Indonesia Visa “Must Be Applied by Guarantor” Error: How to Fix It
If you see the message “This type of visa must be applied by guarantor” while applying for an Indonesia visa
A Bali visa run—leaving Indonesia and returning to obtain a new stay period—may be possible, but re-entry is never guaranteed. Even if you have a valid visa or are eligible for Visa on Arrival (VOA), Indonesian Immigration officers will assess your eligibility each time you enter the country.
Some travelers take short trips to Singapore, Malaysia, or another nearby country before returning to Bali. However, leaving Indonesia for a day or two does not automatically guarantee another 30 or 60 days of stay.
If your current visa is still extendable, extending it without leaving Indonesia is generally a more convenient option. For frequent visitors, a D1 Multiple Entry Tourist Visa may be more suitable, while those planning to live in Bali long-term should consider an appropriate KITAS.
Visa BaliEasy can help review your current stay permit, planned travel dates, and purpose of stay before recommending whether you should extend your visa, apply for a new visa, or consider a long-term stay permit.
A visa run is when a foreign traveler leaves Indonesia and returns, usually after a short period abroad, to seek a new authorized stay.
For example, a traveler may enter Bali with a 30-day VOA, extend it for another 30 days, and then leave Indonesia once the maximum 60-day stay is approaching.
The traveler may then attempt to return using a new VOA or another appropriate visa.
Common destinations for short trips from Bali include Singapore and Kuala Lumpur because they have international flight connections.
However, a visa run is not an official visa extension procedure. It involves leaving Indonesia, meeting the entry requirements of another country, and undergoing a new immigration assessment when returning.
Leaving Indonesia and applying for a new visa or seeking re-entry is not automatically prohibited.
However, a visa run does not give you an automatic right to enter Indonesia again.
Under Article 13 of Indonesia’s Immigration Law No. 6 of 2011, immigration officers can refuse entry when a foreign national does not meet the applicable requirements, including having invalid travel documents, lacking a required visa, using false immigration documents, or providing false information when obtaining a visa.
Immigration officers may also verify whether your intended activities match the purpose of your visa.
Travelers making repeated short trips abroad to obtain new tourist stay periods should therefore understand that each new entry is assessed separately.
You should not assume that a previous successful entry guarantees approval for your next arrival.
A same-day return is not automatically prohibited solely because you spent only a short time outside Indonesia.
However, there is no specific number of hours or days outside Indonesia that guarantees re-entry.
Staying outside Indonesia for 24 hours, three days, or one week does not create an automatic entitlement to a new stay permit.
Your return will depend on factors such as:
You must also meet the immigration requirements of the country you visit during the visa run.
For example, travelers entering Singapore may need to meet additional visa, passport, onward-ticket, and arrival declaration requirements depending on their nationality.
Before booking flights, check the requirements for both your temporary destination and your return to Indonesia.
The result depends on which visa you hold.
A VOA or eVOA is a single-entry visa providing an initial stay of 30 days.
You can extend it once for another 30 days, giving a maximum stay of 60 days.
When you leave Indonesia, the stay associated with that entry ends.
If you return, you must qualify for a new entry permission or obtain the appropriate visa. Your previous VOA cannot simply be reused.
Visa BaliEasy services:
A C1 Tourist Visa allows an initial stay of 60 days and can generally be extended twice for another 60 days each.
This provides a maximum stay of 180 days without leaving Indonesia, subject to approved extensions.
However, the C1 is a single-entry visa.
If you leave Indonesia, the visa cannot be reused for another entry, even if you have not used the maximum possible extension period.
If you want to return after leaving, you will need an appropriate new visa or entry permission.
If you plan to return with a new C1, check C1 processing times before booking your return flight and allow time for document review and possible immigration requests.
Visa BaliEasy services:
The D1 is different because it allows multiple entries during the visa’s validity period.
A D1 visa generally provides:
For example, if you hold a valid D1 visa and leave Indonesia after completing your permitted stay, you may return using that visa while it remains valid, subject to immigration approval.
You generally do not need to purchase a completely new D1 visa for each visit.
This makes the D1 more convenient for travelers who frequently visit Bali and other destinations in Indonesia.
However, the permitted stay is calculated separately for each entry. A one-year or two-year D1 does not automatically allow continuous residence for the visa’s entire validity period.
Visa BaliEasy services:
Even if you successfully re-entered Indonesia after a previous visa run, several risks remain.
Immigration officers check your eligibility each time you enter Indonesia.
A visa or previous entry record does not guarantee a new admission.
If entry is refused, you may be required to return to another country, potentially creating unexpected travel expenses.
Indonesian Immigration officers may conduct additional background checks when assessing your entry into Indonesia, particularly if your travel history or circumstances require further verification.
These checks may include:
Indonesian Immigration uses immigration intelligence systems and cooperates with domestic and international authorities to identify potential immigration violations and security concerns.
For example, publicly available information found online may be reviewed when it raises concerns about activities that do not match a traveler’s stated visa purpose.
Immigration may also ask additional questions about your accommodation, intended activities, previous visits, and travel plans.
A valid visa, successful previous entries, or a clean travel history does not guarantee re-entry into Indonesia. Immigration officers may request additional explanations or supporting documents before making an entry decision.
If you frequently travel in and out of Bali, make sure your visa category matches your actual purpose of stay and that the information you provide to immigration is accurate.
Many digital nomads mistakenly believe they can work remotely using a tourist visa simply because they are not employed by an Indonesian company.
However, earning income overseas does not automatically mean your activities are permitted under an Indonesian tourist visa.
If your actual intention is to live in Bali while working remotely for a company established outside Indonesia, the E33G Remote Worker KITAS may be more appropriate.
Visa runs involve more than buying a return flight ticket.
You may also need to pay for accommodation abroad, transportation, a new Indonesian visa, and any entry visa or other requirements imposed by the destination country.
Flight cancellations, visa processing delays, or difficulties returning to Indonesia may also disrupt your plans.
Before booking a visa run, compare the total travel cost with the cost of extending your existing visa or applying for a more appropriate visa category.
To compare the permitted stays before spending money on flights, read our Bali visa stay-limits guide and check which option matches the length and purpose of your trip.
For many travelers, extending an existing stay permit or choosing a longer-term visa is more practical than repeatedly leaving Indonesia.
| Your situation | Option to consider |
|---|---|
| You have a VOA and have not used your extension | Extend VOA for another 30 days |
| You hold a C1 with extensions remaining | Extend C1 for another 60 days |
| You frequently travel in and out of Bali | D1 Multiple Entry Tourist Visa |
| You plan to stay several months for tourism | C1 Tourist Visa |
| You work remotely for an overseas company | E33G Remote Worker KITAS |
| You qualify as a foreign investor | Investor KITAS |
If your current visa can still be extended, you may not need to travel abroad.
For example, a C1 Tourist Visa can generally provide up to 180 days of continuous stay with approved extensions.
This allows eligible tourists to remain in Bali without arranging international flights simply to obtain more time.
Since 29 May 2025, visa and stay permit extensions generally require an in-person biometric photo and interview at the relevant immigration office, including VOA extensions.
The assigned immigration office is determined using the registered residential address and postal code provided for your extension application.
Before submitting the extension, check how your accommodation address determines the immigration office so you can provide accurate details and plan your appointment.
Visa BaliEasy can assist with preparing your application and coordinating your immigration appointment.
If you become sick or cannot attend your scheduled biometric appointment, let us know immediately. Our team can follow up with the relevant immigration authorities to check whether a rescheduling request can be approved.
If you cannot attend on the assigned date, read our biometric appointment rescheduling guide to understand what to report and why you should contact your agent promptly.
For eligible remote employees, the E33G Remote Worker KITAS provides a one-year stay permit.
Applicants must meet the relevant requirements, including an employment agreement with a company outside Indonesia and proof of annual income of at least USD 60,000.
The E33G does not require an Indonesian guarantor and allows international travel while the relevant stay and re-entry permits remain valid.
Visa BaliEasy service:
If you are already in Indonesia and want to change your stay permit, contact Visa BaliEasy to review the applicable onshore conversion or new visa application options.
A visa run does not automatically resolve an overstay or erase previous immigration violations.
If your current stay permit expires before you leave Indonesia, you may already be considered to have overstayed.
For overstays of fewer than 60 days, the administrative fine is generally IDR 1,000,000 per day.
Longer overstays or an inability to pay the applicable fine may result in deportation and entry restrictions.
For example, overstaying for five days can result in a fine of IDR 5,000,000.
Leaving Indonesia after an overstay also does not guarantee that you can return immediately.
If your visa is about to expire, check your extension options before booking a visa run. Start an eligible extension well before expiry and complete all required payment and immigration steps on time. Confirm your application’s status with immigration or your agent; do not assume that starting an application alone extends your authorized stay.
If you are still considering a visa run, review the following before traveling:
Completing these preparations can reduce avoidable problems, but they do not guarantee admission.
Yes. Visa BaliEasy can review your current visa, remaining stay permit validity, and future travel plans to determine whether a visa run is necessary or whether a better option is available.
Depending on your circumstances, our team can assist with:
If you are planning to leave Indonesia and return shortly afterward, contact Visa BaliEasy before booking your flights.
You can simply tell us your nationality, current visa type, visa expiry date, and how long you want to stay in Bali.
Our team will review your situation and explain the available visa options, requirements, and service fees.
Visa requirements, entry eligibility, immigration procedures, and service fees may change before this article is updated. Entry decisions remain with Indonesian Immigration, and no visa agency can guarantee admission into Indonesia.
If you see the message “This type of visa must be applied by guarantor” while applying for an Indonesia visa
You can stay in Bali for 30 days, 60 days, 180 days, one year, or even several years, depending on
📌 How It Works: