Question for recent Denpasar arrivals. +

[d_aviddiver]

Our airline ticket agent is offering us "expedited immigration & customs" service for $25.00 USD per person.

It's been 12 years since I was in Bali, is this something we should consider?

How time consuming might the normal entry process be?

We've been all over the planet & have not seen this "service" before.

Thanks!!

 

[highdesert]

If there are multiple international arrivals, you could spend a good half-hour plus waiting in line. On one trip through Bali, this "expedited" service was included in our resort package. A resort agent met us before we got in the line, took our passports and visa money, disappeared, and returned barely five minutes later. He escorted us through to the baggage area, and we were out of the airport while almost everyone was still in line.

Not saying your service will be that efficient, or the line that long, or if it's worth that much to you. But it's possible it could make a big difference ... your decision, up to you.

 

[mantajohn]

I've arrived at DNP twice in the last 9 months. Once i sped through immigration/visa & then waited ages for my bags. The other time, i queued for 20 mins at immigration/visa - but my bags were through & waiting for me.

So 6 & 2x3's really. Time from plane to taxi was pretty much the same both trips. I'd save the $25.

 

[NotYetBent]

Agree with mantajohn and highdesert. I've been there at night when it was nonexistent and during the daytime when it was 30+min. If no connecting flight (and at night), just save the money...

 

[Kilili]

Their incoming policies keep changing these days, and could be 20+ min or a couple of hours, as I've seen reported. I've never used, but not flown there since Nov.
Check balitravelforum.com and see what the Aussies are saying of late about it.

 

[Big fish63]

i waited inline for well over a hour.. i would definitley pay for this when i go back or i will just run off the plane.. i had only arrived from singapore if it haad been long haul i would have gone insane they kept planning the same music and adverts over and over again on the screens!ahhhh

 

[Woodiver]

If you're on a late night flight from the US which arrive in Bali in mid afternoon, it can be very busy. Plan on at least an hour+ in a hot immigration hall. IMHO, $25 is a very far price for not having to go through this after traveling for 24 hours.

 

[JasonG]

A quick sidebar to this thread...

As of 1 August 2010, the Indonesian authorities (at least in Jakarta) have done away with the full page visa sticker. Now it is done electronically and all you see in your passport is a small stamp similar to that in most other countries.

Do not interpret the above to mean that the lines move any faster, only that you won't loose an entire page in your passport for a single visa (as a somewhat frequent travel to Indonesia and one who has already had 5 additional sets of pages sewn into his USA passport, this is important to me).

Jason

 

[Tortuga68]

Yes it can be 30-60 minutes plus

Something to consider is where you'll be sitting on the plane; if you're up the front somewhere, the wait shouldn't be too bad. If you're in the back rows, I'd think about paying the $25