Do You Need a Return Ticket to Enter Bali?

Yes, for most foreign visitors. The requirements for the Visa on Arrival (B1), e-VOA and Visa-Free Visit (A1) published on the visa information pages of the Directorate General of Immigration list the same two things: a passport valid for at least 6 months and "a return ticket or onward ticket to another country". The only exception is transport crew joining their vessel (checked October 2026). Indonesian citizens are, of course, not covered by this rule.

What does the rule say for each type of entry?

• VOA and e-VOA (B1): Rp500,000 for 30 days, extendable once to a total of 60 days. When applying for an e-VOA you upload your passport bio page, a photo and a return or onward ticket. If you pay for a VOA at the airport counter, you show the same documents to the officer.
• Visa-free visit (A1): for certain nationalities, free, 30 days, not extendable. On arrival you still have to show a 6-month passport and a return or onward ticket.

Fees and the airport steps are covered in our Bali Visa on Arrival and e-VOA 2026 article.

Who checks: the airline or immigration?

Either can. Immigration officers may ask for your ticket when processing entry. Airlines also have a stake, because a passenger who is refused entry has to be flown back by the airline that brought them. That is why checks often happen at the check-in counter or during online check-in, before you board.

We could not find an official policy page from a specific airline to quote at the time of writing. Traveller reports on forums such as TripAdvisor suggest checks are more common for one-way passengers. Assume any airline may ask.

What happens if I don't have one?

• At the departure airport: you can be refused boarding. The usual fix is buying a ticket out of Indonesia on the spot, at last-minute prices.
• On arrival in Bali: the officer can refuse entry. Many travellers report never being asked, but the requirement is written down, so there is no guarantee you will get through.

Does it have to be a ticket home?

No. The wording is "a return ticket or onward ticket to another country", so a Bali-Kuala Lumpur or Bali-Singapore flight is enough. The rules we read do not set a date limit, but a ticket departing after your permitted stay ends (30 days on a VOA or visa-free entry) is easy for an officer to question.

Can I use a fast boat or ferry ticket to Lombok?

Not really. Lombok, the Gilis and Nusa Penida are all in Indonesia. The requirement is a ticket out of Indonesia, so a Bali-Gili fast boat ticket does not show you are leaving the country. On the other hand, an international flight from another Indonesian airport, such as Lombok-Singapore or Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur, does match "an onward ticket to another country".

What about refundable tickets or "ticket rental"?

• Refundable ticket: you buy a cancellable fare and cancel it after entry. The risks: cancellation fees, refunds as travel credit rather than cash, and a process that can take weeks. Read the fare rules, not just the "refundable" label.
• Paid "onward ticket" services: a temporary reservation whose booking code expires within a day or two. Widely used, but the code may already be cancelled when an officer or airline checks it, and that risk is yours.
• Safest: a real, cheap ticket out of Indonesia on a sensible date, such as a short flight to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.

I hold a KITAS, an E33G or a C1 visa. Does this apply?

• KITAS/KITAP: you enter on a valid stay permit and re-entry permit; the ticket rule for VOA and visa-free entry does not apply to you. Carry your card or electronic permit.
• E33G (remote worker visa): the immigration site lists a 6-month passport, bank statements showing at least USD 2,000, income of at least US$60,000 a year, an employment contract with a foreign company, a CV and a travel itinerary, with no mention of a return ticket. Details are in our E33G visa article.
• C1 (visit visa applied for before travel, 60 days): for holders of a national passport, the requirements do not list a return ticket. A ticket is only requested from holders of travel documents other than a national passport, such as emergency passports.

Holders of these visas can still be asked at check-in, so keep proof of your visa on your phone and on paper.

What else should I prepare?

Complete the All Indonesia Arrival Card before landing. Save your onward e-ticket as a PDF that opens offline, because signal in the arrivals area can be weak and the queue will not wait for your email to load.