What the Bali Tourist Levy Is and Why It Exists
Since Bali Provincial Regulation No. 6 of 2023 took effect, every international visitor arriving in Bali for tourism must pay a one-time Foreign Tourist Levy (Pungutan Wisatawan Asing) of IDR 150,000, roughly USD 10. The fee is charged once per trip regardless of how many times a traveler enters the island, and the revenue is directed toward cultural preservation, environmental protection, and tourism infrastructure.
This charge sits entirely separate from any Indonesian visa cost. Travelers who also need a Visa on Arrival pay an additional IDR 500,000 (around USD 35) for a 30-day entry permit. Paying one does not offset the other.
How to Pay Through the Official Portal
The only legitimate payment channel is the Bali provincial government's own platform: lovebali.baliprov.go.id. The same service is available through the Love Bali mobile app on both major app stores. Paying before departure is strongly recommended because it lets travelers skip queues at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS).
The process involves entering your name, passport number, email address, nationality, and arrival date, then selecting either an individual or group payment. Accepted methods include major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, UnionPay), bank transfer, virtual account, and QRIS. After payment, a QR code voucher arrives by email; travelers present this on arrival.
If the portal fails to load, disabling a VPN or ad-blocker usually resolves the issue. As a fallback, a BRI bank counter inside the international arrivals hall at DPS accepts payment in person.
Who Does Not Need to Pay
Indonesian citizens are fully exempt. Several foreign visa categories are also excluded, though some must apply for the exemption in advance through the same Love Bali portal. Exempt categories include holders of KITAS or KITAP residency permits, diplomatic and official visa holders, student and family-unification visa holders, Golden Visa holders, and transport crew members.
One point families often overlook: children traveling on a foreign passport are not automatically exempt. Budget IDR 150,000 per passport-holding family member unless that child holds one of the exempt visa types.
Avoiding Scam Sites
Fraudulent websites mimicking the levy payment page are widespread. The rule is straightforward: any domain that does not end in .go.id is not the official site. Sponsored search ads, WhatsApp or Telegram messages offering priority processing, and anyone approaching travelers in person claiming to collect the levy are all scams. Type the government address directly into a browser rather than clicking any link.
Why It Matters for Hosts
Independent accommodation operators in Bali should add a clear levy reminder to every pre-arrival communication they send to international guests. A short note in the booking confirmation, pointing guests to the official .go.id portal and warning them about fake sites, reduces the chance a guest arrives at DPS without a valid voucher and then blames the property for a stressful check-in experience. Hosts who work with guests from markets less familiar with the levy (such as first-time visitors from countries with Visa on Arrival eligibility) will find that proactive guidance builds trust and prevents last-minute confusion at the airport.
The details in this post were first reported by Wego on their travel blog, with original sourcing from the Bali Provincial Government's Love Bali portal. This post is published by the Qontaktly travel blog.
First reported by blog.wego.com.