Lombok Visa Extension Guide: Extending Your VOA/e-VOA from Mataram

4 October 2026

If you spend a longer stretch of time in Sekotong or on Lombok, there comes a point where “visa extension” starts to weigh on your mind. The short answer: a VOA or e-VOA obtained for tourism purposes can each be extended once, and the total stay after extension is capped at 60 days. However, since May 29, 2025, the extension process can no longer be completed entirely online.

This article draws only on information we could actually access and verify as of September 2026: Indonesia’s official eVisa site (evisa.imigrasi.go.id), the official sites of regional immigration offices, and guidance from the Embassy of Japan in Indonesia. We were not able to confirm the finer operational details published by the Mataram immigration office itself, and we’ve flagged that where it’s relevant.

The visa types themselves (VOA and e-VOA) and how to obtain them are covered separately; this article focuses only on extending a visa after you’ve already entered the country, and the figures here are consistent with those other articles.

This is written for travelers planning to stay more than 30 days on Lombok (including Sekotong in the southwest) or Bali, or who are already there and considering an extension.

As of September 2026

What this article covers

✓How many times you can extend a VOA/e-VOA, and the maximum total stay after extension
✓The approximate application window and the process at evisa.imigrasi.go.id
✓Whether you need to visit the Mataram immigration office (what changed in May 2025)
✓The approximate extension fee and the overstay fine
✓What your options are if you want to stay longer than 60 days

In short

As of September 2026, both the VOA and e-VOA can each be extended once, and the total stay after extension is capped at 60 days. You apply at evisa.imigrasi.go.id, but since May 29, 2025, the online application and payment alone no longer complete the process — you also need to visit your nearest immigration office (for Lombok, this is expected to be the office in Mataram) to have your photo taken. The extension fee is roughly Rp500,000 (about US$28.09), and the overstay fine is Rp1,000,000 (about US$56.18) per day. As a guideline, you can apply anywhere from 14 days to 1 day before your current visa expires.

TOC

How many times, and for how long, can you extend a VOA/e-VOA?

As of September 2026, both the VOA and e-VOA allow a 30-day stay. Within its validity period, it can be extended once, and after extension you can stay a total of up to 60 days. This basic condition is the same whether you entered on a VOA or an e-VOA.

Because you can only extend once, there’s no way within the VOA/e-VOA framework to extend your stay further after that. Indonesia’s official eVisa site also states that this visa cannot be converted into another type of visa or permit. We touch on what to consider if you want to stay longer than 60 days later in this article.

When applying for an extension, you’re reportedly asked to show the same kind of documentation required at entry, such as proof of a return or onward flight. It’s a good idea to keep the documents you prepared before your trip on hand when you extend, too.

Extensions are applied for online (roughly when you can apply)

You apply for an extension at the immigration authority’s official eVisa site, evisa.imigrasi.go.id. According to a regional immigration office’s official guidance, the process involves looking up your current permit on the site, entering the required details, and selecting “extend.” After you submit the application, you pay the extension fee online.

As a guideline, you can apply anywhere from 14 days to 1 day before your current visa’s expiry date. We confirmed this window through a regional immigration office’s official guidance, but since practices may vary by office, we’d recommend applying with some margin rather than waiting until the last minute.

The extension fee is Rp500,000 (about US$28.09). That’s the same amount charged when you first obtain a VOA or e-VOA.

You’ll need to visit the Mataram immigration office

Since May 29, 2025, an online application and payment alone no longer complete the stay-permit extension process. According to guidance from the Embassy of Japan in Indonesia, extending or changing the status of a stay permit now requires appearing in person at the immigration office responsible for your place of residence, for a photo and interview. For VOA extensions specifically, a regional immigration office’s official guidance states that, after applying and paying online, you need to visit your nearest immigration office within 1 business day to have your photo taken.

If you’re staying on Lombok, this “nearest immigration office” is determined automatically from the address and postal code you enter when applying. The immigration office for the main island of Lombok is in Mataram. That said, we weren’t able to confirm, from what the office itself has published, the detailed address or what to bring on the day. Before you go, it’s worth checking the guidance on evisa.imigrasi.go.id or confirming directly with the local immigration counter.

As for what to wear, a regional immigration office’s official guidance calls for smart, formal attire and says sandals aren’t allowed. Since the visit is for a photo, it’s worth dressing neatly before you go.

Figure: VOA/e-VOA extension process

Figure: Since May 29, 2025, the online application and payment alone no longer complete the process.

← Scroll the table sideways

Item	Guideline
Number of extensions	1 (total stay after extension capped at 60 days)
Application window	14 days to 1 day before expiry
Extension fee	Rp500,000 (about US$28.09)
Visit to immigration office	Required (within about 1 business day of online payment)
Overstay fine	Rp1,000,000 (about US$56.18) per day

*Windows and fees are guidelines confirmed as of September 2026. Practices may vary by office.

Extension fee and the overstay fine

The extension fee is Rp500,000, which comes to roughly US$28.09 at the rate used in this article (US$1 ≈ Rp17,800, as of September 2026).

If you forget to handle the paperwork and your permitted stay expires, you’ll be overstaying. According to Indonesia’s official eVisa site, the overstay fine is Rp1,000,000 (about US$56.18) per day. It also notes that a prolonged overstay can lead to detention, deportation, and a future entry ban. We weren’t able to confirm exactly how many days of overstay trigger those consequences.

Figure: Extension fee vs. overstay fine (per day)

Figure: Extension fee about US$28.09, overstay fine about US$56.18 per day (US$1 ≈ Rp17,800).

A note of caution

Rules and fees change: this article reflects information as of September 2026. Before you extend, always double-check with official sources — evisa.imigrasi.go.id, the Consulate-General of Japan in Denpasar, or Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs overseas safety site.
A fee increase is still under discussion: in August 2026, Indonesia’s immigration authority announced a proposal to raise VOA/e-VOA fees (to Rp1,000,000 for VOA on arrival and Rp750,000 for e-VOA). Whether the extension fee would be affected by this change hasn’t been officially specified, and as of September 2026 no implementation date has been announced.

What to check before extending, and what to do if you want more than 60 days

Here’s a checklist to go through before you apply for an extension.

✓Your current VOA/e-VOA’s expiry date (only 1 extension, 60 days total maximum)
✓Whether you’re within the window to apply — a guideline of 14 to 1 days before expiry
✓Whether you have proof of a return or onward flight ready
✓Whether you can get to an immigration office within about 1 business day of your online payment
✓What to wear (smart attire is called for, and guidance says sandals aren’t allowed)

Even after extending, the 60-day total cap doesn’t change. If you want to stay longer than 60 days, the VOA/e-VOA framework can’t accommodate that — you’ll need to look into a different type of visa depending on your purpose and how long you plan to stay. Which visa suits you varies a great deal by individual circumstances, so we won’t get into that here. If you’re considering a longer-term stay or splitting your time between two bases, our guide to long-term stays and two-base living on Lombok is worth a read.

A note from Sekotong

Once you start thinking about an extension, it helps to first pin down “by when can I get to Mataram.” Getting from Sekotong into Mataram means a car trip, so it’s efficient to time your online application around a day you’re already heading out of the village for errands or shopping. A common misconception is that entering on an e-VOA means the whole extension process can be done online — but since May 2025, that’s not the case, regardless of whether you entered on a VOA or an e-VOA: you need to visit the immigration office in person for the photo. People sometimes discover this only at the last minute and end up scrambling, so once your stay is approaching 30 days, it’s worth starting to look into this early.

Beyond the paperwork, there’s a place called Sekotong

The extension procedure itself is the same whether you’re staying on Bali or heading to Lombok. Whether that place is worth the trouble of extending your stay is something each person has to answer for themselves.

Honestly, the extension process isn’t convenient. It can’t be completed online, it takes a trip to an immigration office, and on Lombok, that also means travel time to Mataram. There’s no direct flight from Japan to Lombok either, so getting there in the first place already takes time and money. Because of that hassle, plenty of people choose to leave the country and start over rather than extend.

Even so, some people go through the trouble of extending because a place like Sekotong has a pace of life you can’t fully take in during a short trip. Sekotong hasn’t been built up for tourism, and it also serves as a gateway to the southern Gili islands.

If you’re willing to put in the effort of extending in exchange for more time here, a longer stay on Lombok in Sekotong is a real option. On the other hand, if you’d rather avoid the hassle of paperwork and travel, it’s better to keep your stay within 30 days, or choose somewhere with less travel burden, like Bali.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Is the extension process different for a VOA versus an e-VOA?

As far as we could confirm as of September 2026, the place you apply (evisa.imigrasi.go.id) and the need to visit an immigration office for a photo are the same regardless of whether you entered on a VOA or an e-VOA. The number of extensions allowed (1) and the maximum total stay after extension (60 days) are also the same.

Q. By when do I need to apply for an extension?

According to a regional immigration office’s official guidance, the window is roughly 14 days to 1 day before your current visa’s expiry date. Since you’ll also need to visit an immigration office after applying online, we’d recommend starting early rather than waiting until the last minute.

Q. Do I need to go all the way to Mataram to extend?

If you’re staying on Lombok, your nearest immigration office is expected to be the one in Mataram. Since May 29, 2025, an extension can’t be completed through online application and payment alone — you need to visit an immigration office in person for a photo. That said, we weren’t able to confirm the operational details of each office, so it’s worth checking the official site or the counter directly before you go.

Q. What happens if I forget to extend and my stay expires?

According to Indonesia’s official eVisa site, the overstay fine is Rp1,000,000 (about US$56.18) per day. It also notes that a prolonged overstay can lead to detention, deportation, and a future entry ban.

Q. What should I do if I want to stay longer than 60 days?

A VOA/e-VOA can only be extended once, for a 60-day total maximum. If you’re considering a longer stay, you’ll need to look into a different type of visa suited to your purpose and length of stay.

Summary

As of September 2026, both the VOA and e-VOA can each be extended once, for a total stay after extension of up to 60 days. You apply at evisa.imigrasi.go.id, but since May 29, 2025, the process can’t be completed online alone — you also need to visit an immigration office for a photo.

The extension fee is roughly Rp500,000 (about US$28.09), and the overstay fine is Rp1,000,000 (about US$56.18) per day. A fee increase is under discussion, but as of September 2026 no implementation date has been announced.

These rules may continue to change. Once you start thinking about an extension, check the latest details through official sources like evisa.imigrasi.go.id or the Consulate-General of Japan in Denpasar before you proceed.