Aussie woman learns costly visa lesson in Bali

A woman traveling to Bali faced significant issues upon her arrival due to a visa error. After landing at Denpasar Airport, she attempted to use automated gates for immigration but was unable to do so, likely due to her incorrect visa details. This led her to manually go through customs, where a customs official identified a mistake in her passport number entry. The woman had omitted the two letters at the beginning of her passport number, which resulted in her being charged an additional $50 fee. She expressed her frustration, believing she had entered her details correctly, and learned that the letters were necessary for proper identification. Despite her disappointment, she noted that others had managed to rectify similar mistakes without incurring extra charges. This incident serves as a cautionary tale for travelers, particularly Australians, who may be tempted to bypass the visa application process to avoid long queues. The visa fee, reinstated after the Covid pandemic, has been unpopular among travelers, but it is still a requirement for a 30-day visit to Bali, extendable to 60 days. The woman’s experience highlights the importance of careful attention to detail when filling out travel documents. As tourism in Bali continues to recover, the government is considering scrapping the visa fee to attract more visitors. However, for families traveling together, the cumulative cost of such fees can become significant, impacting their overall holiday budget. In conclusion, this incident underscores the need for travelers to be well-informed about visa requirements and to double-check their documentation before traveling to avoid unexpected costs and complications.