Seamless Visa on Arrival Experience in Surabaya, Indonesia: Tips & Insights

Transit through the bustling city of Chengdu to Kuala Lumpur, then continue your journey to Surabaya. Upon landing, follow the flow of travelers and head to the visa-on-arrival counter. For just $35 per person (or 300 RMB), you can purchase your visa. The process is efficient, allowing you to buy visas for multiple people at once.

Next, follow the crowd to the customs area. The customs officer will check your return ticket and ask a few straightforward questions. Once you’ve answered, you’ll be on your way.

After collecting your luggage, you’ll need to fill out a QR code to exit the airport. It’s highly recommended to complete this step the day before your arrival. Take a screenshot of the final QR code and show it to the staff, who will scan it, and you’ll be free to go.

As you exit the airport, you’ll find ATMs to your left. I used the BCA Bank ATM, which is widely recommended online. The maximum withdrawal per transaction is 1250k, and I used a Huaxia credit card with no handling fee, making it a seamless experience.

To make our arrival even smoother, I had arranged for our homestay to pick us up in advance. We also asked the driver to take us to buy a local SIM card first. Overall, the entire process was quite convenient and hassle-free.