Don't make this 'embarrassing' $50 mistake if you're heading to Bali
I thought I was all organised for my recent pre-Christmas holiday in Bali. I had done both mine and my husband's $50 visas online to save time.
I had even paid the new $15 tourism levy on the website too (even though reports say not many visitors are bothering to pay it at all).
And I had scanned the QR code to do the health declaration just before leaving (it's for Mpox not COVID and you need your seat numbers so can't do it in advance unless you know these.)
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Bali's Denpasar Airport was where things went wrong for me. Getty
I was feeling very SMUG.
That was, until I got off my Jetstar plane and made it to Bali airport's new electronic gates.
Because while in the past you had to line up and pay your for a visa, if you're organised LIKE ME you can do it online and could get straight through.
All you have to do is scan your passport, and you'll be one step closer to a Bin Tang.
Except while my husband breezed through on his second attempt - a lot of folk seemed to have issues with the scanners - I was not so lucky.
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I thought I was all organised for my recent holiday in Bali.I had done both mine and my husband's visas online to save time. Supplied
I was cursing the 'stupid' machines as I repeatedly tried to scan my passport only to be met with an error.
Until I asked a staff member for help and he asked to see my visa. As he zoomed in on my phone screen he quickly spotted my mistake.
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It seems rather then entering my date of birth, I had put in the date I was applying for the visa. Or maybe it had come up automatically and I hadn't changed it.
There have been a few changes to the arrival rules in Bali. Getty
And while it had emailed me saying my visa was approved, it very much was not.
I felt embarrassed. And I had to join the growing line and pay another $50 for a new visa.
Luckily it didn't take too long and finally I got out of immigration.
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(Heads up that once you've got your bags you also have to do ANOTHER declaration, this time for customs, using a QR code on your phone.)
Anyway. It's not the worst thing I've done in Bali compared with this ordeal.
But if you like to be organised like me, just make sure you do you paperwork right the first time.
