Tengrinews.kz — Indonesia plans to expand the list of countries eligible for visa-free entry and include Kazakhstan. The initiative has already been approved at the interdepartmental level and is now in the final stage of approval.
According to Kabar Bisnis, Indonesia is considering introducing a visa-free regime for citizens of Kazakhstan and several other countries. According to the country’s Tourism Ministry, the measure is intended to help attract more travelers and offset losses in the tourism sector.
The new list may include:
- Kazakhstan;
- Belarus;
- Japan;
- South Korea;
- Australia;
- New Zealand;
- India;
- Macao;
- permanent residents of Singapore.
Why Indonesia decided to expand visa-free entry
Indonesia’s Tourism Ministry expects to receive 17.6 million foreign tourists in 2026. However, problems with air travel in the Middle East have disrupted these plans.
According to Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, 1,444 flights had been canceled as of May 27.
“Due to the current situation, Indonesia risks missing out on 160,052 foreign tourist trips that will never take place,” Widiyanti said.
To compensate for losses on long-haul routes, including Europe and the Middle East, the ministry is urgently redirecting its marketing efforts toward nearby markets in the Asia-Pacific region.
What else is planned
According to local media, in addition to expanding the visa-free regime, the Indonesian government intends to:
- support airlines with subsidies;
- increase the number of passenger seats on flights;
- strengthen the country’s promotion in Asian markets.
According to the Tourism Minister, all interdepartmental approvals have already been completed, and the project itself is in the final stage of approval.
When the new rules will take effect
The exact launch date of the visa-free regime for Kazakhstanis has not yet been announced. Indonesian authorities have not yet published an official decision on introducing the new entry rules.
If the initiative is approved, citizens of Kazakhstan will be able to visit Indonesia without a visa under the same conditions as residents of other countries on the new list.
