Choosing a Bali tourist visa usually begins with a practical question: is the trip short enough for the B1 Visa on Arrival, or does it make more sense to obtain a C1 tourist visa before travelling? The answer depends on the traveller’s nationality, intended activities, planned stay and preferred application route.
The B1 is Indonesia’s single-entry Visa on Arrival for nationals covered by the official VOA scheme. It permits an initial stay of up to 30 days from arrival and can be extended once, bringing the maximum total stay to 60 days. The C1 is also a single-entry visit visa, but it provides an initial stay of up to 60 days and may be extended several times, subject to a maximum total stay of 180 days.
The government fees also differ. The Directorate General of Immigration currently publishes a fee of Rp500,000 for the 30-day B1 and Rp1,000,000 for the 60-day C1. These are government non-tax state revenue charges, commonly described as PNBP. They do not include any fee charged by a private visa service.
Neither option should be selected from trip length alone. A traveller must also check nationality eligibility, the stated purpose of the visit, document requirements and the restrictions attached to the visa. Immigration authorities retain the power to assess an application, entry and extension.
The quick answer: choose by trip length, route and purpose
When the B1 Visa on Arrival may fit
The B1 may suit an eligible traveller planning a short holiday, family visit, transit or attendance at a meeting, incentive, convention, exhibition or similar event. It is issued for one entry and provides up to 30 days in Indonesia from the date of arrival.
A B1 holder may apply for one extension. If granted, the total stay can reach 60 days. There is no second B1 extension under the official description, so a traveller whose itinerary may run beyond 60 days should not plan on repeatedly renewing the same B1.
Nationality is an essential part of the decision. The B1 is limited to nationals covered by Indonesia’s VOA scheme. The list can change, so this guide does not use a fixed country count or decide eligibility for an individual traveller. Check the current Visa on Arrival nationality list before relying on this route.
The B1 is available electronically as an e-VOA and in a non-electronic form at arrival. The choice between them affects the extension route, which is explained below.
When the C1 may fit
The C1 may suit a traveller who wants up to 60 days from the initial entry or who expects a stay that could exceed the B1’s 60-day ceiling. It must be applied for through a registered account at Indonesia’s official eVisa website, and the visa must be obtained before it can be used for entry.
The C1 may be extended several times up to a total stay of 180 days. The official wording does not state that every extension has a fixed 60-day duration, nor does it promise that any extension will be approved. Travel plans should therefore be based on the issued immigration documents and the current extension decision, not an assumed renewal schedule.
The standard C1 route generally does not require a sponsor. The official page lists exceptions for stateless applicants, holders of travel documents that are not national passports, and nationals within a specified category. Anyone who may fall into an exception should check the current official requirements rather than assume the general rule applies.
What the B1 Visa on Arrival allows
Purpose and nationality eligibility
The Directorate General of Immigration describes B1 as a tourist visit visa available on arrival to nationals that are subjects of the VOA scheme. It covers tourism and family visits, as well as transit through Indonesia to another country. It also covers attendance at meetings, incentives, conventions, exhibitions and similar events.
That list should be read as a set of permitted visit purposes, not as permission to undertake employment or provide services in Indonesia. A traveller whose proposed activities do not fit the published purposes should obtain an activity-specific assessment before departure.
Nationality eligibility must be checked against the live government list. This guide does not make an eligibility determination for any nationality or travel document.
A 30-day initial stay and one extension
The initial B1 stay is up to 30 days, counted from the date of arrival. It is a single-entry visa, so departing Indonesia ends that entry. An unused balance of days does not preserve the same entry for a later return.
The B1 stay may be extended once, with the overall stay capped at 60 days. This makes the route straightforward for a trip of up to one month and potentially workable for a trip of up to two months. The traveller still needs to complete the relevant extension process and receive approval before relying on the additional period.
A planned stay close to 60 days requires careful date checking. Travellers should use the dates shown on their immigration record rather than counting from flight schedules or accommodation bookings. A change to the arrival date changes the stay calculation.
e-VOA and non-electronic VOA
An eligible traveller may use the electronic Visa on Arrival route or obtain a non-electronic VOA through the designated process at arrival. The official B1 page distinguishes how the two forms are paid and extended.
The e-VOA government fee is paid digitally by debit or credit card. The non-electronic VOA is paid through an appointed bank counter in the immigration inspection area. The published government fee is Rp500,000 for the initial 30-day B1 in either form.
For an e-VOA, the electronic visa is valid for use within 90 days from issuance. That validity window is not a 90-day permitted stay. Once the traveller arrives and the stay begins, the B1 permits up to 30 days initially. A non-electronic VOA is used when issued at arrival.
The distinction matters because visa validity answers when an issued visa may be used for entry, while the stay period answers how long the person may remain after arrival. Travellers should check both the issued visa and their stay record.
What the C1 tourist visa allows
A 60-day initial stay and single entry
The C1 is a single-entry visit visa with an initial permitted stay of up to 60 days from arrival. It provides a longer first stay than the B1 without requiring a B1 extension merely to reach day 31.
The C1 can be extended several times, with the total stay capped at 180 days under the current official description. That wording is important. It does not support a universal promise of exactly two extensions or a fixed duration for each extension.
Like the B1, the C1 distinguishes visa validity from permitted stay. The official C1 page states that the visa is valid for 90 days from issuance. If it is not used during that period, a new visa is required for a later entry. After entry, the permitted stay is governed by the stay period recorded for that visit.
Published application items and sponsor exceptions
A foreign national must have an account at Indonesia’s official eVisa website before applying for C1. The official C1 page lists general electronic application items that include a valid travel document, financial evidence and a recent colour photograph.
For a national passport, the published general requirement is at least six months of remaining validity. Different travel documents, including certain emergency or temporary documents, can be subject to a 12-month validity requirement and other conditions. Travellers using anything other than a standard national passport should check the exact official rules for that document.
The financial evidence listed on the C1 page is a bank statement covering the latest three months in the name of the foreign national or sponsor, showing at least USD2,000 or the equivalent in another currency. The page also lists a recent colour photograph taken within the previous year.
These are published general items, not a substitute for the current application screen or an individual document review. File specifications and requirements can depend on the applicant’s circumstances.
The standard position published for C1 is that a sponsor is not required. Exceptions apply to stateless applicants, holders of travel documents other than national passports, and nationals covered by the relevant listed-country category. The phrase “no sponsor required” should therefore be understood as a general rule with stated exceptions.
The Directorate General of Immigration publishes a processing time of five working days after payment is received. This is a published timeframe, not a guarantee of issuance on a particular date. An application can still depend on complete documents, verification and the immigration decision.
For a closer look at the published application information, see Royal Visa’s page on C1 requirements, government fee and process. The official government page remains the authority for current requirements.
C1 purposes and boundaries
The C1 covers tourism, personal development, learning about tourist attractions and cruise travel. Its published purposes also include participating in meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions.
The official list extends to certain business discussions, negotiations and signing agreements at offices, factories or production locations. It also includes site visits to offices, factories, production sites, prospective investment locations and mining locations, along with medical-related activities.
Those listed activities do not turn the C1 into a work visa. The visa page prohibits the holder from selling goods or services or receiving payment, wages or similar remuneration for work or business from an Indonesian person or corporation. It also states that a C1 holder may not fill a role as a speaker.
A person whose planned activity involves work, services, payment or a public speaking role should not stretch the tourist category to fit. The appropriate visa classification depends on the actual activity, not the label used in an itinerary or invitation.
B1 VOA vs C1: compare the official facts
The comparison below uses only details published on the current B1 and C1 pages of the Directorate General of Immigration. It separates the initial stay from the maximum total stay and avoids assigning either visa as a universal “best” option.
| Official factor | B1 Visa on Arrival | C1 tourist visa |
|---|---|---|
| Entry count | Single entry | Single entry |
| Initial permitted stay | Up to 30 days from arrival | Up to 60 days from arrival |
| Maximum total stay described | Up to 60 days after one extension | Up to 180 days through several extensions |
| Current government PNBP | Rp500,000 for 30 days | Rp1,000,000 for 60 days, extendable |
| Sponsor treatment | No sponsor required | Generally no sponsor; official exceptions apply |
| Published application channel | Electronic pre-arrival route or non-electronic VOA at arrival for eligible nationals | Registered account at evisa.imigrasi.go.id before travel |
| Extension direction | e-VOA online; non-electronic VOA at nearest immigration office to domicile | Online through a registered eVisa account |
| Selected activity boundary | No selling goods/services or Indonesian-source remuneration for work/business | Same restriction; holder also may not fill a speaker role |
The main dividing line is the intended length of the trip. The B1 starts with up to 30 days and has one extension to a maximum of 60 days. The C1 starts with up to 60 days and may be extended several times, with a maximum total stay of 180 days.
The application route is another practical difference. The B1 can be obtained through an electronic pre-arrival route or as a non-electronic VOA at arrival for an eligible nationality. The C1 is applied for through a registered eVisa account before travel.
Sponsorship should not be used as a shorthand distinction between the two. The B1 does not require a sponsor. The C1 generally does not require one either, although its official page lists specific exceptions.
Fees: separate government PNBP from private assistance
B1 government fee: Rp500,000
The current government PNBP for a B1 is Rp500,000 for the initial 30-day stay. The official page also records verification charges at Rp0. For e-VOA applications, payment is made digitally by debit or credit card. A non-electronic VOA is paid at an appointed bank counter in the immigration inspection area.
This is the current official Indonesia Visa on Arrival price shown on the B1 page. Reports or proposals about a possible fee change do not alter the effective tariff displayed by Immigration. Travellers should recheck the official page and payment screen before paying because tariffs can change through formal government action.
C1 government fee: Rp1,000,000
The C1 page publishes a government fee of Rp1,000,000 for the 60-day extendable visa. It also records verification charges at Rp0 and states that PNBP payments can be made through appointed banks using the billing code generated in the system.
The C1 fee is higher at the initial stage, but the two figures do not represent identical products. One pays for a B1 with an initial stay of up to 30 days, while the other is for a C1 with an initial stay of up to 60 days. Extension fees and any later services should not be assumed to be included in those initial amounts.
Why a private quote is not the government tariff
A private visa company may charge for document checking, submission assistance, communication or extension support. That service fee is separate from PNBP paid under the government process.
A quote should identify which amount is the government charge and which amount is the provider’s fee. Without that separation, travellers cannot compare the quote with the official tariff or understand what assistance is included.
Royal Visa does not treat a private package price as the official Bali Visa on Arrival cost or C1 tariff. Travellers should review the current government page and the official payment information before completing a transaction.
Extensions and timing: the routes are not interchangeable
B1: one extension only
A B1 can be extended once, with the total stay limited to 60 days. The extension route depends on whether the holder has an electronic or non-electronic VOA.
The official B1 page states that an e-VOA extension can be completed online through evisa.imigrasi.go.id or indonesiavoa.vfsevisa.id. A holder of a non-electronic VOA is directed to the immigration office nearest to the person’s domicile.
This guide does not add a universal appointment, biometrics or step-by-step requirement because the official B1 page does not establish one for every holder. For a focused explanation of the routes, use the official B1 extension guide for Bali and recheck the government portal that applies to the issued visa.
An extension should never be treated as automatic. The holder should act with enough time to follow the current process and should rely only on an approved extension and the updated stay record.
C1: several extensions within a 180-day total
The C1 page states that the stay can be extended online through an account registered at evisa.imigrasi.go.id. It allows several extensions up to a maximum total stay of 180 days.
The wording does not establish an identical extension count or duration for every case. It also does not guarantee approval. A holder should review the live portal, the issued visa and the current requirements before each extension.
A traveller expecting to remain for several months should plan around the maximum total period rather than assume an exact series of renewals. The 180-day figure is a ceiling described by the official C1 page, not a promise that every holder will receive that full period.
Activities and compliance: use the visa for its stated purpose
Both visas are visit categories. Their official pages list activities that the holder may undertake and boundaries that should not be widened through informal interpretations.
For B1, the listed purposes are tourism, family visits, attendance at specified event types and transit. For C1, the list is broader and includes tourism, personal development, learning about tourist attractions, cruise travel and certain meeting, business discussion, site visit and medical-related activities.
Both pages prohibit selling goods or services or receiving payment, wages or similar remuneration for work or business from an Indonesian person or corporation. The C1 page also prohibits filling a role as a speaker.
These restrictions support a narrow conclusion about Indonesian goods, services and remuneration. They do not establish a general rule that remote work for an overseas client or employer is permitted. The location of a bank account, the nationality of a client or the fact that work is performed on a laptop does not provide an answer in these sources.
Travellers with remote-work, consulting, commercial, speaking or mixed-purpose plans should seek advice based on their actual activities before travelling. The safest visa decision is one tied to the proposed conduct and the current official classification, not a broad label such as “digital nomad” or “business visitor.”
Before travel: verify the live source that applies to you
Visa information can change, and a broad comparison cannot decide an individual case. Before departure, a traveller should check five points against current official information:
- Confirm that the passport nationality appears on the live VOA list before choosing B1.
- Check the required remaining validity for the passport or other travel document.
- Review the current official visa page and application route rather than relying on an old system name or saved screenshot.
- Match the visa’s published purposes and restrictions to the activities planned in Indonesia.
- Read the issued visa and stay record carefully, including the last date on which the visa may be used and the permitted period after arrival.
A 90-day visa validity period is not permission to remain for 90 days. On an electronic B1, it is the window in which the issued visa may be used. On a C1, it is also the published validity from issuance. The actual initial stays remain up to 30 days for B1 and up to 60 days for C1.
Entry, visa issuance and extensions remain subject to Immigration’s assessment. No guide or private provider can guarantee the outcome.
Need help deciding which route fits your trip?
Royal Visa can help a traveller compare the trip length, travel document, intended activities and published application requirements before an application is made. The review can also identify when a straightforward B1 or C1 comparison does not answer the activity question.
For support, contact Royal Visa through its tourist and visit visa assistance page or ask for an activity-specific visa assessment. Immigration retains sole authority over visa issuance, entry and extensions, and no private service can guarantee approval.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
A B1 allows an initial stay of up to 30 days from arrival. It may be extended once, bringing the maximum total stay to 60 days. A C1 allows an initial stay of up to 60 days and may be extended several times, subject to a maximum total stay of 180 days.
An e-VOA extension may be completed online through evisa.imigrasi.go.id or indonesiavoa.vfsevisa.id. A non-electronic VOA holder is directed to the immigration office nearest to the holder's domicile. C1 extensions may be completed online through an account registered at evisa.imigrasi.go.id. Extensions remain subject to Immigration's assessment.
The published general rule is that a C1 does not require a sponsor. The official C1 page lists exceptions for stateless applicants, holders of travel documents other than national passports, and nationals in the relevant listed-country category. Applicants who may fall within an exception should check the current official requirements.
The Directorate General of Immigration publishes a B1 government fee of Rp500,000 for 30 days and a C1 government fee of Rp1,000,000 for a 60-day extendable stay. These are government PNBP charges. Private assistance fees are separate.
Check the Directorate General of Immigration's current Visa on Arrival nationality list before relying on the B1 route. This guide does not use a static country count because the official list may change, and it does not determine eligibility for an individual traveller or travel document.
Sources & References
- Directorate General of Immigration, B1 Visa Kunjungan Wisata
- Directorate General of Immigration, C1 Visa Kunjungan Wisata
- Directorate General of Immigration, current Visa on Arrival nationality list
