Yogyakarta, Indonesia: Hassle-Free Entry with Visa on Arrival for Travelers

In 2008, I spent a year working in Indonesia and had the chance to visit Yogyakarta, though I arrived by car from West Java. Back then, I didn’t pass through the Yogyakarta airport. This time, flying in from Malaysia, the entry process was remarkably smooth and left me pleasantly surprised. It’s quite a contrast from my impressions of Indonesia 15 years ago.

As soon as I stepped off the plane, I followed the clear signage to the entry processing area. The visa-on-arrival counter, just 50 meters from the entry counter, was easy to spot. The staff were efficient, asking only for the currency I had, taking the payment, and handing over two pieces of paper—one for the entry counter and one to keep. At the entry counter, they stamped my passport, completing the process in under a minute. It was impressively seamless!

In the baggage claim hall, there was an entry card that needed to be filled out. By scanning a code, I quickly entered my basic information, which generated a QR code for the customs counter. The entire process took about a minute, maintaining the smooth flow.

Upon exiting, the arrival hall was bustling with people offering taxi services. However, I opted to head upstairs and catch the train to the city center, a journey that takes around 40 minutes. The express train ticket cost 50,000rp, while the regular train was just 20,000rp. Though I was told there wasn’t much difference, I chose the express due to my tight schedule. Purchasing tickets from the machine and entering the station was a breeze.

The ticket included carriage and seat information, and everything was well-organized and efficient [Praise]