Passport rules 2026: six months or eighteen
For an e-VOA, visa-free entry and the C1, C2 and C6 visas your passport must be valid for at least six months on the date of entry. Annual D-series multiple-entry visas are stricter: 18 months and at least four blank pages. A separate rule covers travel documents other than a national passport — at least 12 months.
Updated: 25 August 2026 · Verified by the Malina Visa team
How long your passport must be valid
There is no single answer — the threshold depends on the visa. Count it from your date of entry, not the date you apply.
| Visa | Passport |
|---|---|
| e-VOA / VOA | 6 months or more |
| C1, C2, C6 | 6 months or more |
| D1, D2, D12 (annual) | 18 months or more, plus 4 blank pages |
| Visa-free entry | 6 months or more |
| KITAS | enough to cover the whole permit and then some |
The special cases
Two requirements are rarely written about and regularly catch people out:
- !Travel documents other than a national passport — a temporary or emergency passport, a certificate of identity, a laissez-passer and the like — must be valid for at least 12 months, not six
- !Stateless applicants additionally attach a re-entry permit for the country of application and a return or onward ticket
Blank pages
The minimum of four free pages applies to annual D-series visas. Free means without stamps or visas — the cover and the data page do not count.
- ✓Count the pages before filing, not after paying
- ✓Stamps from neighbouring countries eat pages faster than you expect
- ✓If you are short on pages, the only fix is a new passport
The chip and the autogate
A biometric passport is not needed for the visa but for speed at the border. With a chip and an approved electronic visa the autogate works: the system reads the chip and matches your face, clearing you in 15–25 seconds.
- ✓The chip symbol is on the passport cover
- ✓Children aged 6 and over may use it, subject to the usual requirements
- ✓With a child under 6, one parent goes through a staffed counter
The whole arrival process is covered in our piece on the autogate and All Indonesia.
Where applications fail
In our experience almost every refusal and delay comes from small things that are visible in advance.
- !The name is spelled differently from the passport. One letter out and the application goes back for correction
- !The passport expires before the threshold. Count from the entry date, not the filing date
- !A poor scan. Glare, cropped corners, a shadow across the page — a common reason for a return
- !A photo that misses the spec. It must be recent, taken within the last year
What else is asked for besides the passport
- ✓A return or onward ticket — checked by the airline at boarding and by immigration on arrival
- ✓Proof of accommodation: a booking or an address
- ✓For the C6 visa — three months of bank statements in the name of the foreigner or the sponsor
- ✓The All Indonesia declaration, filed online before landing
- ✓Bali's tourist levy of IDR 150,000 through the Love Bali portal
We send the full list for your specific visa after a short consultation — it varies not only by visa type but by your circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
How long must my passport be valid for Bali?
For an e-VOA, visa-free entry and the C1, C2 and C6 visas — at least 6 months on the date of entry. For annual D-series multiple-entry visas the rule is stricter: 18 months and at least 4 blank pages.
How many blank pages do I need?
For annual D-series visas, at least four free pages — meaning no stamps or visas on them. Short visas have no such hard rule, but a couple of free pages are needed regardless.
Do I need a biometric passport?
Not to obtain a visa. But the chip is what lets you use the autogate: with it and an approved electronic visa the border takes 15–25 seconds instead of a queue.
What if my passport expires in 7 months?
That is enough for an e-VOA and short visas. For an annual D1 or D2 it is not — those need 18 months. Renew before you file rather than mid-process.
Why was I refused over the spelling of my name?
The application must match the passport character for character. A single letter out means a return for correction, and you get only two days to make it.
We will check your passport before you file
Send a photo of the data page and we will tell you whether it clears the visa you want, and flag the risks before you pay.
All visas