Every international visitor to Bali now pays a mandatory IDR 150,000 tourist levy before they’re allowed into the island. It’s not a visa fee, it’s not part of your airline ticket, and it’s separate from Indonesia’s national entry requirements. It is, however, checked — and in 2026, more strictly than ever.
This guide covers everything you need to know: what the levy is, how to pay it before your flight, what happens at the airport if you haven’t, who is genuinely exempt, and the small but important details that trip people up at the dedicated checkpoint before the arrivals hall.
What Is the Bali Tourist Levy?
The Bali Tourist Levy is a mandatory IDR 150,000 (~$10 USD) fee charged to all foreign tourists entering Bali. It was introduced as part of the provincial government’s “Quality Tourism” initiative — the broader policy push aimed at shifting Bali’s tourism model away from pure volume and toward higher-value, lower-impact visitors.
The levy is separate from:
- Your Indonesian visa or e-VOA fee (IDR 500,000)
- The All Indonesia Arrival Card (free)
- Any attraction entry fees
It is paid once per entry into Bali through the official Love Bali portal at lovebali.baliprov.go.id, and produces a QR code that is scanned at a dedicated checkpoint at Ngurah Rai International Airport.
How to Pay the Bali Tourist Levy (Step-by-Step)
Before You Fly — The Recommended Approach
Paying online before your flight is faster, cheaper, and removes any risk of delay at the airport. The process takes under 5 minutes.
- Go to lovebali.baliprov.go.id on a desktop or mobile browser
- Enter your passport details and travel information
- Pay IDR 150,000 plus an IDR 4,500 administrative surcharge (total ~IDR 154,500, approximately $10 USD) via credit or debit card
- Receive your levy QR code by email
- Screenshot it immediately and save it somewhere offline — a dedicated “Bali 2026” photo album on your phone works well
Two important technical notes before you open the site:
- Turn off your VPN. The Love Bali portal is known to fail to load or process payments when a VPN is active. Disable it entirely before visiting the site.
- Disable strict ad-blockers. The payment scripts on the portal can be blocked by aggressive browser extensions. Turn them off for this transaction.
Linking to the All Indonesia App
In 2026, Indonesia has consolidated digital entry documents into a single system. The All Indonesia app (which also handles your Electronic Customs Declaration, health forms, and immigration arrival card) now allows you to link your Love Bali levy QR code directly. Doing this before you land means one app, one QR code, and a faster move through both the immigration checkpoint and the levy lane.
Paying at the Airport (If You Haven’t Paid Online)
If you arrive without a levy QR code, dedicated BRI Bank counters in the Ngurah Rai arrival hall accept payment by cash or card. The fee at the counter is the same IDR 150,000. This option works, but adds time — particularly during peak arrival windows when the counters have queues.
At the Airport: The Levy Checkpoint
The levy is no longer just a formality waved through at immigration. In 2026, Ngurah Rai has a dedicated “Levy Vouchers” lane — a secondary checkpoint positioned between the main immigration hall and the arrivals lounge where drivers and families wait.
Even if you pass through immigration without issue, you will be scanned at this checkpoint before reaching the exit. Have your QR code — either from the Love Bali portal or linked in the All Indonesia app — ready to present.
If your online payment failed or your QR code won’t load, you will be directed to the BRI counter at this stage. Having a screenshot saved offline rather than relying on a live page avoids this entirely. Ngurah Rai’s Wi-Fi is inconsistent, and the moment you need the portal to load is not the moment you want to discover it isn’t working.
Enforcement Beyond the Airport
The levy checkpoint at Ngurah Rai is the primary enforcement point, but it doesn’t end there.
At major attractions: Popular sites including Besakih Great Temple and Uluwatu Temple have integrated levy verification into their ticketing systems. Not every visitor is checked at every site, but Satpol PP — Bali’s local tourism enforcement officers — conduct random audits at high-traffic locations. If you’re asked to show your levy QR code and cannot, you will be required to pay on the spot via a mobile QRIS payment code.
Spot proof-of-funds checks: A broader 2026 shift connected to the Quality Tourism initiative is the introduction of spot checks for “sufficient funds.” Immigration officers — particularly for travellers on 60-day Visit Visas — may request a 3-month bank statement showing a consistent balance, commonly cited around USD 2,000. This is separate from the levy itself but reflects the same policy direction: ensuring visitors can support their stay without working illegally. If you’re planning a longer stay, having a bank statement screenshot accessible alongside your levy QR code is sensible preparation.
Who Is Exempt?
The exemption list has been tightened in 2026 to ensure only genuine non-tourists bypass the fee. The following categories are exempt, but exemptions must be applied for at least 5 days before arrival:
| Category | Exemption Basis |
|---|---|
| KITAS / KITAP holders | Temporary or permanent Indonesian residency permit |
| Student Visa holders | Automatically exempt once registered |
| Golden Visa holders | Automatically exempt once registered |
| Diplomatic passport holders | Standard diplomatic exemption |
| Airline / ship crew | Standard crew exemption |
| Family unification visitors | Must provide documented proof of Balinese family connection |
Transit passengers passing through Ngurah Rai without entering Bali as a destination are not subject to the levy.
If you believe you qualify for an exemption, the application is handled through the official immigration portal before your arrival. Showing up at the checkpoint and claiming exemption without prior registration will not be accepted.
Do You Pay Again If You Leave and Return?
This depends on where you go.
You do NOT need to pay again for:
- Day trips or overnight stays on the Nusa Islands (Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan)
- Trips to the Gili Islands (Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, Gili Meno)
These destinations fall within the same provincial travel zone. Returning from them is not treated as a new Bali entry.
You DO need to pay again if you:
- Fly to another Indonesian island (Jakarta, Lombok, Flores, Surabaya) and return to Bali
- Leave Indonesia entirely (Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, etc.) and re-enter through Ngurah Rai
Each international or inter-island re-entry into Bali through the airport constitutes a new entry and requires a new levy payment.
Quick Reference: The Most Common Mistakes
Paying too close to departure. The Love Bali portal processes payments quickly, but technical issues do occur. Pay at least 24–48 hours before your flight, not in the airport lounge during boarding.
Relying on live internet at the checkpoint. The levy QR code lives on a webpage that requires a working connection to load. Screenshot it and save it offline before you leave home.
Forgetting after a side trip. Returning from a Jakarta weekend or a Singapore stopover and assuming your original QR code is still valid. It isn’t — pay again before your return flight to Bali.
Assuming the Nusa Islands require a new payment. They don’t. Ferries from Sanur to Nusa Penida and back are not international or inter-provincial re-entries.
VPN active during payment. The single most common reason the portal fails to process. Switch it off, complete payment, then switch it back on.
Full Cost Summary
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Levy base fee | IDR 150,000 (~$9.70 USD) |
| Online admin surcharge | IDR 4,500 (~$0.30 USD) |
| Total online payment | IDR 154,500 (~$10 USD) |
| Airport BRI counter payment | IDR 150,000 (no surcharge, but queues apply) |
Exchange rate approximate at $1 USD = IDR 15,500. The levy is per person, per entry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Bali Tourist Levy the same as the Indonesian visa fee? No. They are entirely separate payments. The Indonesian e-VOA or VOA costs IDR 500,000 and is processed through the national immigration system. The Bali Tourist Levy costs IDR 150,000 and is administered by the Bali provincial government. You pay both.
Can I pay the levy in cash at the airport? Yes, at the dedicated BRI Bank counters in the arrivals hall. Cash in IDR or a card is accepted. Paying online in advance is faster and slightly cheaper due to the absence of queuing, but the airport counter is a reliable fallback.
What if the Love Bali website isn’t working? First, disable your VPN and any ad-blocking browser extensions and try again — these are the most common causes of portal failures. If the site remains inaccessible, pay at the BRI counter on arrival. Do not pay through any third-party website claiming to process the levy; the only official payment portal is lovebali.baliprov.go.id.
Does my child need to pay the levy? Check current exemption rules on the official portal at the time of booking — children’s exemptions have varied since the levy launched, and the rules are subject to provincial updates.
Is the levy refundable if my trip is cancelled? Officially, levy payments are non-refundable once processed. If your flight is cancelled and you do not enter Bali, contact the Love Bali portal support as a first step, but do not expect a routine refund process.
What happens if I’m caught at an attraction without the levy QR code? You will be asked to pay on the spot via a QRIS mobile payment code. The amount is the standard IDR 150,000. There is no additional fine for not having paid in advance — but there is no option to simply leave without paying either.
I have a KITAS. Do I still need to pay? No — KITAS holders are exempt, but the exemption must be registered at least 5 days before arrival. Do not assume it is applied automatically at the checkpoint without prior registration.
Levy fees, portal details, and exemption categories are set by the Bali provincial government and subject to change. Always verify current requirements at lovebali.baliprov.go.id before travel.
