Report: Bali to scrap quarantine for fully vaccinated tourists

Bali could replace its "warm-up vacation" quarantine with a quarantine-free alternative from 7 March onwards.

While this is pending official confirmation, it looks likely that Bali will reopen to quarantine-free travel and restart its visa-on-arrival scheme from 7 March 2022.

Per a report in Antara, a no-quarantine trial will replace the current  “warm-up vacation” scheme (a lifetime doublespeak award to whoever came up with that asinine terminology), under which travellers have to isolate for at least three days on arrival, even if vaccinated and boosted. 

Bali to lift quarantine requirement?

Conrad Bali

Here’s what the proposed quarantine-free arrangement will look like. As a caveat- it looks likely this will happen (Loyalty Lobby has an image of the release from the Governor of Bali), but I wouldn’t consider it official until it appears on Bali’s tourism page.

🇮🇩 Summary: Quarantine Free Travel to Bali
(Proposed)
  • Purchase travel insurance with min. US$25K (~S$34K) coverage (non-residents only)
  • Fully vaccinated with any approved vaccine (exemption for children aged 11 and below)
  • Hotel booking with minimum of four days stay
  • Take PCR test 48h before flight
  • Take PCR test on arrival in Bali, and isolate until negative result received
  • Take PCR test on Day 3 in Bali, no isolation required
  • Download PeduliLindungi app and register (Android | iOS)

Under the proposal, from Monday, 7 March 2022 fully vaccinated tourists (a booster may be required, but this is yet to be confirmed) may travel to Bali without quarantine. They will be required to take three PCR tests:

  1. Within 48 hours prior to departure
  2. On arrival in Bali
  3. On Day 3

While isolation is required after the on-arrival test in Bali, once a negative result is received the tourist is free to explore the whole island. Another PCR test will be done on Day 3 (no isolation required), and if that result is negative, the tourist can travel elsewhere in Indonesia.

All visitors must make a hotel booking of at least four days (i.e. three nights), and download and use the PeduliLindungi contact tracing app.

While Bali suspended its visa-on-arrival facility for tourists at the start of COVID, this could also be resumed from 7 March for nationals of the following countries:

🇮🇩 Bali: Eligible Visa-on-Arrival Countries
  • Australia
  • Brunei
  • Cambodia
  • Canada
  • France
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Laos
  • Malaysia
  • Myanmar
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Qatar
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • Thailand
  • Turkey
  • UK
  • UAE
  • USA
  • Vietnam

A visa-on-arrival costs US$35, and is valid for 30 days (I distinctly remember that Singaporeans didn’t need to pay for this pre-COVID, so it remains to be seen if that continues). There is no visa requirement for those who carry an APEC Business Travel Card. 

Singapore-Bali travel: Total testing costs

⚕️ Testing: Singapore-Bali Travel
LocationRemarksPrice
🇸🇬 Singapore48h before departure (PCR)From S$98
🇮🇩 BaliOn arrival (PCR)IDR 275,000
(~S$26)
🇮🇩 BaliDay 3 (PCR)IDR 275,000
(~S$26)
🇮🇩 Bali2 days before departure (ART/PCR)IDR 275,000*
(~S$26)
🇸🇬 SingaporeWithin 24h of arrival (ART)S$15*
*Children aged 2 and under exempt

Travellers from Singapore to Bali can expect to do up to five PCR tests in total which will cost up to S$190. It may be possible to combine your Day 3 PCR test with the pre-departure test requirement, although it depends on what format the result is provided in. 

Fortunately, the Indonesian government caps the maximum price of a PCR test in Bali to IDR 275,000 (~S$26), so hopefully the additional PCR tests won’t burn a hole in your wallet. 

For the cheapest pre-departure testing options in Singapore, refer to this post. 

VTL flights to Singapore

Non-stop flights from Singapore to Bali are currently operated by Singapore Airlines and Jetstar, and there’s no restriction on the flight you must take. 

When returning from Bali to Singapore, you must take a VTL flight or else serve a 7-day SHN on return. 

From 16 March 2022, the Indonesia VTL will be extended beyond Jakarta to include Bali.  Singapore Airlines has designated the following flights as VTL services from Bali to Singapore:

FlightsDays
SQ939
SMTWTFS
DPS 1300

SIN 1540
   
SQ945
SMTWTFS
DPS 2015

SIN 2255
   ✔  

From 1 July 2022, SQ 939 will increase its flight frequency to daily flights. 

VTL travel to Singapore

Travellers must take an ART/PCR test within 2 days of flying to Singapore, unless recently-recovered

Singapore recently relaxed its border measures for VTL travellers, shortening the relevant travel history period to 7 days and replacing the on-arrival PCR test requirement at Changi Airport with a supervised ART at a QTC/CTC within 24 hours of arrival. Alternatively, VTL travellers can opt to do a DA Tele-ART from the comfort of their own home. 

Also noteworthy is the scrapping of the Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) requirement for the majority of long-term passholders. Only work permit holders and short-term visitors are now required to apply for a VTP.

LTPHsVTLNon-VTL
  • Long Term Visit Pass
  • Immigration Exemption Order
  • Student’s Pass
  • Employment Pass
  • EntrePass
  • Personalised Employment Pass
  • Tech.Pass
  • Training Employment Pass
  • Work Holiday Pass
  • Dependant’s Pass
  • S Pass holders

✔️

  • Show Long-Term pass/ in-principle approval letter and proof of vaccination status to transport operators/ checkpoint staff
  • No need to apply for or present entry approval/VTP
  • Non-Malaysian male work permit holders in the CMP sector
  • Dormitory-bound work permit holders

Not allowed entry via VTL
✔️
Apply for and present entry approval
  • Confinement Nannies
  • Migrant Domestic Workers
  • All other work permit holders
✔️
Apply for and present VTP

With these changes, here’s a summary of the requirements for VTL travel to Singapore. 

✔️ VTL Eligibility Criteria
All
  • 7-day travel history only includes Singapore and/or VTL countries and/or Category I countries and/or EEA countries (from 16 Mar)
  • Fully vaccinated with any vaccine on the WHO EUL^
  • Complete SG Arrival Card
  • Present negative pre-departure ART/PCR test taken within 2 days of flight to Singapore*
  • Take designated VTL flight to Singapore
  • Take supervised ART within 24 hours of arrival and isolate until negative result received*
Short-term visitors & Work permit holders
*Children aged 2 or under in the current calendar year are exempt
^Exception for children aged 12 and below, if they are accompanied by vaccinated traveller

Fully vaccinated individuals can be exempted from all pre-departure tests, on-arrival tests and SHN requirements when travelling to Singapore with acceptable proof of a COVID-19 infection/recovery within the last 90 days. 

Big news: No more SHN, testing or “14-day stranding” for recently-recovered vaccinated travellers to Singapore

Conclusion

St. Regis Bali

Mark this as unconfirmed for now, but Bali could very well be replacing its “warm-up vacation” with a proper, quarantine-free arrangement from 7 March. This dovetails nicely with Singapore’s commencement of VTL flights from Bali to Singapore on 16 March.

While it’s unfortunate that travellers from Singapore will have to do five COVID-19 tests, it’s somewhere to start, and hopefully the Day 3 test will be eliminated before long or replaced with a self-swab ART instead.

Anyone planning a Bali trip?

Aaron Wong
Aaron Wong
Aaron founded The Milelion to help people travel better for less and impress chiobu. He was 50% successful.

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Sam G

I think we were exempt from needing a visa vs not having to pay for/have the hassle of VoA . Hopefully that returns!

JW19

Indonesia keeps continuing on with such BS policy thinking its doing tourists a favour. Maldives takes my money in this essence, saved cash for tests equates to a better quality vacation, at least I would not likely have to mingle with locals who only have a 20 odd % vaccination rate and testing regime that is almost non present except for foreigners.

James Quek

Not prepared to have D3’s testing.

wayne

used to surf there 4-5 times a year precovid, and season is here. But am not going to run around in bali taking PCR tests which upon missing could get me afoul of the law and into jail. absolutely don’t feel they are interested in doing business at this stage of endemic covid. pass for now.

TJ Travels

Why bother when I can head to the Phillipines, Maldives or Sri Lanka? Even Thailand is a hassle and I really couldn’t be bothered with applying for a Thailand Pasd

Simon

Maldives: “Come on in – no test required just the vaccine”
Dubai: “Come on in – no test required just the vaccine”
Europe: “Come on in – no test required just the vaccine”
Asia: “Pls take a million tests and risk needing to quarantine if any are positive for a virus that’s literally everywhere and all of us have now anyway……….why no visit!?!?!?”

SKS

Love the comments by these whiners

Kimberly Chow

Can we stay at airbnb villas instead of hotels?

Elly

Hi, may I clarify one point regarding the visa on-arrival? If i hold an APEC card but am not holding a passport from one of those eligible countries, will i be allowed to enter bali?

Elly

thank you Aaron!

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