Bali Airport Guide

Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) handles every international arrival into Bali. The process from landing to exiting the terminal takes anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour depending on when you arrive and how busy the queues are. This guide covers the visa on arrival process, immigration, customs, SIM cards, and cash to make your first hour in Bali straightforward.

Before You Land

Complete the Indonesian customs declaration before you touch down. The Indonesian Customs e-CD portal lets you do this electronically, which is faster than filling in the paper form on the plane. You’ll need your flight details, passport number, and accommodation address. Have it ready to show at customs.

Visa on Arrival

Most nationalities require a visa to enter Indonesia, and the visa on arrival is the standard option for tourists. It’s processed at a dedicated counter before the main immigration desks. Follow the signs as you exit the jet bridge.

• Queue at the visa on arrival counter
• Present your passport: must be valid for at least 6 months
• Pay the fee in cash: USD and IDR are accepted; carry some USD as a fallback
• Receive your stamp, then proceed to immigration

ASEAN nationals enter visa-free and bypass this step entirely. Go straight to the immigration desks. For the full list of eligible nationalities and current entry requirements, see Travel to Bali.

Peak arrival windows (early morning and evening, when multiple international flights land together) produce the longest queues. Allow 30–45 minutes for the visa on arrival process alone during these periods.

Immigration

After the visa counter, or directly if you’re ASEAN, you reach the main immigration desks. Have your passport open to the photo page. Officers take fingerprints and scan your documents. The desk process itself is quick; the queue is the variable. During off-peak arrivals, the whole thing takes under 10 minutes. During peak periods, budget 30–40 minutes from the start of the visa queue to clearing immigration.

Baggage and Customs

Carousels are clearly signed by flight number. Allow 20–30 minutes from deplaning to bags in hand on a busy day. Once you have your luggage, proceed through customs and present your declaration. Most passengers are waved through without inspection. Items to declare: food products, goods over the duty-free allowance, cash over USD 10,000, and any restricted items such as animal products or large quantities of prescription medication.

If your bag does not arrive, report it at your airline’s baggage desk in the baggage hall before you leave the area. You need to file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) on the spot. Keep your boarding pass and baggage claim tags with you until you have your luggage.

Connecting to a Domestic Flight

If your journey continues to a domestic destination (Lombok, Labuan Bajo, Yogyakarta, or elsewhere in Indonesia), you’ll need to transfer to the domestic terminal after clearing international arrivals. The two terminals are separate buildings; a short walk or free shuttle connects them.

Follow signs for the domestic terminal after exiting customs, or ask at the information desk in arrivals. Allow at least two to three hours between your international arrival and your domestic departure, more during peak periods when immigration queues are long. You’ll go through check-in and security again at the domestic terminal.

SIM Cards

Buy a SIM card in the arrivals hall before you exit. The counters are directly after customs and easy to spot. The two main carriers:

• Telkomsel (Simpati). broad coverage across the island, including rural areas, the highlands around Kintamani, and anywhere off the main tourist routes. The safer pick if you’re going beyond Ubud or Seminyak.
• XL Axiata. strong signal in tourist areas, slightly cheaper on data. Fine for Seminyak, Canggu, and central Ubud.

Data packages covering 7+ days start from IDR 50,000–100,000. Staff will insert and activate the SIM for you. Hand over your phone and they’ll set it up. Check that it’s working before you walk away from the counter.

ATMs and Cash

You’ll need IDR for most things in Bali: markets, warungs, local transport, and smaller shops. The terminal has ATMs inside and in the arrivals area.

• BCA and Mandiri machines accept most international Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards. Withdraw enough IDR for your first day or two.
• For larger cash exchanges, dedicated exchange offices in town (Seminyak, Ubud, Canggu) offer competitive rates once you’re settled.

Other Facilities

Luggage storage is available at the airport for passengers with long layovers or who need time before check-in. Confirm rates and location at the information desk in arrivals.

Wi-Fi is available free of charge in the arrivals hall. Connect while you’re waiting at the SIM card counter, useful for contacting your hotel or confirming your pickup before your new SIM is activated.

Power adapters. Indonesia uses Type C and F plugs (round pins) at 220V. Travellers from the US, UK, Australia, and Japan need an adapter. Most modern phones and laptops handle 220V automatically. Check the label on your charger before plugging in. Adapters are widely available in shops in town if you don’t have one.

Charging stations with USB ports are available in the arrivals hall if your phone needs a top-up while you wait.

Food and shops in the arrivals area are limited and airport-priced. Pick up water if you need it. Better options await once you’re in town.

Before You Leave the Terminal

A quick check before stepping outside:

• SIM card inserted and active: test it with a browser before leaving the counter
• IDR in hand from the ATM: enough for your transfer and first day
• Customs declaration submitted
• Pickup arranged: official taxi voucher, hotel transfer, or app booking confirmed

Leaving the Terminal

Hotel and private transfer drivers wait at the barriers just past the exit, holding name signs. Scan for yours before heading further out. The official taxi counter is inside the terminal before the exit; buy a fixed-price voucher there if you haven’t pre-arranged transport. Grab and Gojek pickups use a designated zone outside the terminal building; it’s signposted, or airport staff can point you in the right direction.

For transport options from the terminal to your hotel (transfer times, costs, and how Grab and Gojek work at DPS), see the flights guide below.