The one week visa-on-arrival for $10 US is being discontinued. You can only get the $25 US for 30 days visa, which can be extended to 60 without leaving the country.

Foreign tourists and businesspeople from 64 countries have welcomed the new policy allowing a visa-on-arrival extension for up to 60 days, saying it will encourage people to spend more time in the archipelago. A new regulation stipulates that from Jan. 26 onward, Indonesia will provide a 30-day visa-on-arrival, with the possible extension of another 30 days. The government also announced that it would no longer issue the visa-on-arrival for seven days and tourists applying for the visa would receive the initial 30-day permit for US$25. Foreign tourists and businesspeople who previously had seven-day visas can extend them to 30 days without having to leave the country. The new regulation reportedly aims to attract more foreign tourists to travel and spend more time within the archipelago. “If tourists want to stay longer than 30 days, they can apply for a maximum 30-day extension,” said Maroloan J. Baringbing, head of media, at the immigration section of the Justice and Human Rights Ministry. He said the new policy would give the government better control of the non-tax revenue from immigration. It is also aimed at boosting tourism in the country.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/01/28/onarrival-visa-60-days.html

http://thejakartaglobe.com/home/indonesia-eliminates-one-week-visa-on-arrival/355117

(Message edited by xenono on January 28, 2010)

Sounds just like a simple way for them to make more money. Not sure how this benefits anyone but them - before, if you only planned on staying 5 days, you paid $10.00. Now you will have to pay $25.00. Would it pursude me to change all of my travel plans to take maximum advantage of paying an extra $15? Very unlikely! If you had plans on staying more then 7 days you would have just purchased the $25.00 Visa. It gives them better control alright - more control to make more money!

Actually this is huge for people who like to stay a long time. 60 days without having to leave the country is fantastic. I've never been to Indo for a trip less than 7 days, so I won't miss the $10 option.

This sounds like another nail in the coffin for Batam.

I have never been in Indonesia more than a 7 days. It used to be the 3 days for $10 so 7 days was a comparative bargain. I'd think those who have 60 days to spend in Indonesia as a tourist are 100 times rarer than those that have a week to spend in Indonesia and are more likely unemployed therefore less 'valuable' as tourists. It seems this would put off many frequent big spending high income expat weekend visitors from around the region and attract many more broke, cheap Charlie expat types trying to get by on their pension or Social Security checks.

I'll probably pay the $25 but I will bitch about how much it sucks.