Waters: Your 2026 Guide to the Bali Yacht Visa Regime

By Anais Salvatore, Immigration & Relocation Editor | Updated: June 08, 2026

As Indonesia continues to solidify its position as a premier global yachting destination, the visa and immigration landscape for marine arrivals is evolving. For skippers, crew, and long-stay cruisers, understanding the 2026 regulations is crucial for a seamless entry into Bali and the surrounding archipelago. This analysis breaks down the current framework, costs, and key changes you need to be aware of.

1. What is the Bali Yacht & Marine Visa?

While Indonesia does not offer a visa officially labelled the “Bali Yacht Visa,” it has established a dedicated visit visa category and facilitation regime for foreign yachts that serves this exact purpose. This framework is designed for foreign-flagged private yachts and pleasure craft, allowing skippers, owners, and crew to cruise Indonesian waters for several months without the need for frequent visa runs.

This specialised route exists alongside the standard visit visas that are commonly used by the marine community:

Visa on Arrival (VOA / e-VOA): For short stays and initial entry.
B211A Single-Entry Visit Visa: The most common choice for stays up to 180 days, often arranged under a “yacht cruising” or “tourism” purpose.
D-Type Multiple-Entry Visit Visa: For those who need to frequently enter and exit Indonesia while perhaps leaving their vessel docked in Bali.

A significant development for 2026 is the introduction of a new yacht-focused visit visa, which allows for a continuous 180-day stay with no extensions required. This is a clear move by Indonesian immigration to simplify long-term cruising and reduce administrative burdens for visitors arriving by sea.

2. Visa Options for Yacht Arrivals: A 2026 Comparison

Choosing the right visa depends entirely on your itinerary. The options available for those arriving by sea are largely the same as for air travellers, but the context of cruising adds unique considerations.

For Short Stays (up to 60 days): The Visa on Arrival (VOA), available as an e-VOA online or upon arrival, is the most straightforward option. It provides an initial 30-day stay, extendable once for another 30 days. The government fee is approximately IDR 500,000.
For Medium-Term Cruising (up to 180 days): The B211A single-entry visit visa is the standard. It must be applied for online before your arrival and requires an Indonesian sponsor—a role our agency fulfils for our clients. It allows for an initial 60-day stay, which can be extended twice, for a total of 180 days. The new 180-day yacht visa stream simplifies this by granting the full period upfront.
For Regional Hopping: If you plan to use Bali as a base to explore Southeast Asia, the multiple-entry D-type visa is ideal. It allows you to re-enter Indonesia multiple times over one or two years, with each stay typically capped at 60 days.

3. Step-by-Step Application & Arrival Process

Securing your visa and clearing into Indonesia involves distinct pre-arrival and on-arrival stages.

Pre-Arrival Visa Application (B211A / Yacht Visa)

This process is handled entirely online via the official evisa.imigrasi.go.id portal. As your appointed agent, baliyachtvisa manages this for you.

Sponsorship: We provide the necessary sponsor letter required for any visit visa lasting longer than 60 days.
Document Collation: We help you prepare your digital documents, including a passport valid for at least six months, proof of sufficient funds, a recent photograph, and proof of onward travel.
Online Submission: Our team submits the application and liaises with immigration on your behalf. The e-Visa is typically issued within 7-14 business days and sent directly to your email.

On-Arrival Clearance by Sea

Once your e-Visa is secured, the arrival process at a designated seaport like Benoa in Bali is focused on vessel and crew clearance.

Digital Declarations: All arrivals must complete the Electronic Customs Declaration (ECD) online to receive a QR code. From 2025, the “All Indonesia” immigration arrival card app is also mandatory for all ports.
CIQP Check: Officials from Customs, Immigration, Quarantine, and Port (CIQP) will board your vessel to conduct formalities, check passports, stamp visas, and clear the yacht.
No More Quarantine: Post-COVID regulations, still in force in 2026, mean that quarantine and arrival PCR tests are no longer required for yacht arrivals.

4. Yacht Clearance & Port Formalities

The most significant regulatory relief for the yachting community has been the permanent abolishment of the CAIT (Clearance Approval for Indonesian Territory) permit. This has removed a major layer of bureaucracy, making spontaneous entry into Indonesia far easier.

Entry is restricted to designated seaports. For cruisers, the most relevant include:

Benoa (Bali)
Batam & Bintan (near Singapore)
Nunukan (for Borneo approaches)

Our WhatsApp concierge service can provide real-time advice on clearance procedures and port-specific requirements as you plan your route.

5. Costs & Agency Service Fees (2026 Estimates)

Budgeting for your visa is straightforward. It is important to distinguish between government fees and agency service fees, which cover sponsorship, document handling, and processing.

VOA Extension: While the initial VOA costs IDR 500,000, having an agent handle the 30-day extension in Bali typically costs around USD 70 per person. This fee includes our service for managing the paperwork and accompanying you to immigration.
B211A Single-Entry Visa (up to 180 days): Agency packages for the full B211A process, including sponsorship and all extensions, vary based on processing speed. 2026 guides quote a range, and we recommend contacting our team for a precise, all-inclusive quote tailored to your crew’s needs.

6. Key 2026 Regulatory Changes & Enforcement

The theme for 2026 is simplification and digitisation.

No CAIT: The abolishment of the CAIT permit remains the most impactful change, simplifying entry logistics.
New 180-Day Visa: The new yacht-focused visa is being actively promoted to encourage longer stays.
Digital Arrival: The mandatory use of the ECD and “All Indonesia” immigration app streamlines customs and immigration data collection.
Strict Onward Ticket Enforcement: Immigration officials in Bali are increasingly strict on enforcing the “proof of onward travel” requirement, even for those arriving by private yacht. This must be prepared in advance.

With over a decade of experience, the experts on our team are adept at se evolving rules to ensure your application is compliant and successful.

Chat a visa specialist on WhatsApp →

Disclaimer: We are a licensed visa facilitation service, not a government office, and this page is general information — not legal advice. Fees shown are agency service estimates, not official government fees. Requirements change; we confirm the latest rules for your case before you apply.

Sources consulted: https://magnumestate.com/blog/bali-visa-application-guide-2026; https://www.dockwalk.com/news/indonesia-to-add-new-visa-benefiting-yachts; https://www.outsite.co/blog/bali-visas-for-digital-nomads-business-visas; https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/cruise-destinations/asia-australia/bangkok-bali-beyond/visa-information.html; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZk3VfF5tII; https://shortstaybali.com/bali-visa-requirements-2026/