Bali trip practicalities
The Indonesia Arrival Card, Explained
The Indonesia arrival card is a separate customs and immigration declaration from your visa, and most travellers now complete it online shortly before arrival rather than on paper.
The Indonesia arrival card is a customs and immigration declaration every traveller entering the country needs to complete, separate from whatever visa you’re travelling on. It asks for standard details — passport information, accommodation address, length of stay — plus a customs declaration about what you’re bringing in. Get the format and timing right and it takes a couple of minutes; get it wrong and it can mean an extra queue at the airport.
Arrival card vs visa: two different things
This is the most common confusion we hear from villa guests. Your visa (see our guide to Bali visa on arrival) is your legal permission to enter and stay in Indonesia. The arrival card is a separate declaration about your specific trip — where you’re staying, how long, and what you’re carrying — required regardless of which visa type you’re travelling on. You’ll typically need to deal with both, usually in the same immigration process, but they’re not interchangeable and completing one doesn’t cover the other.
How it’s completed today
Indonesia has moved toward an online arrival card system for most travellers, completed shortly before arrival rather than on a paper form handed out on the plane. Exactly how far in advance you can or should submit it, and whether a paper fallback still exists at all entry points, is worth checking close to your travel date, since this process has changed more than once in recent years (as of 2026, verify). The authoritative source is the official Indonesian immigration site, imigrasi.go.id.
| What you’ll typically need | Why |
|---|---|
| Passport details | Standard identity verification |
| Address of first accommodation | Where you’re staying — have your villa address ready |
| Length of stay | Matches your visa/return flight |
| Customs declaration | What you’re bringing into the country |
| Flight details | Arrival flight number and date |
Have your villa address ready
The arrival card typically asks for the address of your first accommodation in Indonesia, so it helps to have your villa’s exact address on hand before you start filling it in — whichever of our Sanur, Canggu, Umalas or Ungasan villas you’ve booked, we send full address details in your booking confirmation, which is worth saving somewhere accessible on your phone rather than searching for it at the airport.
The customs declaration part
Beyond the immigration details, the arrival card includes a customs declaration covering items like cash above a certain threshold, goods for commercial purposes, and restricted items (certain foods, plants, animal products). The exact declaration thresholds and prohibited-item list are set by Indonesian customs and are worth checking directly rather than guessing, particularly if you’re carrying anything unusual — medication in larger quantities, professional equipment, or amounts of cash above what feels like a normal travel amount (as of 2026, verify).
When to fill it in
If using the online system, there’s typically a window before arrival within which you’re expected to submit it — not so early that your details might change, not so late that you’re doing it in the immigration queue. Check the current guidance on imigrasi.go.id for the exact window, and consider completing it during your layover or shortly before landing rather than leaving it until you’re queuing.
What happens if you don’t complete it
Arriving without a completed arrival card generally means completing it at the airport before you can clear immigration, which adds time to an already long post-flight process. For villa guests arranging an airport transfer, this is worth building into your expected clearance time so your driver isn’t waiting unnecessarily and you’re not stressed about the wait.
A simple pre-flight checklist
- Confirm the current arrival card format and submission window on imigrasi.go.id before you fly
- Have your villa’s exact address saved and accessible on your phone
- Know your flight number and arrival date for the form
- Check current customs declaration thresholds if carrying cash, equipment or restricted items
- Complete it during your layover or shortly before landing, not in the immigration queue
What to do next
The arrival card is a small but easy-to-underestimate step in getting through Bali immigration smoothly. Complete it in the right window with your villa address ready, and it adds minutes rather than becoming a queue you weren’t expecting.
- Check the current format and timing on imigrasi.go.id before your flight
- Save your villa’s address somewhere accessible for the form
- Plan your airport transfer timing with immigration clearance in mind
Book a villa with us and we’ll send your full address in the booking confirmation, ready for your arrival card and transfer driver alike.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Indonesia arrival card the same as a visa application?
No. They're separate requirements — your visa is legal permission to enter and stay, while the arrival card is a customs and immigration declaration about your specific trip, required regardless of visa type.
Do I complete the arrival card online or on paper?
Indonesia has moved toward an online system for most travellers, completed shortly before arrival, though the exact process and any paper fallback should be checked close to your travel date on imigrasi.go.id, since this has changed in recent years (as of 2026, verify).
What address should I put on the arrival card?
Your first accommodation address in Indonesia — for villa guests, this is your villa's exact address, which we include in your booking confirmation. Have it saved and accessible before you start the form.
What happens if I don't fill in the arrival card before landing?
You'll typically need to complete it at the airport before clearing immigration, which adds time to your arrival process. It's worth completing it during your layover or shortly before landing instead.
Do children need their own arrival card?
Requirements for minors travelling with family can differ from the standard process, so check current guidance on imigrasi.go.id if you're travelling with children, rather than assuming one form covers the whole family (as of 2026, verify).
Written by The Host Bali team, who manage villas in Sanur, Canggu, Umalas and Ungasan. Prices, rules and visa details change; we date every guide and update it when something moves. Nothing here is legal or tax advice — for a purchase or a licence, check the specifics with a licensed notary or adviser in Bali.