Friday, November 29, 2024 In a significant policy shift, Macao passport holders must now apply for a visa before traveling to Indonesia . The visa-on-arrival policy, which previously allowed stays of up to 28 days, was quietly revoked on November 14, 2024. The change has left Macao residents and authorities scrambling for clarity.
Policy Change Unveiled The Macao government became aware of the change only on November 22, after reports emerged of Macao residents being denied entry into Indonesia for failing to apply for a visa beforehand. The Identification Services Bureau (DSI) promptly contacted the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong to investigate the matter. Initially, the consulate stated that no changes had been made, and Macao passport holders were still eligible for visa-on-arrival.
However, additional reports of denied entries surfaced on November 25, prompting a second inquiry. This time, the Indonesian Consulate General confirmed that Macao passport holders were no longer covered under the visa-on-arrival scheme. The Indonesian immigration services have since updated their directory to reflect this exclusion.
Implications for Macao Residents Macao residents, who had previously enjoyed seamless entry into Indonesia, are now required to complete a visa application before travel. The DSI has updated its list of visa-free and visa-on-arrival countries accordingly. Meanwhile, Indonesia has not issued an official explanation for the policy change.
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