Landing in Bali: Arrival Checklist for Australians (2026)

Bali is on my bucket list. I’ve been to Indonesia heaps of times, but always to Jakarta or the islands off Singapore for golf. Half the time I write these stories, I’m researching my own holidays, then sharing what I learnt with you.

My trip to Vietnam shows what happens when you don’t plan: I ended up needing an emergency visa on arrival. So this is my list for Bali: the visa sorted a week or two out, then everything else in the last three days before I fly.

Disclosure: Points Brotherhood earns a commission if you buy an eSIM through our links, at no extra cost to you.

Before you fly to Bali: visa, arrival card and tourist levy

Australians need three things sorted online before landing in Bali: an e-VOA, the All Indonesia Arrival Card and the tourist levy. Doing all three at home skips the visa queue at Denpasar.

• Passport: it needs at least six months’ validity from your entry and exit dates, according to Smartraveller.
• The visa lasts 30 days. You can extend it once for another 30 days at an immigration office, but do it before day 30.
• The arrival card replaces the old paper forms. It combines the customs declaration and health declaration into one QR code.
• Pay the levy on the official site only. It takes Visa, Mastercard, Amex and JCB, according to the Love Bali FAQ. Lookalike sites charge extra fees.
• Watch for a price change. Indonesian immigration has proposed raising the visa fee to IDR 750,000 online and IDR 1,000,000 on arrival. As of November 2026 it hasn’t been approved, so check the fee when you apply.

Get a Bali phone number before you land

Sort your phone at home so it works the moment you switch off flight mode. The airport has SIM kiosks, but that means another queue, and the Grab pickup is the first place you’ll need data.

A local eSIM with an Indonesian +62 number also handles the SMS codes Grab, Gojek and many local apps send when you sign up.

Only need data, or visiting several countries on one trip? A travel eSIM such as Airalo, Nomad eSIM or Yesim is simpler. See our eSIM discount codes.

At Denpasar airport: what happens when you land

With the forms done at home, arrival is three stops: immigration, bags, customs.

1. Immigration. Show your passport and e-VOA QR code. No e-VOA? Pay for a visa on arrival at the counter first, then queue again.
2. Bags. Switch off flight mode while you wait. Your Balitel line should already be live.
3. Customs. Show your All Indonesia Arrival Card QR code.
4. Tourist levy. If you haven’t paid online, there are payment counters in the terminal. Card only, no cash.

Cash: you don’t need much. Grab and Gojek take cards in the app. If you need rupiah, use a bank ATM in the terminal or an authorised money changer, as Smartraveller advises. Declare cash over IDR 100 million (about A$10,000).

Don’t bring: any drugs, including CBD and medicinal cannabis products, even with a prescription. Penalties in Indonesia are severe.

Getting from Bali airport to Seminyak, Canggu, Ubud and Uluwatu

Grab or Gojek is usually the cheapest way out of the airport, often less than half a freelance driver’s quote. After customs, walk past the drivers and follow the signs for “Online Taxi”, “Grab Lounge” or “Pick Up Zone”.

Typical non-peak app fares in 2026. Fares rise at busy times. Uluwatu is roughly 45 to 60 minutes south of the airport; check the fare in the app.

• Allow for traffic. Seminyak and Nusa Dua can be 20–30 minutes away, Canggu 35–50 and Ubud 60–90. Peak-hour traffic can add much more.
• Check the district. Similar villa names exist across Bali, so confirm the area before you book.
• Message your driver. Tell them where you’re standing, in the app. A local number helps if they call.
• Prefer it booked? The official Koptax counter has fixed fares, or your hotel can arrange a pickup.

First day in Bali: money, power and water

Three small things catch out first-timers: card fees, plugs and tap water.

• Pay in rupiah, every time. When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in Australian dollars, say no. The conversion rate is worse. Here’s my receipt to prove it.
• Use a card with no foreign transaction fee. Compare cards on Card Monkey.
• Pack an adapter. Bali uses European-style round two-pin plugs (types C and F) at 230V, so Australian chargers work with a plug adapter.
• Drink bottled or filtered water. Don’t drink from the tap.
• Keep your Australian SIM on for WhatsApp and bank texts, and use the Balitel line for data and local calls.

Bali arrival FAQ

Do Australians need a visa for Bali?

Yes. Buy an e-VOA online for IDR 500,000 (about A$50). You need to apply at least 48 hours before you fly, but a week or two ahead is safer, or pay for a visa on arrival at the airport.

How much is the Bali tourist tax?

IDR 150,000 (about A$15) per person, per trip. Pay it on the official Love Bali site or at the airport counters.

When do I fill in the All Indonesia Arrival Card?

Online, within 72 hours of arriving. It’s free.

Will my phone work when I land in Bali?

Yes, if you’ve installed a local eSIM or a travel eSIM before leaving home. Otherwise you’ll rely on patchy airport Wi-Fi or queue at a SIM kiosk.

Can I use Grab at Bali airport?

Yes. Follow the signs to the official Grab or online taxi pickup zone after customs.

How long is the drive from Bali airport to Ubud?

About 60 to 90 minutes, longer in peak traffic.