Indonesia offers five-year multiple-entry visas to attract more visitors

JAKARTA: Indonesia announced a new policy on Thursday (Dec 21) that offers five-year multiple-entry visas to foreigners who want to visit the country for tourism or business reasons.

The policy, which took effect on Wednesday, is part of the government’s efforts to increase the number of foreign visitors and stimulate the economy, said immigration chief Silmy Karim.

"The multiple-entry visa offers convenience for foreigners with high mobility," Karim was quoted as saying by Antara news agency.

Karim said that the new visas, which allow stays of up to 60 days per visit, will simplify the entry process and make Indonesia more attractive to potential travellers.

Applicants can apply online at evisa.imigrasi.go.id and pay with a credit card, Karim said.

A regular tourist visa for Indonesia is valid for 30 days and one entry. Visitors can extend it for another 30 days before it expires.

Indonesia’s neighbours, such as Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, have also been offering various visa schemes to attract foreign visitors, especially from emerging markets like China and India.

Indonesia has set an ambitious target of attracting 40 million foreign tourists by 2025. As of Dec 8, nearly 10 million foreign tourists had arrived in the country, surpassing the Tourism Ministry’s 2023 goal of 8.5 million.

The archipelago of 17,000 islands has also been investing in infrastructure projects, such as airports and roads, to improve connectivity and accessibility to its diverse attractions, ranging from ancient temples and volcanoes to beaches and rainforests. - dpa