Indonesia at a Glance
Indonesia: Visas and Healthcare
iStockphotoDespite massage therapies and traditional remedies offered to tourists, Indonesia's health sector is still developing.
Diplomatic Visas and the VOA
In addition to visitation visas, foreign nationals planning on moving to Indonesia can also apply for a diplomatic or service visa, depending on their circumstances. Diplomatic visas are handed out solely to persons with a diplomatic passport going to Indonesia on a diplomatic assignment. A service visa is given to persons who hold a service or United Nations passport and who want to visit Indonesia for non-diplomatic reasons. Please note that both the diplomatic and service visas are single-entry only.
The Visa on Arrival (VOA) is a visa for residents of over 60 selected countries (see list on website), which is handed out directly at the airport. The VOA enables a 30-day stay in Indonesia and may be extended once for 30 days within the period of the initial 30 days. This means that you may stay a total of 60 days in Indonesia on a VOA. However, it doesn’t qualify as a working visa and cannot be converted to any other kind of valid visa.
Health Insurance and Medical Care
Healthcare in Indonesia may be very different from what you expect. As the public healthcare sector is often inadequate, it is safe to recommend a private international health insurance as your best bet. A number of insurance providers have policies that cover countries in Southeast Asia such as Indonesia.
Please always be sure to get a comprehensive medical insurance plan for yourself and all family members also moving to Indonesia, which covers both illnesses and accidents. Many wealthier Indonesians and expatriates also prefer to go to Singapore for high-quality treatment, so check if the policy covers this country too. The telephone numbers for police and emergency medical help (i.e. ambulance) in Indonesia are 110 and 118/119 respectively.
Doctors and Hospitals
Allianz Worldwide Care provides a directory for doctors and hospitals whose services their insurance policies cover. You simply need to enter the name of the city you plan on moving to in Indonesia and then you will be given a list of addresses, telephone numbers, and names of doctors. Unfortunately English is not a requirement in hospitals, yet the services offered by most of these clinics should be up to par with Western medical treatment and can be relied on in emergency cases. As mentioned above, traveling to Singapore for treatment is also a viable option.
Most expats in Indonesia go to so-called “group practice medical clinics”, which have a wider range of specialists and offer most routine medical evaluations and care. In addition, most medical staff often speaks some English. Please also be aware that regardless of the medical evaluation you have had, you will be required to pay in cash, as few hospitals have access to credit card machines.
It is also common that some medications which may be prescription only in your home country can easily and cheaply be acquired over the counter in Indonesia.
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