Reception facilities: Russia and Indonesia are preparing to simplify the visa regime

Moscow and Jakarta are working on an agreement on visa facilitation, the Russian Embassy in the country told "Izvestia". Its goal is to reduce the number of documents required for entry to participants in educational, cultural and humanitarian exchanges. The diplomatic mission noted that the elaboration of a visa-free regime with Indonesia can be started after the conclusion of this agreement. Experts are confident that the potential abolition of such a regime will increase the tourist flow by a third and strengthen humanitarian ties between the two countries.

Negotiations between Russia and Indonesia on visas

Russia and Indonesia are working on an intergovernmental agreement on visa facilitation, the Russian Embassy in Jakarta told "Izvestia". Its content is coordinated with the competent authorities of the Republic.

We are talking about reducing the number of documents required for entry to certain categories of citizens participating in educational, cultural and humanitarian exchanges. At the same time, the document will not apply to visa issues for migrant workers, the Russian diplomatic mission stressed.

"We proceed from the fact that the elaboration of a visa—free regime can be started after the conclusion of this agreement," the Russian Embassy in Indonesia stressed.

In 2015, the Indonesian authorities unilaterally introduced a visa-free regime for Russian citizens. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesia temporarily suspended its operation. Three years later, the Indonesian authorities decided not to renew the visa-free regime for citizens of 159 countries, including Russia.

Currently, a visa regime is in effect between the Russian Federation and Indonesia. However, most entry documents, except in some cases unrelated to tourism, private and business trips, can be processed electronically. A 30-day tourist visa can also be purchased at the airport upon arrival by paying a fee. To apply for a permit to travel to Indonesia to participate in artistic, cultural or creative events, you need an invitation from the organizers and a bank statement.

Simplification of the visa regime with Indonesia will have a positive impact on humanitarian cooperation between the two countries. In recent years, it has been actively increasing: in August, it became known that the parties were considering the mutual establishment of university branches. At the same time, scholarship programs for Indonesian citizens who enroll in Russian universities are expanding. 500 Indonesians are currently studying there, and this year about 250 more people have been enrolled in preparatory departments, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation reported.

Intercultural cooperation is also being strengthened separately. A working group on culture was established as part of the intergovernmental commission on trade, economic and technical cooperation. Joint events, exhibitions and concerts are held, and agreements are concluded by museums and libraries. Last year, the Margarita Rudomino Russian State Library of Foreign Literature and the State Children's Library agreed to partner with the National Library of Indonesia, which allowed for book exchange between the two countries.

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Prospects for the development of tours to Indonesia

However, the majority of travelers from Russia to Indonesia are still tourists. The number of trips is growing: in 2023 there were 155 thousand, in 2024 — 180 thousand, in 2025 it exceeded 219 thousand. This year, similar figures of the tourist flow of Russians remain, Dmitry Gorin, vice president of the Russian Union of Travel Industry (PCT), told "Izvestia". At the same time, the number of such trips from Indonesia to Russia has also increased by 40% over the past year. According to official data, 6.7 thousand Indonesians visited the country.

— According to our statistics, when visa rules between countries are simplified, the flow increases by an average of 30%. It includes not only tourist trips, but also business trips," Gorin emphasized.

Bali Island remains the main point of attraction. At the same time, the requests of Russians have changed significantly: according to analysts from the Association of Tour Operators of Russia, the majority of bookings now fall on hotels of 4-5 stars. In addition, the trend for combined tours is actively developing. By the way, in July it became known that the Indonesian company PT Manna Indonesia Group has developed a system of cross—border payments, which should simplify payments for Russian tourists in the republic and Indonesian tourists in the Russian Federation.

In addition, Indonesia has become one of the world's main hubs for digital nomads and freelancers. The mild climate, well-developed infrastructure and ease of visa extension allow Russians to live here for months. Amid Bali's construction boom, our citizens are actively investing in real estate: they build villas and apartments (for rent) or open their own business in the field of services, tourism, catering and IT.

An increase in the number of flights will give a new impetus to the development of travel and business ties. Currently, "Aeroflot" flights fly between Moscow and Denpasar to Bali three to four times a week, although other Russian carriers also have permission to fly to the country. As "Izvestia" wrote earlier, Indonesia requested an increase in the number of direct flights in the summer. In particular, they discussed new routes from St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Vladivostok and Kazan to Bali. As Dmitry Gorin notes, the issue of insurance is of key importance.

Indonesia is rapidly becoming one of the most popular destinations for Russian tourists. The growing number of trips and negotiations on new flights show the interest of both sides. The simplification of the visa regime will strengthen cooperation not only in the tourism sector, but also in the humanitarian sphere as a whole. The final step may be the introduction of a visa-free regime, which will take relations between Moscow and Jakarta to a completely different level.