Visa free entry to Sumatra
The visa free entry has been suspended until further notice.
Visa on arrival for up to 60 days
For a longer holiday on Sumatra, you can buy a “Visa on Arrival” at the airport on arrival. This is valid for a stay of 30 days and can be extended for a further 30 days at any Imigrasi on Sumatra or on another island in Indonesia. There is a separate counter for the Visa on Arrival in Sumatra at passport control. This special visa for Sumatra costs $35, payable only in cash in IDR. You can also pay in other currencies, but the exchange rates are always poor.
The extension costs another $30 and can be applied for at the earliest 7 days before the visa expires. However, do not wait too long to extend your visa on arrival in Sumatra. Travellers whose visa was only valid for 1 day have also been rejected. The rules are not always the same in the Immigrasis. As is so often the case, it sometimes depends on the day, the place and the clerk. It is advisable to enquire with the respective Immigrasi in advance.
Online application
You can also apply for a visa on arrival in advance online at https://evisa.imigrasi.go.id. Instructions on how to apply for a visa on arrival for Indonesia online.
Extension
Since 1 June 2025, you have to visit the Immigrasi in person to extend your visa (previously, this could also be done online). All information can be found here.
It is best to show up at the Imigrasi 5 to 7 days before your visa expires. The immigration authorities in Sumatra are called “Kantor Imigrasi”. There are different categories of Imigrasi (Kelas I, II and III). It is not entirely clear whether everyone can extend the Visa on Arrival for Sumatra. It is best to ask in advance.
The usual renewal process foresees three visits to the Imigrasi. At the first visit you hand in the forms and photocopies. You will then receive a payment form which you must present to a bank or payment counter at the Imigrasi to pay the renewal fee for your Visa on Arrival ($30). A few days later you will have to go to Imigrasi to take a fingerprint and take photos. A few days later you can then pick up your passport with your extension stamp.Sometimes the first 2 vists are combined. So you only have to go there twice.
The visa extension stamp shows the exact date on which your extension expires. The extension will always be issued on the date your current visa expires, not the day you apply for the extension. In this way you will always receive the full 60 days, even if you receive your extension a few days in advance. After 60 days you have to leave the country.
Attention: flights via Singapore or Kuala Lumpur
If you wish to fly within Indonesia, you will often find open-jaw flights via Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. This is not a problem in itself. However, please note that you will then be leaving Indonesia, even if you are only in transit in Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. You will then receive a new visa upon entry.
Requirements:
- 35$ in cash
- passport valid for at least 6 months
- One free pages in passport
- Valid return ticket/onward ticket (see info below)
More info here. The visa on arrival can now also be obtained online.
Visit Visa C1 for 60 days
If you already know that you want to stay in Sumatra or Indonesia for more than 60 days and want to avoid the hassle of extending your visa, you can apply for a 60-day C1 visa online at https://evisa.imigrasi.go.id. It costs IDR 1 million and entitles you to a single entry.
Visit visa B211A for up to 180 days
For a stay of up to 180 days on Sumatra a so-called visit visa B211A can be obtained. Applying for this visa for Sumatra can take some time. Therefore, it is advisable to apply for the Visit visa a few weeks in advance at an embassy or the nearest consulate.
With this visa you can initially stay 60 days on Sumatra and easily extend the visa monthly up to 6 months. This is also an alternative to the Visa on Arrival for Sumatra if you want to avoid going to the Imigrasi.
This Sumatra visa can currently only be obtained through an agency, such as visa-indonesia.com. The application should be made at least 4 weeks in advance. For this visa there should be one free page in the passport, which must be valid for at least 6 months after entry. Furthermore one color biometric passport photo and a fully completed visa application is needed.
Requirements:
- passport valid for at least 6 months
- 1 free page in passport
- Valid return ticket/oward ticket
- Filled visa application form
- 1 coloured biometric passport photo
- copy of the passport (page with name, date of birth etc.)
You are not allowed to work with all visa types mentioned above. Also no volunteer work, Workaway or the like.
New regulations for visa extensions
From 1 June 2025, all foreign nationals will be required to visit an Indonesian immigration office (Kantor Imigrasi) in person if they wish to extend their Indonesian visa – including the popular Visa on Arrival (VOA). All information can be found here.
