Never wait for a country to charge you a fine, put you on the blacklist, and kick you out because you are too preoccupied with all the convenience you have had there -family visits, traveling, business, anything. Before your visa expires, pack your suitcase then hop on the airplane to go back to your homeland. Preventing visa overstay makes the case if you love that country so much and still wish to go back. This also ensures you don’t have to deal with the immigration officers if you ever revisited the country. So, what happens if you overstay your visa in Indonesia?
There are many cases of visa overstay not only in Indonesia but worldwide! Therefore, it is important to understand the meaning of the term and have an insight into what applies in the country especially for visitors who are about to go to Indonesia when you have passed the limit of your stay here.
Visa Overstay – What Is It?
You are committing a permit violation by visa overstay in a country. The regulation regarding this matter varies from one country to another. In the U.S., for instance, if you are 180 days overstaying your visa, you are not allowed reentry for three years. What happens if you overstay your visa in the U.S by a year or more? It increases the penalty to ten years!
On the other hand, in India, if you are caught overstaying your visa, you are to pay fines ranging from $300 to $500 (depending upon your overstay duration), up to 5 years of prison sentences, and you will be barred from re-visiting India again.
What Happens If You Overstay Your Visa in Indonesia?
Unless you are applying for an e-Visa, you are violating the visa permit by visa overstay. According to the new Presidential Regulation Number 28 of 2019 and Immigration Law No.6/2011 under Article 78:
if you have exceeded the limit of your given visa duration, less than 60 days in the Indonesian Territory, you will be charged IDR1.000.000.000/day.
Imagine overstaying your visa for 30 days, that means a total fine of IDR30.000.000. Surely, this will be a total headache.
If you can’t settle the amount of penalty or your visa overstay has been beyond 60 days, you will discredit your name on Indonesia’s tourist blacklist. Immediate deportation is inevitable in addition to prohibition to reentering the Indonesian territory.
If You Wish to Stay Longer in Indonesia, Consider the Right Visa for Your Special Need
You can always consult an expert when you are not sure which visa to choose for your traveling purpose to Indonesia. The handiest option will be a business visa that we can specify in two types. The single-entry type gives you the convenience to stay for a maximum of 60 days. Your one-time journey visa is valid for 60 days and extendable up to 4 times. Each extension allows you to prolong your stay for another 30 days. While the multiple-entry one is valid for 12 months with a stay duration of 60 days and is extendable, too.
This type is fairly more flexible than the former. It lets you have an unlimited number of entries in Indonesia per year. Each has its pro and cons. However, if you are trying to avoid visa overstay, you would want to take a closer look at the option that allows you longer validity.
You might be interested to read Types of Visas before Travelling to Indonesia
Extend Your Visa Before It Is Too Late or Leave Before Your Visa Is Expired!
No matter how short and long your visa overstay is, your track record will leave a gap of doubt from the immigration officer the next time you are about to re-enter the country. Don’t make them question you and think that you might have planned to repeat your past behavior. So, when it is time for you to go and you cannot extend your visa because of certain circumstances, don’t ever dare to commit visa overstay. It is just not worth it! You are paying a substantial amount of penalty. Moreover, you are at risk of not being able to experience the beauty of the country, ever again. Also, what hurts more than having your own fault being the reason a nation rejects your presence.
