What to prepare before departure and do in your first day on the island. 10 sections, all links clickable, verified by expats' experience.
I put this memo together from my own experience + 4 guides by folks who've lived here for years. Before your trip, run through the sections — tick off what's done, and you'll travel with peace of mind.
Citizens of most non-visa-free countries need a visa for Indonesia — the terms are the same. Short stay (up to 60 days) — VOA at the airport or e-VOA online for $35. Long stay — B211A (up to 6 months) or D12/KITAS (1–2 years) via a visa agency.
| Visa | Duration | Price | When to get |
|---|---|---|---|
| VOA (at the airport) | 30 days + 30-day extension | $35 | Up to 60 days |
| e-VOA (online) | 30 + 30 | $35 | If you want e-gates |
| B211A (agency) | 60 + 60 + 60 | $150–250 | 4–6 months |
| D12 / KITAS | 1–2 years · 180 days | $1000+ | Long stay, work |
If you're coming for a month — the easiest path is a VOA at the counter on arrival, or online through a visa agent in 1–2 days.
For long-stay D12 / KITAS — agency only.
Perfect for a month. You land → head to the Visa on Arrival counter → pay $35 cash or by card → get a 30-day stamp with the option to extend another 30. No prep required.
Downside: the queue after a long flight. Upside: no prep needed, cheap, no middlemen.
Send your passport scan to an agent on Telegram/WhatsApp — they issue your e-Visa in 1–2 days. $35–60 depending on the agency. Especially handy if you're paying from a country where foreign cards don't work on the government site.
If you'd rather skip both the middleman and the arrival queue — apply for an e-VOA online in advance. Fill it out at home, use the e-gates at the airport (faster than the regular passport control line).
When applying for a visa you need to enter return ticket details, and they may also ask for it at customs and the border. Validity — within your visa duration (30 days for VOA).
Most popular option — an Onward Ticket service: for $12–18 they buy a real ticket in your name for 24–48 hours, and you get a real PNR code.
Choose the visa to match your planned stay in Bali.
For D12 / KITAS — you can't apply yourself, only via an agent. The agency will collect the documents and tell you the full package for your situation.
Two sites are mandatory — e-Visa (if you're using an electronic visa) and e-CD (customs declaration — for everyone). Without an e-CD QR code, they won't let you through passport control.
Russian-issued cards don't work. The most reliable option — GoPay + crypto/USDT via P2P. Alternatives — intermediary cards (Kazakhstan/Georgia/Armenia) or cash.
You have it easiest of all: your regular Visa / Mastercard works in Bali like anywhere else. Apple Pay and Google Pay work, standard setup. ATMs dispense cash, terminals in stores accept payments, Booking/Airbnb reservations go through.
No need to bother with workarounds. Bring 2 cards from different banks (in case of blocks), $200–300 cash for the first day — and you're set.
The most reliable setup for Russians in Bali: GoPay is a Balinese mobile wallet (like Apple Pay, but local). You download the app, verify with your passport, and use it like a regular card: online transfers, QR-code payments at warungs and shops, in-app purchases (Grab/Gojek/Tokopedia).
How to top up: buy crypto (USDT) on any exchange → send to a local P2P service → they send USDT straight to your GoPay. Fair rate, no amount limits.
From the expats' guide: "Russian cards don't work. Working options — cards from Armenian/Georgian/Kazakh banks, crypto wallets with P2P cash-out, USDT through local exchanges. Double-check current options — the situation changes."
Only authorized money changers — blue "PVA Berizin Bank Indonesia" sign. No street changers, no "zero commission" traps.
With the T-Bank card — free travel insurance. Book Bali flights via Tinkoff Travel with the AllAirlines card — 7% miles cashback.
Best bet: Airalo eSIM before departure — online the moment you land. Airport SIMs cost twice as much as in town.
| Option | Price | When |
|---|---|---|
| Airalo eSIM ⭐ | $10–30 / 30 days | iPhone XR+ / newer Android. Online from landing |
| Telkomsel SIM (airport) | 100–150k IDR | Land and head straight to the counter |
| Telkomsel SIM (town) | 50–100k IDR | Save money, but no connection for the first hour |
Physical SIM purchase requires your passport — the seller registers the SIM to you by phone IMEI.
If you stay in Bali longer than 60 days — you'll need to extend the IMEI registration of your phone, or the SIM will stop working. Two options:
@travelmobile_bot — a Telegram bot that issues eSIMs before you arrive. Handy if you don't want to bother with Airalo or need different plans. Instant activation — a QR code arrives in the chat.
Without Grab or Gojek — you're nobody in Bali. Without VPN — no blocked sites. Without Surfline — you'll never catch the tides.
Booking/Airbnb for 2–7 nights. For a month — Telegram chats and agencies. Long-term rentals in person are 2–3× cheaper.
| Type | Period | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Guesthouse (room + shared kitchen) | month | $400–600 |
| Studio in Canggu | month | $600–1000 |
| 1-bedroom villa | month | $1000–2500 |
| 2-bedroom villa + pool | month | $1500–4000 |
| 4★ hotel | night | $80–150 |
| Boutique hotel | night | $200–400 |
Don't bring towels or a hairdryer — available everywhere. But don't forget an adapter, repellent, and a warm hoodie for the mountains.
Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) is located in Denpasar — Bali's only airport, where you'll be landing. Modern, clean, with a glass roof in traditional Balinese style.
In the arrivals hall there are Grab and Gojek counters — staff will help you book the ride and walk you to the car if the app isn't installed yet or won't work. Easiest path for a first-timer.
If you already use the service — just book in the app. The driver won't pull up right at the exit (locals "protect" the area). The Pickup Point is in the parking lot to the left of the exit, about 3 minutes' walk. Open Pickup Point on Maps →
You save $10–20 vs the official airport taxi (300k IDR vs 80–150k via the app).
A benchmark so you don't get overcharged at the taxi counters by the exit. The real Grab/Gojek price depends on time of day (nights and rush hour +30–50%) and traffic.
| Where to | Price (Grab) |
|---|---|
| Kuta / Seminyak | 80–100k IDR (~$6) |
| Canggu | 150–200k IDR (~$12) |
| Ubud | 350–450k IDR (~$28) |
| Bukit / Uluwatu | 150–220k IDR (~$13) |
These services are in the Trely catalog — open in one click.
Save these to your phone before departure. The tourist police speak English.
| Police | 110 |
| Ambulance | 118 / 119 |
| Tourist Police (English-speaking) | 112 |
| Russian Embassy in Jakarta | +62 21 522-2912 |
| BIMC Hospital (tourist) | +62 361 761-263 |
| Siloam Hospital Kuta | +62 361 779-900 |
