Confirmed: Bali restarts quarantine-free travel and visa-on-arrival

Bali removes quarantine for fully vaccinated tourists and resumes visa-on-arrival for nationals of 23 countries including Singapore.

Over the weekend, rumours were circulating that Bali was bringing forward its highly-anticipated reopening, with plans to resume quarantine-free travel as early as 7 March 2022.

We now have official confirmation, courtesy of a release (in Bahasa Indonesia; an English summary can be found here) by the Indonesian authorities. Bali will indeed replace its much-derided “warm-up vacation” (a fancy name for quarantine) with a quarantine-free alternative, and resume issuing visas-on-arrival to nationals of 23 countries including Singapore, Australia, the UK and the USA. 

This dovetails nicely with the upcoming launch of VTL flights from Bali to Singapore on 16 March, allowing two-way quarantine-free travel for the first time since March 2020.

Bali lifts quarantine requirement 

beach in bali

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ Summary: Quarantine-free Travel to Bali
  • Fully vaccinated with any approved vaccine (booster not required; exemption for children aged under 18)
  • Purchase travel insurance with min. US$25K coverage (non-residents only)
  • Book CHSE-certified hotel for minimum three nights
  • Take PCR test 48h before flight
  • Complete e-CD form
  • Download PeduliLindungi app and register for e-HAC (Android | iOS)
  • Download Presisi Quarantine Monitoring app
  • Pay for visa-on-arrival
  • Take PCR test on arrival in Bali, isolate in hotel until negative result received
  • Take PCR test on Day 3 in Bali, no isolation required
Tourist Information

Fully vaccinated travellers will be able to enter Bali without quarantine, effective immediately. Children aged under 18 are exempt from the vaccination requirement, and contrary to earlier reports, no booster jab will be required. 

All travellers must purchase travel insurance with at least S$20,000 coverage for COVID-19 medical expenses, and have a hotel booking for at least three nights (i.e. four days) at any CHSE-approved hotel (virtually every major hotel will be on the list). 

Travellers (regardless of age) will be required to take three PCR tests:

  1. Within 48 hours prior to departure
  2. On arrival in Bali at the airport
  3. On Day 3 at the hotel

On arrival in Bali, travellers will pay for a PCR test (IDR 275,000/S$26; it may already be included with the hotel package you booked) and head directly to their hotel to wait for the results. Following the receipt of a negative result, they will be free to explore the whole of Bali.

Another PCR test will be done on Day 3 at the hotel, and guests will make payment (IDR 275,000/S$26) directly to the hotel’s appointed lab. No isolation is required after swabbing, and if the result is negative, visitors can travel elsewhere in Indonesia outside of Bali. 

Failure to take the Day 3 test will result in a black message on the PeduliLindugi app which may prevent visitors from entering the hotel and other places where QR codes need to be scanned for entry.

For travellers who test positive on arrival or on Day 3:

  • Those with no symptoms/ mild symptoms will be sent for isolation in designated isolation hotels or centralised isolation facilities
  • Those with moderate/ severe symptoms will be transferred to a hospital for treatment

Visitors must complete a customs declaration form (e-CD), and download the PeduliLindungi contact tracing app (Android | iOS) and complete a health declaration (e-HAC). They must also install the Presisi Quarantine Monitoring app, instructions for which will be provided on landing.

Bali resumes visa-on-arrival

Bali Airport arrivals area

While Bali suspended its visa-on-arrival facility for tourists at the start of COVID, this has been resumed from 7 March 2022 for nationals of the following countries:

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ 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 IDR 500,000 (~S$47) and is valid for 30 days with the option to extend it for a further 30 days. 

Singaporeans were previously exempt from paying this fee prior to COVID, but I don’t see any wording about a similar waiver being offered this time round. For what it’s worth, there is no visa requirement for those who carry an APEC Business Travel Card with Indonesia listed as one of the countries on the back. 

If your nationality is not covered under visa-on-arrival, you will still need to apply for a visit visa (B211A). This is valid for 60 days and can be extended up to four times, 30 days each time. 

Singapore-Bali travel: Total testing costs

โš•๏ธ Testing: Singapore-Bali Travel
Location Remarks Price
๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฌ Singapore 48h before departure (PCR) From S$98
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ Bali On arrival (PCR) IDR 275,000
(~S$26)
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ Bali Day 3 (PCR) IDR 275,000
(~S$26)
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ Bali 2 days before departure (ART/PCR) IDR 99,000*
(~S$8)
๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฌ Singapore Within 24h of arrival (ART) S$15*
*Children aged 2 and under exempt

Travellers from Singapore to Bali can expect to do up to five COVID-19 tests in total, which will cost up to S$175. 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 the additional PCR tests shouldn’t burn a hole in your wallet. 

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

Flights to/from Bali

To Bali

Travellers must take an international flight into Bali Airport in order to enjoy the quarantine-free scheme; they will not be able to connect in Jakarta. 

Apart from this, there is no restriction on the flight they can take. Jetstar Asia, Singapore Airlines, Scoot and KLM all offer flights to Bali.

Flights Days
3K243
S M T W T F S
SIN 0655
โžž
DPS 0955
โœ”    โœ”     โœ”   
SQ938
S M T W T F S
SIN 0905
โžž
DPS 1150
โœ” โœ”   โœ”   โœ”  
TR288
S M T W T F S
SIN 1520
โžž
DPS 1805
โœ” โœ”        โœ”   
SQ944
S M T W T F S
SIN 1620
โžž
DPS 1905
    โœ”   โœ”    โœ”
KL835*
S M T W T F S
SIN 1700
โžž
DPS 1945
      โœ”      โœ” 
*KLM’s flights will switch to Mondays and Thursdays from 28 March 2022.

To Singapore (VTL)

Travellers must take designated VTL flights to Singapore to avoid a 7-day SHN on arrival. 

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:

Flights Days
SQ939
S M T W T F S
DPS 1300
โžž
SIN 1540
โœ” โœ”   โœ”   โœ”  
SQ945
S M T W T F S
DPS 2015
โžž
SIN 2255
    โœ”   โœ”    โœ”

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.

LTPHs VTL Non-VTL
  • Long Term Visit Pass
  • Immigration Exemption Order
  • Studentโ€™s Pass
  • Employment Pass
  • EntrePass
  • Personalised Employment Pass
  • Tech.Pass
  • Training Employment Pass
  • Work Holiday Pass
  • Dependantโ€™s Pass
  • S Pass holders

โœ”๏ธ

  • 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
โŒ
Not allowed entry via VTL
โœ”๏ธ
Apply for and present entry approval
  • Confinement Nannies
  • Migrant Domestic Workers
  • All other work permit holders
โœ”๏ธ
Apply for and present VTP

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

โœ”๏ธ 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
  • Apply for Vaccinated Travel Pass
  • Purchase travel insurance with min. S$30K coverage (short-term visitors only)
*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

The VTL scheme has grown bloated and overcomplicated in recent times, but I’m hoping it will be scrapped sooner rather than later and replaced by a system based purely on vaccination status. 

Conclusion

Conrad Bali

Bali is reopening ahead of schedule to fully vaccinated tourists, with visa-on-arrival restored for nationals of 23 countries including Singapore.

The launch of VTL flights on 16 March will mark the resumption of two-way quarantine-free travel between Singapore and Bali, although the requirement to take 3x PCR tests on the way over and 2x ARTs on the way back will be burdensome for some. It is likely, however, that in time the Day 3 test will be eliminated or replaced with a self-swab ART instead.

I’m definitely planning to make a trip to Bali (hotel rates are at all-time lows), and will share more thoughts on this in the days ahead. 

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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James Quek

There is no English version for their official CHSE-Certified website to find out which hotels are certified. Managed to find out through the hotel association website:

https://www.balihotelsassociation.com/chse-hotels-in-bali/

Hope the D3’s PCR test will be scrapped in near future.

cheesecake

Cost of 3 PCR tests + extra cost of VOA? Thanks, but no thanks…

Kelvin

PCR tests in Bali are only 20+ SGD each, big diff from SG PCR

Yogi

Great news. How about for countries not on VOA. The visa you have in the post B211A is a business visa ( from googling it) and doesnโ€™t look like it can be used for tourism.
Do you know if there is a tourist visa available now for non VOA countries? Thanks

Yogi

Thanks. I think a lot of conflicting advice. We have booked tickets but are non VOA. Contacted a visa agent here in Sg and they are saying they are allowed only business visa B211a and not for tourist use. But they are also waiting clarification.

Maybe want to add a rider in your article about this for other non VOA to be aware.

Bruce

Social visit B211s are also available (my partner obtained hers last week via balivisas.com), but unfortunately the visa agent fees are extortionate.

I entered via the warm-up vacation route last week and my day 3 PCR test result (from the Westin Nusa Dua) included DOB and passport #, so should be good for entry into Singapore. Just keep in mind YMMV.

Alvin Koh

I was trying to book a return flight on Thursday , 21/6 but apparently SQ945 is not designated as a VTL flight. Perhaps SQ have not updated their website yet?

Tatiana L

Hello, I don’t see the SQ945 changing to VTL… are you sure of the info?

jeff

VOA? for a country in asean? pathetic and insincere cash grab.

Sergo

I still have confusion about the visitors not on the list, but coming with the b211 business visa, if they can enjoy new no quarantine policy or should have quarantine for 3 days?

Last edited 2 years ago by Sergo
Sergo

Thank you so much for the clarification! ๐Ÿ™So if I already have pre-arranged b211 visa, I can book chse hotel for 3 nights and no need for quarantine hotel like before?๐Ÿ™‚

Uris

I donโ€™t dont see club Med on the list. Any idea if we will have VTL on Garuda airlines?

Last edited 2 years ago by Uris
Madkorng

Why bali never accept recovery memo?

Yan Shan

do we know if there is any chance SQ945 will become VTL flight please?