VITAS for ex WNI to visit Indo during this period

[cubes123]

Hi all, I read through some of the threads here about this topic, but I still have some questions.

I'm an ex WNI, and I want to apply for VITAS so I can return to Indo to visit my family because I don't know how long this pandemic entry restriction will last. I'm not planning to stay in Indo for more than 1-2 months, though. So does getting VITAS still make sense? Do I need to convert it to KITAP?

The Indo embassy told me I can apply online and get an eVisa, so that's really handy. I also know that I need a guarantor. My question is: can it be an individual or does it have to be a company/organization? If it's an individual, do they need to proof anything?

Thanks!

 

[Banana72]

If it's just under 1 month (meaning: say 3 weeks+) you could just get the (free) VOA...but if you pay a bit...(which I don't remember how much..i think like $30?) you can get the extendable VOA up to 2 months...but I am not sure if it's still valid per today/covid restriction.

 

[centurion]

Repatriation VITAS visas are not issued offshore for the moment, only onshore. For this kind of visa, you need an Indonesian citizen as a sponsor, usually a family member.

Offshore applicants can get a business visa and stay 60 days, extendable every 30 days.

 

[HappyMan]

I haven't been keeping up with visa regulations, and maybe I have forgotten some things. But, I had thought that the sosbud visa was the go-to for this sort of trip. Doesn't it last for 60 days and extend to 180?

I saw another ex-WNI ask about this same sort of trip and wondered why nobody recommended it to them as well. Did something change to make the KITAS a better option for a trip of unknown length?

 

[centurion]

Only business, investor, work, and family reunion visas are issued at the moment for applicants from offshore.

 

[cubes123]

My understanding is due to Covid restrictions, only foreigners with KITAP/KITAS holders, diplomatic visa, Reciprocal Green Lane, and special permission from ministries are allowed into Indonesia at this time. This graph explains the procedure into Indonesia right now.

 

[HappyMan]

Only business, investor, work, and family reunion visas are issued at the moment for applicants from offshore.

My understanding is due to Covid restrictions, only foreigners with KITAP/KITAS holders, diplomatic visa, Reciprocal Green Lane, and special permission from ministries are allowed into Indonesia at this time. This graph explains the procedure into Indonesia right now.

Thanks for clearing that up, guys. I hadn't seen that graphic before. So current entry is restricted to just residents and special people. Then again, maybe special permission is a thing that normal people can get. In Texas, you used to have to get the signature of a congressman to get out of the armed services early (I've been told), which I would have thought was impossible. But, I know a guy who did it. Seems like it was straight forward.

 

[Pak Asam Manis]

Only business, investor, work, and family reunion visas are issued at the moment for applicants from offshore.

According to staff of KJRI - Houston contacted by phone today, no entry visa of any kind can be made under the current regulation: no new vITAS, no Sos-Bud, they did not indicate any type of visa which can be applied and granted at this time. At least that was my wife's interpretation of what they said. As per the stated regulation, only those with existing, valid iTAS / iTAP, or otherways meeting the exceptions listed, may enter the country (WNA).

Since Mrs. Asam Manis specifically mentioned that she, as WNI, and I, as her suomi, wished to travel to RI together and whether it is possible for me to apply for any type of pre-approved visa including vITAS, dll. and they said "No.": Wouldn't they have known and said so if it was permitted to apply for the "kunjungan keluarga" visa?

 

[centurion]

According to staff of KJRI - Houston contacted by phone today, no entry visa of any kind can be made under the current regulation: no new vITAS, no Sos-Bud, they did not indicate any type of visa which can be applied and granted at this time. At least that was my wife's interpretation of what they said. As per the stated regulation, only those with existing, valid iTAS / iTAP, or otherways meeting the exceptions listed, may enter the country (WNA).

Since Mrs. Asam Manis specifically mentioned that she, as WNI, and I, as her suomi, wished to travel to RI together and whether it is possible for me to apply for any type of pre-approved visa including vITAS, dll. and they said "No.": Wouldn't they have known and said so if it was permitted to apply for the "kunjungan keluarga" visa?

It looks like the employees in the consulate are not updated with the latest immigration regulations.

This is a usual thing, as immigration regulations are done by the Ministry of Law, Directorate of Immigration, while the embassies/consulates are under the Ministry of Diplomacy.

 

[Pak Asam Manis]

Thanks, Centurion. So it seems the thing to do is apply directly for a visa through

visa-online.imigrasi.go.id

to get an evisa, quotas permitting.

 

[Pak Asam Manis]

My understanding is due to Covid restrictions, only foreigners with KITAP/KITAS holders, diplomatic visa, Reciprocal Green Lane, and special permission from ministries are allowed into Indonesia at this time. This graph explains the procedure into Indonesia right now.

So is it possible that one can apply for and be granted a visa, but would still not be allowed entry on arrival due to the above restriction being in place? As governments always remind the visa holder: "The granting of a valid visa does not guarantee entry. It is up to the immigration officers at the point of entry to make this determination."

 

[dafluff]

So is it possible that one can apply for and be granted a visa, but would still not be allowed entry on arrival due to the above restriction being in place? As governments always remind the visa holder: "The granting of a valid visa does not guarantee entry. It is up to the immigration officers at the point of entry to make this determination."

A visa was never a guarantee of entry. So yes, if between the time you obtain the visa and you travel to Indonesia the situation changes where the borders are closed to you, then you will not be able to enter.

 

[Pak Asam Manis]

A visa was never a guarantee of entry. So yes, if between the time you obtain the visa and you travel to Indonesia the situation changes where the borders are closed to you, then you will not be able to enter.

< A visa was never a guarantee of entry. >

Yes, that's what I said above. cf. "always"

But you are saying "if the situation changes" ... of course that is true.

What I am trying to point out here is that while the "new" information from imigrasi says that orang asing can apply and get the visa (business, kunjungan, vITAS bekerjaan),

the information that "due to Covid restrictions, only foreigners with KITAP/KITAS holders, diplomatic visa, Reciprocal Green Lane, and special permission from ministries are allowed into Indonesia at this time"

has (apparently) not been retracted or cancelled as of the latest anyone has reported here.

Another words, both Centurion's and Cubes123's posts above seem to be correct, and they seem to directly contradict each other - which leaves me utterly confused as to whether I can enter Indonesia, with a valid visa and meeting all other (Covid-related) requirements, EVEN IF the regulations do NOT change from what they currently seem to be.

 

[dafluff]

the information that "due to Covid restrictions, only foreigners with KITAP/KITAS holders, diplomatic visa, Reciprocal Green Lane, and special permission from ministries are allowed into Indonesia at this time"

The recent appearance of various tourists in Bali, including a Russian porn star, seems to indicate that a more broad category of people are allowed entry unless the latter was deemed worthy of "special permission from ministries".

 

[Pak Asam Manis]

The recent appearance of various tourists in Bali, including a Russian porn star, seems to indicate that a more broad category of people are allowed entry unless the latter was deemed worthy of "special permission from ministries".

Wah, saya bodoh! Why did I not think to read all the threads about Russian porn stars to get the information I needed about Indonesian Immigration?

 

[HappyMan]

The recent appearance of various tourists in Bali, including a Russian porn star, seems to indicate that a more broad category of people are allowed entry unless the latter was deemed worthy of "special permission from ministries".

Perhaps there is a reciprocity system in place and I can now go to Russia and become a porn star?

 

[harryopal1]

And speaking of Russians there was that story yesterday of a young Russian woman boasting having arrived in Jakarta how easy it was to leave quarantine at the hotel and go for walks Her next walk might very well be to get on a plane for deportation.

 

[Teabag]

You must stay in a virus-free environment/country for 14 days. That will be the killer requirement for most of us.

I would also like to start my retirement in Indo, but I can't, my country is not virus free at all, just like all of Europe.


Link to imigration:

Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi

www.imigrasi.go.id, Direktorat Jendral Imigrasi, Directorate General of Immigration, Republik Indonesia

www.imigrasi.go.id

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Persyaratan Kesehatan Apa yang Wajib Dimliki untuk Masuk ke Indonesia?

Orang Asing (sesuai ketentuan pelarangan sementara) dapat masuk Wilayah Indonesia setelah memenuhi persyaratan:

a. surat keterangan sehat dalam bahasa inggris dari otoritas kesehatan di masing-masing negara;
b. telah berada 14 (empat belas) hari di wilayah/negara yang bebas virus Covid-19;
c. pernyataan bersedia masuk karantina selama 14 (empat belas) hari yang dilaksanakan oleh pemerintah Republik Indonesia.