http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/

This guy bought a motorbike in Indonesia and rode happily around on it. He wrote that the only thing the ploice wanted from him when they stopped him was the bike papers, IDP and a selfie...LOL.

About tourist visa in Indo - try to get a 60 day visa, I think its called a social visa as it gives you 60 days stay and it can be extended 4 x 30 days versus a normal tourist visa gives you only 30 days and can be extended only x 1 another 30 days.

You might be right that a small locally registrated bike can slip in and out of Indo and Malaysia without a Carnet - its only on Borneo/Kalimantan those two countries actually share a landborder.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Look at the Facebook page below. This guy has travelled all over the Philippines on his bike. Amazing stuff!

https://www.facebook.com/wildlands1/

That visa you speak of is called a 'social budaya' visa.

Essentially you need an Indonesian sponsor for it, and that sponsor will send you (with copies of their I.D etc) the completed sponsor form that downloadable from the Indonesian Embassy website.

You will need to download and fill in other forms for yourself also, plus include 2 passport photos ..., then apply at an Indonesian Embassy with all the above forms from you and your sponsor.

There is a workaround, where visa agencies can act as your sponsor and send you the forms and also meet immigration staff for renewals etc (all for a large fee of course (you would need to contact them well in advance before planning a trip , and pay upfront I am guessing)

Another thing is once in Indonesia, you are required to jump through some hoops at each renewal time, as forms need to be filled , passports stamped , money paid , and at some stage you will need immigration to take your photo and fingerprints.

Maybe youre right - but I got that 60 day visa - social budaya visa at the Indo consulate in Penang without asking for it, even without knowing that it existed or applying especially for it. And I did certainly not have any indonesian sponsor at that time. I just said "visa" to the clerk behind the counter, filled out a form, paid a fee and handed over my passport with some photoes - next day picked it up. 60 days visa!
The extension process can be bit complicated indeed, but I guess its the same even though you have a normal 30 day tourist visa or this social budaya visa. And at that I needed also a indonesian sponsor.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Yes, you can get a pre paid 60 day tourist visa that you apply for from overseas - but it is not renewable like a 6mth social budaya visa is (ie; Social Budaya Visa gets you an initial 2 mths + 4x1 mth permissible extensions)

Otherwise there is a paid tourist visa on arrival which is renewable for 1 month only .., otherwise there is a free visa on arrival but note; that one is not renewable.

I was living here in Indonesia on a sponsored (6mth) Social budaya visa for my 1st 2 years living in Indonesia .., ie; until I eventually qualified for a kitas visa , then onto kitap visa (ie; permanent resident visa).

Travellers can arrive in Indonesia on any tourist visa ...., then while here they could apply at a visa agent for a 6 month social budaya (who for a price will act as a sponsor). The visa agent will then give you the completed necessary forms to which you will fly out to Singapore for a day(for eg) and submit the paperwork, and then fly back on the social budaya visa.

This is actually illegal for the agents to sponsor you as the contact with you is a business transaction and not 'a bonafide social visit' as would be between friends and family etc.., and this is part of the reason for the high price they charge for their service, as some of that money you pay to them also goes toward the agents greasing a few palms at the immigration dept to process the agents paperwork.
Occasionally there is a crackdown on these agents, but it never lasts to long before it goes back to their old ways

Well again - I got a 60 day visa at the Indo consulate in Penang. I went their myself and thus didnt use any agent or company. I simply said "visa" to the clerk at the consulate, got the form, filled it out, handed it back with a couple of photos passport and the payment and picked it up the next morning. The Indo consulate in Penang dont accept agents or companies and all visa seekers must go there on their own. I did not have any Indo sponsor at all. The visa was renewable 4 times, I did however only renew it two times. Whats the big fuzz? It seems that everyone can get a 60 day visa there thats extendable 4 times 30 days.
I have heard however that not all embassies and consulates hands out such visas that easily. If one comes via Penang and intend to stay in Indo for more than 30 days I certainly will recommend to get the visa I got...

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

All I can say is you must have been extremely 'lucky to 'somehow' get a social budaya/ cultural visa (which is extendable as you commented) ?
.., but this certainly is not the norm and certainly something a traveller should be expecting to easily obtain 'by just rocking up' at an Embassy .

I don't even know how you managed to renew it after the initial 60 days was up, let alone obtain a Social Budaya to be stamped into your passport to begin with ?
..,, as an interview with your sponsor (which you say you didn't have) is required by the immigration dept at the 1st renewal, and sponsor details like photocopies of their I.D's) are required also with each consecutive renewal thereafter.

What I do suspect .., is you were on a non-renewable standard 60 day 'tourist visa' ..., and for your 'other extension' renewals (as you say you did 2 of) .., were just accepted by Immigration as 'under the table' payments, ie; where staff must have turned a blind eye to the fact that you did not exit the country (as normally is required) and simply stamped you through with a 30 day tourist visa (which that corruption is not uncommon , and many do that with the tourist visa)
.., otherwise if it was a social budaya status - upon your renewal you would have had to submit all the sponsor forms etc, then go though having fingerprints taken and photos taken by immigration etc that is part of the social budaya/cultural visa process.

I am not saying you 'didn't manage' to get around these requirements, as perhaps back when you obtained it staff may have overlooked such details or you may have paid a higher price for your renewals - where unbeknown to you - palms were possibly greased ..., but this certainly is not something others should expect to happen to them in such a copy book fashion.., especially these days when requirements are now more strict, crackdowns are more frequent, and greasing palms is is now getting placed more under the spotlight and harder for staff to get away with.

Regarding my earlier comments,
I certainly didnt make up the rules / requirements that I posted regarding 6 mth social Budaya Visa's (A.K.A social cultural visa), nor intended to try to be a 'know all' . I just aimed to offer to members from my knowledge of 'what is required to stay in the Country legally for as long as possible.

.., Especially when travellers are with their imported bikes - it is good to know / plan beforehand where they stand

.., the rules and requirements are also clearly stated here on the Indonesian Embassy's website ; https://www.kbri-canberra.go.id/menu...a#requirements

Be aware for those entering Indonesia on the Free 30 day tourist Visa (V.O.A)

..,, take note; the Free VOA (visa on arrival - is not renewable)


There is however - a PAID 30 day Visa on arrival option that is renewable for another 30 days only without needing to exit the country .

- and if this is the VISA you WANT - then this option must clearly be stated when first entering the country (ie; the customs desk in Indonesia , or to an officer at a port of arrival) - and here you will pay USD$30.00 and then get the specific stamp for that visa,
- Note If you do not clearly and promptly state (ie; when initially producing your passport upon entry to Indonesia) - That you Do Not want the free Tourist VOA Visa , but instead you WANT the PAID $30.00 Visa ..., you will otherwise simply be stamped with the free 30 day non renewable tourist visa.
Do not skip (or forget) this important step .., as many get caught out here.



A better option is to already have a visa that was 'pre arranged' from outside of Indonesia at an Indonesian Embassy.

For this Standard tourists can get a 60 Day Visa . It is not renewable, but it saves you the hassle of the Paid 30 day tourist visa method (mentioned above) which requires the renewal hassle after 3 weeks into your trip as is with the Paid $30.00 30 Day Visa.

AAAAND.... I think all there's nothing to be gained from this going any further with this thread. Feel free to PM me with you contribution if you disagree.

Nigel in NZ

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The mouth of a perfectly contented man is filled with . -- 2200 BC Egyptian inscription