Find Out Your Purpose

Example of Indonesia Visa

I suggest not to go somewhere without knowing why will you go there.  So why will you go to Jakarta ? Will you attending a Business Trip, spending your Holiday with your spouse, Visiting Friends or Family, participating in Tour package, or having a diplomatic visit ?   Every option will guide you to a different door step of preparation. For example:

1. Business Trip: is a visit with the objective of meeting existing or new business colleagues/partners or branch offices in Indonesia whether you are payed directly or indirectly regarding the activities.  It will definitely require a  Business-Visit kind of VISA.  You may need to prepare your presentation material, notebook, smart phone camera, laser pointer, power plug converter, stationary, a voice recorder, or even an LCD portable projector and some spare batteries.  Dress coding would be crucial also, so that jacket and ties should always be ready, including well-matched shoes, socks, pints, and tie clips.
2. Private Holiday:  is a visit with the purpose of spending your time and money as a tourist. You will visit places whether it is tourist objects or not, as long as not doing any commercial activities that may earn you money that can be subjected to any tax obligation or more further criminal activities.  As you choose this purpose of visiting, jackets and ties might not be a necessary equipment you should bring along, instead of T-Shirt, Jeans, Short Pans,  and your Havaianas or Crocs.  Smart phone and local 3G Card will still be advised, as well as waterproof GPS with the latest Indonesia map. Don't forget that Indonesia is a tropical country.
3. Visiting friends and family: could be a social or a light holiday visit.  A part of your schedule might be accompanied by somebody who knows the local situation, place, and the language.  It means you will not be alone all the time.  Exchanging present or unique goods between guests and the host, is one of the Indonesian family hospitality.  You may need to prepare something as a gift, but it is not a mandatory.  Usually, the family host will also prepare something (or not) to your departure time as memorable gift. Other technical equipments you may choose from point 1, but I strongly suggest you always prepare your Rupiah in your pocket, once again, just for being attentive later on.  
4. Tour Package:  Holiday/Tourist Visa will be required. Attending a tour package should be much safer for first-time holiday trip, but you have to sacrifice your freedom and flexibility. In general there are two ways in attending tour package, firstly you can follow a package from your country of origin, secondly you can pick a local tour package after your arrival in Jakarta.  There are plenty of domestic tour package waiting for you in your hotel information, websites, or tourist information at the airport. They also provide you with English speaker tour guide if you need.  The local tour is not only inside Jakarta, but could be as far as any tourists objects across the province. So that, I suggest, even if you are a Backpacker, never be to far from Internet connection as your global information sources. 
5. Diplomatic visit: would be the safest option of trip to Jakarta, but once again, you will be tied up with fixed schedules and protocols.  If you are a diplomatic attache, you will be guarded with police patrol and giving you the VIP status in order to pass trough the traffic jam by making another stoppage of traffic. It's not a fun trip anyway.

More technical and official information about Indonesia Visa and some other immigration regulations, can be found in:

  

Indonesia Directorate General of Immigration Website