On January 25, 2022, while flying from Xiamen to Jakarta, I decided to try my luck with a visa on arrival. It quickly became apparent that the treatment of travelers can vary significantly, but fortunately, I was one of the lucky ones.
This experience is specific to the Jakarta CGKT3 terminal.
In the second part of my journey, I noticed a mother and son who were initially behind me in line. I’m not sure if they provided an email or not, but each of them was charged a 27,000 IDR processing fee, whereas we were only charged 6,000 IDR. The reason for this discrepancy remains a mystery to me.
Next, as I queued for immigration, I observed a young, dark, and somewhat intimidating man. The person in front of me was clearly a fellow countryman preparing to work illegally, and he was asked for a bribe of 100,000 IDR. My compatriot promptly took out 100,000 IDR in cash, but the official insisted it should be placed inside his passport.
Confused, the man took out another 100,000 IDR to hand over, but to everyone’s surprise, the counter refused it, stating that 100,000 IDR was sufficient and returned one of the notes.
I was already feeling anxious about how to handle the situation without giving a bribe, mentally preparing a stern rebuke. However, when it was my turn, the officials simply asked how many days I planned to stay and whether I had booked a return ticket. That was all. They swiftly applied the rare purple sticker of Jakarta, and I was through. They even wished me a good day, which was a pleasant and unexpected touch.
Good to know about the Visa on Arrival process at Jakarta’s CGK terminal. It sounds like luck plays a big role, but being prepared with the right documents really helps. I’d recommend double-checking the latest requirements before traveling.