If you're flying into Bali for the first time, the arrival process at Denpasar’s Ngurah Rai International Airport can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve created this up-to-date guide packed with Bali airport arrival tips for 2025. Avoid visa queues, customs delays, and overpriced airport taxis. Whether you're heading to Ubud, Seminyak, or straight to your beach club, here's how to land smoothly and start your trip right.
What to Know Before You Arrive at Bali Airport (2025 Checklist)
- Passport Validity (at least 6 months at time of entry)
- Check Visa Requirements
- Apply for E-Visa (if applicable) or plan for Visa on Arrival (VOA)
- Complete Customs Declaration Form (Online)
- Pay your Bali Tourist Levy in advance
- Complete Health Declaration
- Plan your Airport Transfer
E-Visa / Visa on Arrival Tips (2025 Update)
Most SEA countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand have visa-free entry, and 90+ other countries can obtain either a Visa on Arrival (VOA) or an e-VOA online which gives you entry for up to 30 days, with a one-time extension option for an additional 30 days.
Visa Cost: IDR 500,000 (approx. USD $35 or AUD $50)
Getting your Visa on Arrival at Bali Airport:
When you get off the plane, follow the signage towards the customs & immigration area. Once you reach this area, you'll see counters where you can get your VOA on the spot. You can pay for this with cash, credit card, or they also accept certain foreign currency e.g. USD, AUD - but normally the exchange rates are not the best so would recommend either cash or credit card.
Once you've paid, the staff will give you a paper visa / receipt and you can proceed to the lines to go through customs or if you have an electronic passport (chip enabled) you can head out directly through the e-gates (normally much faster than lining up through normal customs counter lines)!
Getting your e-Visa on Arrival online:
A major hack to skip the lines at Bali Airport is to apply for your VOA online prior to your arrival. The cost it the same, and you can go directly to customs (if you can use the e-gates, you literally go straight through and will be out within minutes)!
You can apply online here: https://evisa.imigrasi.go.id/web/application_bvk - always make sure you are applying on the official government website.
- Select option: B1 Tourist Visa On Arrival (for stays up to 30 days)
-
Select Airport: Bandara Internasional Ngurah Rai.
-
Select City: Not a major concern but generally if you're staying in Seminyak, Canggu, Kuta, Uluwatu, Nusa Dua you can choose KAB BADUNG; Depansar, Sanur choose KOTA DENPASAR; Ubud choose KAB GIANYAR.
Getting Through Immigration & Customs Quickly
Apart from getting your e-visa sorted before arrival, there are a few more items you can check off ahead of time to ensure you start your holiday as soon as possible!
- Complete Customs Declaration Form - can be completed up to 3 days before your arrival: https://ecd.beacukai.go.id/
- Pay your Bali Tourist Levy - from Feb 2024 onwards, all tourists need to pay a tourist levy / tax of IRD 150,000 per person (approx. USD $10 / AUD $15). You can either pay at the airport, or to save time you can pay this online in advance: https://lovebali.baliprov.go.id/
- Complete Health Declaration - from Aug 2024 onwards, all tourists entering Indonesia need to submit a health declaration regarding MPox using the SatuSehat Health Pass declaration form: https://sshp.kemkes.go.id/. This should be completed up to 3 days before your arrival.
At the completion of all of these processes above, you will receive a QR code. Screenshot/save those QR codes and have them ready to show when going through the airport and you'll breeze through the lines! Of course, if you don't have time to do this all ahead of time, there is free WIFI & computers available for you to do all of these things at the airport if needed.
Avoiding Taxi Scams: Best Transfer Options from the Airport
When you have collected your luggage and passed through customs, you'll end up at the arrival hall with a LOT of drivers waiting at the exit, and many who will approach you and likely charge much more than normal. To avoid any scams, we would recommend you take one of the following options:
- Grab or Go-Jek (Uber equivalent)
- Private Transfer
- Taxi
Grab or Go-Jek Ride-Hailing Apps (Uber equivalent in Bali) - Cheapest Option
Uber does not work in Bali - so download Grab and Go-Jek ahead of time - this will be your best form of transport even after you leave the airport!
Both ride-share apps are very similar in terms of service and speed, and quite often you can just open both to check the prices to decide which one to go with. Both have their own pick up lounges at the airport (you'll see plenty of signage) - you can wait for your ride there, or get help from their staff if needed.
Grab / Go-Jek will be the cheapest option - and as the price will be confirmed on the app when you book, you won't need to worry about being scammed!
To Seminyak - rates vary based on time of day, traffic, no. of riders etc. but we typically get a rate of IDR 150,000 (USD $10 / AUD $15).
Private Transfer
Private Transfers with your hotels in Bali are suprisingly affordable in comparison to most other countries.
Just simply contact your hotel ahead of time (Whatsapp is the most efficient means of communication, even for hotels), and they will provide rates. As soon as you walk into the arrivals hall, you'll see someone holding your name on a sign waiting for you, just like in the movies! Likely to be slightly more expensive than other options, but comparatively still probably cheaper than a normal taxi ride in Western countries.
To Seminyak - rates vary but we have had private transfers with a 4-star hotel for IDR250,000 (approx. USD $15 / AUD $25).
Taxis
There are a lot of taxi drivers that will swarm you on arrival with plenty of offers. To avoid getting scammed and overpaying, we would recommend taking the above options. However, if you do want to take a metered taxi, you can opt for Bluebird, the largest & most reputable taxi company in Bali. It is not allowed to operate from International Arrivals but if you'd like to take a Bluebird Taxi, you can take the escalators up to the departure hall and hail down someone who has just done a drop-off. This should be metered, and you can also download their app and book via that as well.