Have you packed your bags in preparation for your annual family holiday to Bali? Before you go, be sure to do your research and read up on how to stay safe during your trip.
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Warnings of fake visa websites are currently being urgently issued to the thousands of Australians who travel to sunny Bali. Authorities warn that many websites are imitating the Indonesian government’s official website, where travellers can prepay their electronic visa on arrival (e-VOA).
Some travellers have shared online that they were charged a much higher fee because they had unknowingly used an agency which assisted them in purchasing the visa through the official site and thus had to pay a commission to the agency.
Others have shared even worse experiences where they had unfortunately purchased visas which were not valid, forcing them to buy an official visa at the airport. *A visa on arrival costs about $50 when travellers land in Bali.
However, third parties assisting with purchasing visas are nothing new. So for anyone travelling overseas, be sure to be vigilant, only use official websites and be wary of scammers and third party agencies.
These scams have come to the attention of the Indonesian government who have warned travellers to only use its official website to organise visas.
Expert advice
The Australian government service Smartraveller has advice for those looking to obtain an Indonesian visa in advance,
“You can apply for an e-visa on arrival (e-VOA) no later than 48 hours prior to travelling to Indonesia, check the e-VOA requirements from Indonesian Immigration before applying,” it said.
“The e-VOA and VOA cost IDR 500,000 (approximately $A50), with the e-VOA charging a small online processing fee.”
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