The Directorate General of Immigration under Indonesia’s Ministry of Law and Human Rights has appointed VFS Global as the exclusive partner for processing Electronic Visas on Arrival (e-VoA). This initiative aims to enhance the visa application process, promote inbound tourism, increase investments, and improve the overall experience for travellers.
Set to launch in the first half of December 2024, VFS Global’s new e-VoA platform will be available to nationals of 97 countries, including India, offering travellers a quicker, more seamless visa application experience. The entire process, from document submission to payment, can be completed online before departure, allowing travellers to receive their pre-approved e-VoA via email. With online payments already made, travellers will benefit from faster entry through E-gates or immigration counters upon arrival in Indonesia.
Silmy Karim, Director General of Immigration for Indonesia, expressed the government’s goal of enhancing digital solutions to make visiting Indonesia more attractive to international travellers. “This collaboration with VFS Global will help increase the arrival of foreigners by leveraging the network and digital platform of our partners,” he said.
Travellers applying for the e-VoA through VFS Global will have access to dedicated email and live support in seven languages: English, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, German, and French, with more languages to be added later. The platform will ensure that applications are complete and error-free, with features like Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to auto-populate applicant details, saving time and reducing effort. Additionally, group booking facilities will be available, beneficial for the travel trade and conventions.
Zubin Karkaria, Founder and CEO of VFS Global Group, expressed enthusiasm about the new service, stating, “Indonesia is a very popular destination, and we are excited to offer a service that simplifies and accelerates the visa process. Our user-friendly, secure e-Visa on Arrival service will enhance the application experience and contribute to increasing tourism in Indonesia.”
Indonesia has set an ambitious goal of welcoming 14 million tourists in 2024, having already achieved 9.92 million arrivals between January and August 2024. The introduction of the e-VoA platform is part of the country’s broader strategy to improve tourism infrastructure and services.
To further support this initiative, VFS Global has partnered with Emirates to streamline the e-VoA process for its passengers. Additionally, dedicated Indonesia counters have been established at VFS Global offices in Dubai, Mumbai, and Shanghai, with plans to open one in Australia soon. This partnership is expected to help promote Indonesia as a key travel destination in markets like India, China, Australia, Korea, Japan, and the Middle East.
