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Indonesia appoints VFS Global as exclusive provider for e-Visa on Arrival service for Americans, Canadians, 95 nationalities

Washington DC, October 28, 2024: The Directorate General of Immigration, operating under Indonesia’s Ministry of Law and Human Rights, has appointed VFS Global to serve as the exclusive private partner for Electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VoA) services. This new partnership aims to simplify the visa application process, enhance traveler convenience, and attract more tourists and investment to Indonesia.

Set to launch in December 2024, VFS Global’s e-VoA platform will be available for citizens from 97 eligible countries, including the United States, Canada, India, Australia, and several Latin American nations such as Venezuela, Argentina, and Brazil. Travelers from these countries will be able to apply online for their e-VoA, submit required documents, and pay the necessary fees before departure. Once approved, visas will be sent to travelers by email, making their arrival and immigration experience quicker and smoother through e-Gates or immigration counters.

Silmy Karim, Director General of Immigration of Indonesia, emphasized the initiative’s focus on improving the travel experience and welcoming more foreign visitors. “The Directorate General of Immigration offers the latest digital solutions that enhance the experience for foreign nationals who wish to visit Indonesia,” Karim said. He also noted that collaborating with VFS Global allows Indonesia to leverage VFS’s digital platforms to support this initiative.

VFS Global, recognized as a leading technology service provider for governments, is introducing several features through the e-VoA platform to streamline the process further. The platform includes Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology, which auto-populates applicant details to reduce errors and application time. A group booking feature is also available, which is expected to benefit the travel industry and large groups visiting for conventions and events.

According to Zubin Karkaria, Founder and CEO of VFS Global, the new service aligns with Indonesia’s goals to increase tourism. “Indonesia is a very popular destination for travelers across the globe, and we are excited to unveil a service that will make their visa application process quicker, simpler, and much more convenient,” Karkaria said, expressing his enthusiasm for the new e-VoA service’s potential impact on tourism.

VFS Global has also partnered with Emirates to facilitate the e-VoA application process for Emirates passengers. Additionally, the company has set up dedicated Indonesia visa counters at its locations in Dubai, Mumbai, and Shanghai, with plans for expansion into Australia.

The e-VoA platform includes dedicated email and live support in seven languages—English, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, German, and French—to guide applicants through the process. Additional language support will be introduced to accommodate a broader international audience.

Indonesia has set a target of 14 million tourist arrivals in 2024, with 9.92 million visitors already recorded between January and August. The e-VoA initiative aligns with Indonesia’s larger efforts to strengthen its tourism infrastructure and achieve its visitor goals.

Headquartered in Zurich and Dubai, VFS Global is majority-owned by Blackstone Inc., along with the Swiss Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation, and EQT. As a technology-driven organization, VFS Global prioritizes ethical practices and sustainability and has processed more than 297 million applications across 153 countries since 2001.

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