchase before you arrive in Indonesia and this applies to many countries as well, not just the US. Free visa is only for all the countries in the SEA region and a few other countries. You can certainly pay with your card in most places (restaurants, bars, etc) and if you bring cash, you can exchange it at trustworthy money changers.

Maybe the term "doesn't require a visa" means that you don't need to apply it in advance. I believe there has always been VOA to enter Indonesia, as this is not something that is newly implemented.

"even Google says US passport holders don’t need visa to enter Indonesia" Google is a search engine not the font of all wisdom. I would suggest before visiting any country it is only sensible to check the entry requirements wit a reliable source which basically means your own government's website or the Indonesian consulate.

As for ATMs not accepting your cards, that is most likely down to your own bank rather than any inherent problem with the Indonesian banking infrastructure. I have never had any issues using debit or credit cards to withdraw cash form ATMs in Indonesia though it does seem to be an issue for many American friends and not just in Indonesia. It does seem to be a big problem in Peru for example.