Travel News
Bali Is Finally Enforcing Its Tourist Levy, With Spot Checks at Major Sites
After running largely on the honour system since 2024, Bali's IDR 150,000 foreign tourist levy is now being actively checked at sites including Tanah Lot, Uluwatu and Tegallalang, with visitors who can't show proof of payment risking being turned away.
Sep 27, 2026 · BigTravel.in
Bali's foreign tourist levy, a flat fee of IDR 150,000 (roughly $9) introduced in February 2024, has moved from a largely voluntary honour system to active on-site enforcement through 2026. Officials have said that only around a third of eligible visitors were paying the levy in its first two years; that compliance gap is now the target of a visible push by provincial authorities.
Where the checks are happening
Bali's provincial civil service police, Satpol PP, have been running spot checks at major tourist sites including Tanah Lot, Uluwatu, Besakih and the Tegallalang rice terraces, as well as around the airport and at the crossing points for Nusa Penida. Visitors are asked to show the QR-coded voucher generated when the levy is paid, either in advance online or through the official Love Bali platform.
What happens without proof of payment
Under a tourism circular issued by Bali's governor, Wayan Koster, visitors who cannot produce proof of payment at checked sites can be asked to pay the IDR 150,000 fee on the spot by QRIS digital payment, and in some cases can be refused entry to the site until they do.
Why now
Provincial revenue from the levy has consistently trailed its targets since the fee's introduction, and the shift to active enforcement, coordinated between the Bali provincial government, immigration authorities and airlines operating international routes into Denpasar, is aimed at closing that gap rather than raising the fee itself, which has remained unchanged since it began.
What Indian travellers should know
Bali remains one of the most popular short-haul international destinations for Indian travellers, and the levy applies equally regardless of nationality. Paying it online before arrival, rather than at the airport on landing, is generally the more reliable option now that enforcement has tightened.
Traveller tips
- Pay the levy online in advance through Bali's official Love Bali platform and keep the QR voucher accessible on your phone.
- Carry a screenshot of the voucher as a backup in case of poor signal at outdoor sites like Tanah Lot or Tegallalang.
- Rules, fee amounts and enforcement approaches can change; confirm current details on Bali's official tourism levy website before travelling rather than relying on this summary alone.
- The levy is separate from Indonesia's visa-on-arrival or e-visa fee, and needs to be paid in addition to that entry cost.
Where this is
Bali, Indonesia