Viktorija Panovaite
How to get Indonesian visa in Penang

How to get Indonesian visa in Penang, Malaysia

If you want to stay in Indonesia more than 30 days (what you can do with “Visa on arrival”), you can apply for another visa type, which allows you to stay in Indonesia for 60 days.

If you want to get “Tourist visa” or “Social Budaya visa” you should apply for it outside of Indonesia. Most travelers till August said that the best place for it – Penang island in Malaysia (here is information how to get to Penang). Because of the quick, 2 days, process and possibility to get 60 days visa (in some other countries the visa making takes 7 working days and can be given only for 30 days). Unfortunately after 1st of August, 2017 – things changed:

Some travelers said that in Indonesian embassy in Penang they started to have a quota system. They could issue only a limited number of 60-day visas (per month or per week) – but nobody knows how many or who will get it. Others say, that there is no quota system and is giving 30-day visas for “Tourist visa” or “Social Budaya visa” (only with sponsor letter) if the sponsor is not family. The official seemed to imply that if the sponsor letter is from a spouse or other member of the family then they will get the 60 days. That, and the new RM10 KL + RM2 Penang room tax has we budget travelers giving USD$3.00 per day just in tax.

I didn’t try to make new visa in Penang after the system changed, so correct me, if there is any new changes or another place in any other country with better “conditions”.

Further information is about getting 30 days “Tourist visa”.

So, how to get Indonesian visa in Penang?

Here are some my advice and experience about applying for Indonesian 30-day “Tourist visa” in Penang island (I did such visa already twice but before 1st of August, 2017 and got 60 days visa).

Notice: all information prepared according 08 2017.

 

Contacts

Official website of Indonesian Consulate in Penang, Malaysia (but you won’t find much information there)

467 Jalan Burma, 10350 Penang (about 4 km West of the Chinatown tourist area)
Tel: (+60) (4) 227 4686; (+60) (4) 226 7412;
Fax: (+60) (4) 227 4955
Email: penang.kjri@kemlu.go.id or info@kjripenang.org.my

Working hours:
Monday-Thursday – 9:00 am-17:00 pm
Break – 13:00-14:00 pm

Friday – 9:00 am-17:30 pm
Break – 12:30-15:00 am

Before going there, be sure that in Malaysia or Penang are not public holidays.

How to get to Indonesian Consulate
  • If you are in the hurry and don’t want search by yourself public transport – easiest way, just to take a taxi and say the address (in some hostels in Chinatown written that taxi price to Indonesian Consulate is 20 MYR).
  • If you want to save some money and explore Penang use public bus – number 101 from Lebuh Chulia street or 103 from Komtar bus terminal (the main buses terminal).
  • The bus 101 starts at the Jetty (where the boats to Butterworth depart from). There is a bus stop on the corner of “Love Lane” and “Lebuh Chulia” streets (it’s the best stop if you are staying in Chinatown).
  • This bus stop not marked like usual bus stops, but you just stand in opposite street of “7 eleven” mart entrance (you will see there all the time gathering people) and when you will see coming bus 101 just wave your hand to stop it.

How to get Indonesian visa in Penang - bus stop

  • One way journey takes ~20-40 min. depends on the traffic and one way ticket costs 1,4 MYR (but you should say to a driver that you want to go to “Gurney Plaza”).
  • Get out of the bus in front of “Gurney Plaza” shopping mall (it will be on your right side). You will pass on the way first mall “Gurney Paragon”, next stop – “Gurney Plaza”. If you scared to miss it, ask the driver to say when will be that stop (I saw many people do that and drivers says when time to get out :)).
  • When you will get out from a bus on your left side (when you stand face to bus stop) will be traffic light. Go straight to it and turn right (to street Lebuhraya Maktab). Go all the time straight (you will pass some small streets on your right and left sides) till you will come to one big street in front of you (with 3 or 4 one way lines) – Jalan Burma. Here turn right. Go straight, on your right side you will pass “Midlands Park Center” mall. After it, on left side you will see traffic light, cross the street there and still go straight. On your left side you will see Adventist hospital. Just after it, on the same left side will be Indonesian Consulate.

Not hard to find ;). Here is the map.

Malls pictures are taken from internet.

How to apply
  • First of all – dress properly. In the security post you will see the sign how you should look (no flip-flops, short shorts, T-shirt with sleeves and etc.). Some people don’t follow it and still pass inside. My advice, just dress in polite way, you are not going to a beach, yeah?.
  • For visa applying you should come in the morning (9:00-12:00 am.). By the way on Mondays it’s more people than on other days.
  • On entering the visa hall go to the table just inside the door. The lady will give you the form, fill it in and return to the table.The application form should be filled with black pen, if you don’t have, borrow it from workers.
  • The lady will check it briefly and give you a number. Then when the time will come they will announce the number and you will need to go to window 7. Give the papers and pay 205 MYR in cash (such price was in the end of July, 2017). If you don’t have cash in the “Midlands Park Center” mall (that you passed on the way) you can take money from ATM, as well make documents copy, take a picture – if needed. Important: Like in consulate will take your passport, don’t forget before make a copy of it.
  • After giving everything and pay, you will get a number. Then you need to wait till your number will appear in TV screen. Go to the counter and there you will get receipt. With it you will need to come back next day at from 14:00 to 16:00 pm (the same receipt you will need to show for a security when you will enter consulate next day).
  • When you will come next day, go to a counter 7 again and show your receipt – you will get your passport back. Important: in the evening of the day when you will apply check your e-mail. Because I had interesting experience, that in the evening I got e-mail from consulate, with information that I should come next day on different time that was written on receipt. Like some responsible person will be in the meeting and won’t be able to issue my visa earlier. If I wouldn’t check that day, I would need to go to consulate twice next day.

Beware of the day counting trap! The way the immigration officials’ count stay period is: the day of arrival counts as day one. The day of departure also counts. For example you have 30-days visa, you arrive on the 1st day, you must leave on the 30th day (not the 31st or the first of the next month). Even if you leave 5 min. after midnight, it will be counted as a full new day. If you overstay you will have to pay a penalty of 1 000 000 Rp per day (update from 2019). Up to 3 days is usually no problem, you will simply pay the fee at the immigration counter.

How to fill the application, what to have with you

The first few questions on the form (what type of visa, your name, passport details etc.) you should fill.

This lines you don’t need to fill if you apply for Indonesian 60-day “Tourist visa”

  • Occupation in Indonesia
  • Address of office/occupation
  • Address of residence in Indonesia
  • Name of sponsor/reference
  • Address of sponsor/reference
  • In the “Reason for applying” section write Tourism

For the supporting documentation I provided:

  • A photo (even if in a form written that it should be in red background, I gave without – and everything was fine, they accepted)
  • A photocopy of passport (info page only)
  • A photocopy of return ticket from Malaysia (when I will leave to Indonesia)
  • I read that I should give the photocopy of returns ticket from Indonesia but I didn’t have it yet on 1st time, so I brought photocopy from my bank account where shown that I have enough money to buy a ticket out of Indonesia (I just log in to my e-bank, made print screen and printed it). 2nd time I brought flight ticket, when I’m planing to leave Indonesia.

I didn’t got any extra questions or asking to bring something more.

If you didn’t make copies of needed documents, you can do it in Midland Park Center that you passed on the way to Indonesian embassy.

What to do after applying?

  • If you want to come back to Chinatown you should wait for the same bus 101 in front of “Midlands Park Center” mall.
  • But my advice, after consulate go further to explore Penang island, for example:

Here is official website of buses in Penang: routes, journey planner and etc.

 

By the way, during two my trips to Penang I stayed in 75 Traveller’s lodge. I found this place quite affordable, with good location and quite good condition. But there are many other places to stay in Penang.

 

How to get Indonesian visa in Penang - Pinterest
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SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

  • Have you tried to make Indonesian visa in Penang island? How was it?
  • Did you make Indonesian visa in any other country? What was your experience?
  • If you have any update to add, feel free to do it in comments

 

 

Useful? Great! :) You might also like these:

How to get to Penang island
How to extend Indonesian tourist visa in Bali
Disappearing and resurgent street art in Penang

 

110 thoughts on “How to get Indonesian visa in Penang, Malaysia”

  1. Hi guys. I read your post and comments so many times before going to penang to take my indonesian visa but I said to give it a try and see. I went yesterday to the embassy, told them I want to apply for 60 days tourist visa, they’ve told me the same story that they don’t do it anymore and why I’m not getting visa when I arrive in bali for one month and extend that one for another month, told them that I don’t have time to extend, and I want to try my luck, they asked me if I have a sponsor, told them that I have many good friends, locals in indonesia, they gave me a model of a sponsor letter, called a friend, girl from indo, wrote by hand the same letter with my datas, she sent me pictures with the letters, and her Id card, printed out, together with my ticket out of bali, applied and next day I came in the afternoon to pick up my passport, together with my 60 days tourist visa. I guess I was lucky. Just wanted to share with you, it’s possible

  2. UPDATE! I’ve been at the consulate in Penang in January 2018 and they don’t give visas at all anymore, even not with a sponsor letter, only to get an online visa is possible. According to the woman working there in Penang this rule is now active everywhere (I asked about the embassy in KL). The sponsor (Indonesian person or company) has to apply for you online on http://visaonline.imigrasi.go.id/online/ within office hours 8am until 4pm (Indonesian time). Apart of writing the reference letter and giving all his information, the sponsor also has to make a payment for you to apply for the visa.
    To cut a long story short, at the moment it is almost impossible to get a visa. I hope rules change soon again.

      1. i just returned from the Indo consulate in Penang. April 22nd 2019. they are now requiring a sponsor letter to apply for the 2 month social visa. a real deag! use to be so easy and never needed a sponsor letter before.

        1. Hi Michael, I plan to go to Penang to get the 60 days social visa. I have everything including the sponsor letter. I want to verify if you were able to get the visa and how many days did it take you to get the visa there? Thank you!

    1. I contacted Indonesian embassy in Denmark, as well asked agent in Singapore and I was searching this information on the internet, as well expat forums (about Tourist/Social-Cultural visa for Indonesia). But nobody informed me about any changes in the process. Nobody mentioned any online submission. For example information in Indonesian embassy in Singapore https://www.kemlu.go.id/singapore/en/Immigration-Services/Pages/Tourist-Visa.aspx However in Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur, there is an online visa queue http://onlineservice.kbrikl.org/visa/. I tried to fill it – it requires to upload all documents scanned that is mentioned on the page bottom, pick the date and come on certain time. But still, there is no information about that sponsor should apply on his name for your visa and etc. The only thing what I’m thinking, that maybe different Indonesian embassies started to deal differently with visa issuing? In your mentioned link, online process is available only for such Indonesian visas (and yes, for those visas Indonesian sponsor should fill the registration):
      – Work (Index 311 & 312)
      – Investment (Index 313 & 314)
      – Research (Index 315)
      – Education (Index 316)
      – Family – Spousal and Children (Index 317)
      – Former WNI (Index 318)
      – Retirement (Index 319)
      – Work Holiday – Special program for Australians under 30 (Index 320)
      2 months Tourist or Social-cultural visa is under index 211A and 211. So far these are not included to your mentioned website options. Can it be that the lady in Penang just misunderstood you what kind of visa you want to make? Anyway, I will keep eye on these changes.

    2. I want to correct that statement now.

      I went to this last week to be in the immigration office where I was asking for a 60 day tourist visa. I was granted it, and I didn’t need to sponsor.

      Was I lucky? I do not believe.

      1. Hi Harri, Where were you? Can you add some details to your statement please. Can anyone clarify the most recent news on this? Thank you

        1. What do you mean?

          I took the necessary documents, filled my application, I paid, I returned the next day and the application was processed.

        2. Hi. I think it’s different visa, it’s called limited Stay visa and is different from visit visa. I think visit visa now includes tourist and social visa.
          For limited stay visa your sponsor needs to register. For visit visa I think not. Limited stay visa is for more than 6 months up to 2 years.
          Anyways, I will go to Penang in 1 week and find out ;) I also need to find out which is the right visa for long-term volunteering and an art project…

          1. Hi, i am planning on going to Penang next week to apply for my social visit visa. i have had it twice before but it was made in the netherlands. I have all the documents including sponsor letter and my sponsor will come with me. I was wondering if there is a form to fill in and send of from the website of the indonesian consulate in penang because that is required in the netherlands. Let me know how it went!

    3. UPDATE! Just got my 60-day Social Visa at the Consulate in Penang in May, 2018. They do require a sponsor letter. Went to “Visa for Bali” and got 1-day service for sponsor letter and copy of sponsor ID card for less than $19 US. But unsure if I will be able to extend to 90 days as the sponsor lives in Sulawesi and I am traveling to the Anambas Islands in the Riau Regency.

  3. Hello !
    Thank you for this great information !

    Do you know if the Indonesian embassy in Bangkok or in any other cities around (including on Cambodia) , would give a tourist visa without sponsor letter ?
    And do you know how long it takes to get a visa from Bangkok ?

    A friend of mine was also in Penang in September and got her visa application refused, the staff told her that she needed a sponsor letter.

    Thank you !

  4. My husband and I (German/English) tried to get the 60 day visa today 5th Oct 2017 and were informed Tourist visas of 60 days are no longer issued. There is no quota, they just don’t issue them anymore. For 60 day Social visa you need a sponsor. We had booked our tickets to Penang before the changes in August and later saw your update on the blog with several confusing & mixed reports of success/lack of in the early days so we wondered what would happen forLast us.
    Last year we got the visa easily without a sponsor, and we only needed a sponsor for the renewals in Bali.
    So it seems the only ‘easy’ Tourist visa is now VOA- visa on arrival which is extendable once.

    1. Update..November 16, 2017….We went to the Penang consulate this morning..we were told NO TOURIST VISA issued without a sponser letter. This has to have copy of their ID and just cant be someone who doesnt know you..must be a friend…I said can it be the hotel owner..NO. Must be a friend who has known you for a while.
      Solution is to not get the free entry stamp on arrival…but buy the VOA so you can extend for 30 days. Different to Malaysia here…free VOA and for 90 days! Thailand was free VOA and easily extendable for 30 days.we are rethinking the whole Indonesian sector at this point..it is not as easy as we have thought and a turnoff quite frankly for spending tourist dollars on VOA, visa runs and extensions.

      1. Important to note that Penang said NO TOURIST VISAS…not a 30 day and not the 60 day..unless sponsored. Go figure!

    2. UPDATE….VOA Yes…but only extendable by one month and you MUST have a sponsor letter (December 2017). Read our earlier comment on not getting a tourist visa in Penang. So we bought a visa on arrival ( we are from visa exempt countries) and when the one month was up..we took a trip on the midnight ferry to Sibolga only to be told in the office that we could extend only once ( we thought we could extend 4 times) and that we needed a sponsor letter to do that.

      We were also told we cannot extend the visa more than once…and we have to leave the country. We were told that we can purchase a visitors/social visa outside the country..like Penang and KL. I said we had applied to do that but could not obtain one without a sponsor letter, so we had bought the Visa on Arrival instead. We had asked the officer at the airport if extentable and were told yes…did we need a visa letter to extend, no. Could we extend again..yes up to five times…obviously the rules come with varients. But we have never had so much trouble with visas as this. Malaysia we can get three months free on arrival. Thailand we can get one month free and renew at the shopping centre in Chang Mai…no sponsor letter needed. But Indonesia information has obviously been updates and on the threads it is not clear over the net…I would say it beomes experiental.

      Let’s say that the cost of visas, the travel to renew with hotel accomodation..and then to fly out and back in…just wasn’t worth the effort and cost to stay in Indo for a month longer.

      1. I’m surprised that the immigration office in Sibolga told you that you needed a sponsor to an extend a VOA. My understanding is that you DON’T need a sponsor to extend a VOA. I went to the immigration office in Siantar, and I had no problem extending my VOA for one month, and I did not need a sponsor letter or any other documents. I simply had to fill out the forms, pay 355,000 rupiah at a bank, and then return to immigration two days later to pick up my passport with the 30-day extension.

        It sounds like the immigration officers in Sibolga don’t understand their own policy. It is true that the VOA can only be extended one time (for 30 days). But you don’t need a sponsor to do that.

  5. I can confirm, 27 September 2017, Penang consulate is giving 30-day visas for tourist and also Sosial (with sponsor letter) if the sponsor is not family. The official seemed to imply that if the sponsor letter is from a spouse or other member of family then they will get the 60 days. That, and the new RM10 KL + RM2 Penang room tax has we budget travellers giving USD$3.00 per day just in tax. Better you skip Penang and go back to the loving arms of thailand where there are never any immigration hassles. Cheers

  6. Things might have changed at the Indonesian consulate in Penang. I was just there, and they would not allow me to even apply for a 60-day tourist visa. They told me that as of August 1, 2017, they had started a quota system. They could issue only a limited number of 60-day tourist visas (per month or per week), and when I went to apply, they had none left. Everyone else was also turned away that day.

    I saw on some other websites that many people are reporting the same thing. Some are saying that the Penang consulate won’t issue any tourist visas at all anymore, that there isn’t even a quota. They just won’t issue any tourist visas from now on. I’m not sure what the truth is.

    They did tell me, however, that I could apply for a 60-day social visa. But, as you pointed out, that requires a sponsor letter and other documents.

  7. Nice post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed!

    Very helpful info specially the last part :) I care forr such information much.

    I wwas seeking this particular information for
    a very long time. Thank you and good luck.

  8. Hi, we just tried two weeks ago to get the 60 Days tourist visa for indonesia in Penang.
    NOPE it is not possible anymore under the new head of the consul.
    Would be nice if you update your information, so people don´t get dissapointet and waste time.

    Kind regards,

    Adrian

  9. New visa policy in Penang! There is a new alpha at the consulate, and he has ruined the once sensible system there. You can now only get 30 days unless you have a sponsor letter. Since you can get 30 days on arrival, why bother? And as if that wasn’t enough bad news, starting 1 September there will be a RM10 per day tax added to all foreigners’ hotel prices in Malaysia.

  10. We went yesterday and applied as above. We paid the money and came back the next day to collect.. but we where told they can not give us a 60 day visa!! We where told that we need to get a visa on arrival in Indonesia and extend it.. really annoying.. we got a refund on the money we paid.. there where atleast 4 other westerners also being rejected for the 60 day visa.. one couple even had sponsorship and still got told they couldn’t have it. We are British passport holders and we submitted all required docs including return flights. Thanks for the info.. but appears to be now out of date..

    1. I’m sorry to hear that :( Most probably they changed the rules from 1st of August, like my friends were there in the end of July and got 60 days visa. I will update information in the post.

  11. Things have moved on, in July I visited and there are a few changes to the routine:
    On entering the visa hall go to the table just inside the door the lady will give you the form, fill it in and return to the table, the lady will check it briefly and give you a number, then when called it’s now window 7 for visas.
    New price for visa is 205.
    Everything else exactly as stated in your blog.
    One usefully piece of info if you need printing done or photocopying there is a place in midland mall that is very good.

  12. Can the 60day visa issued from Penang be extended while in indonesia for another 30days or you have to rely on visa runs (or social visa) after the 60day expire?

    1. Yes, the extension should be done in Indonesia (maximum 4 times you can extend such visa). If you will leave Indonesia with such visa or after for example 1st extension (2nd or…) and would like to return later – you will need a new visa to enter Indonesia.

      1. Thank you for such information! Your blog i very precious!
        However it seems impossible to find other sources to confirm everything. Not that I don’t trust you but more info makes it always safer to book flight tickets :)
        Obviously the consulate of Penang didn’t reply :(

        1. You can read some comments under the post, other travelers said that everything exactly how I wrote :) Of course, we never can be sure 100%, like some things, can be changed recently but don’t expect that Indonesian embassy in Penang will reply you :) In my experience almost none of Indonesian embassies ever replied to me :D

  13. There’s really no reason to go through all that hassle, when you can get the 30 days extendable VOA at the airport.

    1. Yes, if you want to stay in Indonesia maximum 2 months. But if people wants to stay longer without paying extra money to fly from Indonesia and come back – such visa is a solution :)

  14. Hello Viktorija,

    Great write-up on the visa process.

    I am trying to find out what exact documents they require.

    Do you know whether they require an onward flight ticket out of Indonesia? Copy of passport?

    I tried to get the same type of 6-months visa in the Philippines a couple of months ago and they would not issue it without a Sponsor Letter, which I understand it’s not required in Penang’s consulate.

    Thank you,
    Frank

    1. Hey, if you are planing to make “social budaya” visa – you will need sponsor letter in each Indonesian embassy around the world :) But if you apply for “tourist visa” – you don’t need any sponsor :)
      This is what you need to provide:

      A photo (even if in a form written that it should be in red background, I gave without – and everything was fine, they accepted)
      A photocopy of passport (info page only)
      A photocopy of return ticket from Malaysia (when I will leave to Indonesia)
      I read that I should give the photocopy of returns ticket from Indonesia but I didn’t have it yet on 1st time, so I brought photocopy from my bank account where shown that I have enough money to buy a ticket out of Indonesia (I just log in to my e-bank, made print screen and printed it). 2nd time I brought flight ticket, when I’m planing to leave Indonesia.
      I didn’t got any extra questions or asking to bring something more.

      1. Hi there, I have been indonesia (Bali and Lombok) for 3 years on and off with sosial bidayah and KITas previously. My current sosial budaya has a couple of months to go but I am considering visiting Penang before High Season starts here. I am so bored of doing one day agent run turnarounds, to SIngapore, i was thinking a break in Penang prior whilst getting the sos bud would be great. I wanted to hceck ONWard booking form of lfight is enough, no need for Bank account, sponsor letter photocopy KTP and copies of my passport are enough for that? Whats the average street food cost over there?

        1. My post was written about Indonesian tourist visa making. If you want to make social budaya visa you will need to prepare more papers:
          1) Passport (must be valid more than 6 months and have at least 2 clean pages for visa stamping)
          2) Copy of the passport (where is your personal data)
          3) One recent original color passport size photo 3.5×4.5cm. Clear vision on white background.
          4) Clear copy of the sponsor letter + copy of the sponsor’s KTP
          5) Outbound tickets copy from Malaysia and Indonesia
          Just in a case have a copy of the bank account where is seen that you have enough money to stay in Indonesia
          For the prices of the food you can plan to spend a bit less than 11 RM per meal – but of course, there are plenty cheaper places and more expensive :)

    2. i just returned from the Indo embassyAptil 2019, in Penang and they are definetely requiring a sponsor letter now to get the 2 month visa,use to never be required so much more difficult now if you don’t have that. the regulations seems to change on a whim all the time a real drag!

  15. Hey, thanks for the useful post – are you sure the 3 month validity of the visa includes the 2 months you will stay? A lot of visas, like Thailand, let you get the visa and use it within 3 months, then your entry stamp gives you 2 months stay on top of the date of entry, not from the date of visa issue. The reason I ask is that I am in Penang now, so want to get a visa here, but I will not arrive in Bali until 5 weeks, then I want to stay for 2 months, so if I get it now, it will run out mid-stay? Any thoughts would be good – your passport stamp might have exit date on it which would help explain.

    1. Answered my own question eventually: The validity of visa starts from first day of arrival. The 90 days limit is mentioned in the visa as date of expiry. If the visa is not used to enter Indonesia within 90 days after the date of issuance, it will be void to use.

      So you may want to update your info. Its valid for 3 months to enter, and then your 60 days start.

  16. Hi, great post! Do you know if the embassy in Penang still gives 60 day tourist visas? I have read that the one in KL will only give 30 days… Cheers

      1. They also give the 60 days visa in KL but… it isn,t 100% sure you’ll get it!! Sometimes they only give 30 days (for the same price!!). It must depend on many thing like how many Indonesian stamps your already have in you passeport, if the guy at the immi likes your face or not, if he is in a good mood, …
        Definitely better go to Penang!
        Done this at least 10 times these past 3 years and never had any issue!
        ;)

  17. Excellent info! I made my indonesian visa in Penang 2 times and the info is totally correct. Just add an update: on day 14th March 2017, the price is 205Ringgit, instead of 190 costs before.

    Thanks for your help!

    Cheers.

  18. hi folks! Thank you very much for article. its very informative. My question is…can i get 60 days tourist visa in KL? there are many opinions and all are quite old in date. I appreciate fast answer, since my sponsor visa expire within next 2 days and so i cant renew it from inside indo. Thank you!!! peace!

    1. 3 months ago, some travelers shared that in KL they make only 30 days visa. But now is new year, so maybe something changed. AS well in KL it takes longer and a bit more expensive compare with Penang island :) Have you tried to contact Indonesian embassy in KL directly and ask about it?

      1. End 2016 I got 60 days in Kl. March 2017 they refuse 60 days and only give me 30! Had to move to Penang to get the 60 days! Faster, chaeper, 100% if you have return ticket from Indonesia or bank account with couple hundred USD on it..
        ;)

  19. Just back from Penang to do my new 60 day extensible visum, I did stay in Suphan Gurney Homestay (only 70 Rm for an aircon room with TV) just a few hundred meters away from the Indonesian consulate and the shopping malls (Gurney plaza etc) are even closer.So i did walk in on Wednesday morning at 9.30 (consulate already pretty full) , filled in application form (+foto+ copy ticket to Indonesia and passport) no other info was needed.Next Thursday after 1400 picked up passport with visum. More easy and cheaper to do as in Singapore (expensive hotels and double price for 1 day visum) or in Bangkok ( at least 3 working days). Thanks for this info.
    Also to enjoy al the Asian food there is : Penang is the place.

  20. This is a really informative article, thank you for posting! I hold a European passport and would like to travel in Indonesia for 4 months. I was thinking of getting my first 60-day visa in Singapore and enjoying 2 months in Indonesia and then heading to Penang or Kota Kinabalu for a few days in order to apply for a second 60-day visa to Indonesia. If I understand correctly, there is no need to get out of the country at all and it is possible to extend my first 60-day visa for two times if I find a sponsor (can use and agent)… am I correct?
    So my issue would be to weigh costs of hiring an agent vs. cost of a spending a few days in Malaysia (or elsewhere). Does this make sense?

    1. If before going to Indonesia you will make “tourist visa” or “social budaya” in Indonesian embassy you will be able to stay in Indonesia for 60 days. After that you can extend this visa extra 4 times (each extension for 30 days). So in general maximum 4 months after your first 2 months will ended you can stay in Indonesia without leaving the country (in total 6 months) :) You can make extension by yourself with find sponsor or you can easily hire and agent, who will do all things. Agent service starts from ~650 000 Rp per first extension. So for sure it’s much cehaper to use agent than go out from Indonesia after 2 first months, make abroad new visa and come back to Indonesia :) Just one thing – “tourist visa” or “social budaya” is single entry visa, if you will leave the country even during your first 2 months, you will need to make new visa for coming back :)

  21. Hi Viktorija,
    first of all congratulation for your website, you’ve obviously put some effort into it and it’s worth it. So clear so easy to navigate thanks heaps.
    Now I have a question about this social visa. You don’t talk about a letter from a sponsor? Do we need one? or is it ok without?
    I feel quite shy to ask to someone I’ve just met.

    1. Thank you for nice words, Solene :) I wrote about getting “tourist visa” (not social:)) – for “tourist visa” you don’t need any sponsor letter and you can stay 2 months. If you would like to extend this visa you will need somebody from Indonesia (can be and manager of the place you are staying if he will agree to be a sponsor) to write you sponsor letter or fill the application in immigration office :) Many travelers in such cases just hire the agent who will manage all things instead of you – you will need to leave a passport and come to take it when it’s done. Of course you need to pay extra for his service and help :)

  22. Fantastic! I might just try this. I adore Penang and got my Thai Visa from there last time….but I have yet to go to Indonesia and this might be a great excuse to stop over there again!

  23. Hi !
    thank you for this information ! Do you know if this visa can be renewable ? We want to spend 4 months in Indonesia during our 1 year trip in Asia.
    thank you in advance

    Olivia

    1. Yes, tourist visa you can extend till 6 months. After first 2 months, you need to extend it each month, maximum period 6 months. It means you can extend extra 4 times :) But it’s single entry visa, it means, if during your stay in Indonesia you will go to other country and decide to return to Indonesia, you will need to make new visa :)

      1. Hello !
        Thanks a lot for your answer. This is great ! We were thinking of going to Malaysia each month to make a new visa … Not easy ! So, can we go to an immigration office to renew our tourist visa, every month ?
        Olivia

        1. No, you don’t need to go to Malaysia (or any other country) each month to extend your visa. The main thing to have “tourist visa” or “social budaya” and then 4 times (every month) you need to extend it in any immigration office in Indonesia without leaving the country :) Just better to extend it in bigger cities, like in Denpasar Bali island, Yogyakarta Java island, Matarm Lombok island and etc. Will be a bit easier and quicker. The prices and the process are the same, just smaller offices can take longer time, than my mentioned :)

  24. Thanks for sharing this – it is very helpful information. We were looking for information on exactly this and it was not easy to find the information. Such a detailed post – will save it for when we need it. Thank you so much!

  25. Wow, this is so informative! I flew to Dili to get another 30 days on my visa. I plan to go back to Indonesia in the near future & 30 days is definitely not enough. it’s great to know exactly how to do it from Penang, thanks!

    1. I think, Penang is the most “friendly” place to make tourist visa for Indonesia ;) Heard many examples from other cities, countries and there are many regulations and shorter period for visa, but longer period for making it :(

  26. This is super helpful! With these directions, I know exactly what to expect. I didn’t know the first day counted as day one no matter what time you arrive. It’s also good to know about the penalties you might have to pay. Dressing conservatively is always good in Malaysia! If you respect the culture, then you will be respected as well.

  27. This is definitely a detailed post and very informative. Though I don’t need a Visa going to Indonesia since I’m from the Philippines, this is indeed bookmark-worthy for the wanderlust who needs it. :) Kudos on the poster! <3 <3 <3 I love the minimalist design but still has the eye popping colors of blue in it. <3

      1. 22/08/2016
        Thank you for the information…very useful!

        I would have 2 more questions for you;maybe you have an answer…
        1) Do you know at what time is the first bus in Penang going from the Jetty to the airport in the morning?
        2) Do you know if the Indonesian consulate in Penang is OPEN the 12-13 and 14/October 2016. I tried to phone there but without success as I do not speak indonesian….

        I need those information for booking planes in and out of Penang…

        Thank you in advance,

        Jacques email: jackg19@hotmail.com

  28. This is useful information for those who need to get Indonesian visa. I have yet to visit Indonesia. I’ve been to our other neighboring Asian countries like Malaysia and Thailand in the past. I was planning to go to Bali for my honeymon but we didn’t push through because all the hotels were booked since it was peak season.

  29. This is very useful. I will take a note of this. Thank you for sharing your ideas and making others life easier in travelling :)

  30. I feel happy that I don’t have to get a visa to go to Indonesia. Seriously, it’s one of my dream countries because all of my friends who have been there swear by its beauty. I had a missed opportunity to go there because I cannot take a leave for more than a week. It still makes me sad.

  31. Very useful post! Interesting. I haven’t been to Indonesia yet. So I don’t have any experience. But this is very handy to know. If I will go, I will know how to do this!

  32. This is good information for people who want to obtain the Indonesian visa while living in Malaysia. I will keep your article in mind if I’ll ever be in that situation.

    1. Thank you :) but it as well useful for people who are traveling in Southeast Asia and will passing Malaysia on the way to Indonesia :) They can enjoy Penang island historical George Town, street art beauty and then travel further :)

  33. very useful information for those who needs to apply for a visa to enter Indonesia! I’m very fortunate to be holding a SG passport so there’s actually many countries I can visit without a need for visa.

    1. One citizens can enjoy traveling without visa in Europe, others in Asia and etc. I’m curious if there is any country whose citizens no need visa all around the world? :D

  34. I have a NZ passport so luckily I can still get into Indonesian visa free. But this is a great post for those who need it. Very informative! :D

  35. We don’t need a visa anymore since I’m from an ASEAN country. However, I think this is SUPER helpful for those who still need a visa to get to Indonesia and Malaysia. It’s a really detailed post. Thanks for sharing.

  36. Thank you so much for your detailed post about obtaining an Indonesian visa in Penang. I went to the consulate this morning, and the whole thing was a breeze thanks yo your post :)

  37. Are you very sure that even if you come into indonesa say after 2 months of the visa being made it is not valid for 60 days from date of entry? And only til expiry?

    1. In visa – validation period is 3 months, during which you can enter Indonesia and valid till visa expires. So if you come after 2 months of visa being made you can stay in Indonesia for only 1 month. If you have other experience, please share :)

  38. Hi ! Thank you for all ! Just a word to say that all is always as you say ! We get the Visa last week, in two days, very easily with your advice !

  39. Hi, thank you so much for taking the time to share this valuable information! I think it’s very well explained :) Me and my husband are going tomorrow morning to the consulate to try to get our visa :D

    Thank you again for your help ;)

    Kind regards,

    Vanessa

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