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Visa Runs from Bali: 4 More Destinations with Easy Entry (Part 2)

Visa Runs from Bali: 4 More Destinations with Easy Entry (Part 2)

In Part 1 we covered the destinations closest to Bali: Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. Part 2 adds four more options with straightforward entry: the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Hong Kong.

All information is current as of August 2026. Visa rules change frequently, so it is worth rechecking them before you fly, or checking with us.

A reminder on timing: for a visa on arrival and short-term visas, 1 to 3 days is usually enough, while long-term visas often require 7 to 10 days or more while the approval is being processed. We calculate this period in advance for your visa, so that a return ticket is not booked too tightly.

The Philippines (Manila)

For citizens of Russia and Kazakhstan, this is one of the most convenient visa runs: a direct flight and visa-free entry. For citizens of Belarus, the conditions are different.

  • Citizens of Russia and Kazakhstan: visa-free, for up to 30 days. Your passport must be valid for at least another 6 months, a return or transit ticket is required, and so is a completed eTravel form (online, no earlier than 72 hours before departure).

  • Citizens of Belarus: there is no visa-free entry; a visa has to be arranged in advance at a consulate. As a quick visa run, the Philippines does not suit a Belarusian passport.

  • Getting there: direct flights Denpasar to Manila, around 4 hours, several dozen flights a week.

  • Advantages for a visa run: with a Russian or Kazakh passport you can fit it into 1 to 2 days, and prices are moderate, lower than in Singapore.

  • Recommendation: a convenient option for Russia and Kazakhstan. For Belarus, it is worth choosing another destination from this selection.

Sri Lanka (Colombo)

Straightforward entry for all three passports, but with two caveats: the authorization is arranged online in advance, and there are no direct flights from Bali.

  • Entry: an electronic ETA authorization for 30 days with double entry. At the time of writing, the ETA is issued free of charge to citizens of Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. It has to be arranged in advance online on the official portal eta.gov.lk. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months, and on entry you may be asked for a return ticket and proof of funds.

  • Important: the free ETA is a temporary program, running for roughly a year from May 2026, with an interim review. Check the current conditions on eta.gov.lk before you travel.

  • Getting there: there are no direct flights from Bali, only routes with one connection (Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, or Bangkok), totaling around 8 to 9.5 hours.

  • Advantages for a visa run: costs on the ground are low, but the connection means this is not a same-day trip. Allowing 2 to 4 days and combining it with a short holiday makes more sense.

  • Recommendation: a good option if you want a change of scenery. As a pure "fly out and come back" trip, it loses to the Philippines on logistics.

Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City)

The most budget-friendly visa run in this selection: cheap tickets, simple visa-free entry, and low costs on the ground.

  • Entry: visa-free for short trips. Up to 45 days for citizens of Russia, and up to 30 days for citizens of Belarus and Kazakhstan. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months, and it is worth keeping a return ticket and accommodation booking on hand just in case.

  • Before you fly: check whether a digital entry declaration is required. The information on this is inconsistent, so it is better to verify it on Vietnam's official visa portal.

  • Getting there: direct flights Denpasar to Ho Chi Minh City, around 4 hours, with low-cost carriers available.

  • Advantages for a visa run: inexpensive and simple, comfortable for a 2 to 3 day trip.

  • Recommendation: a convenient budget visa run. If you need a longer or multiple-entry stay in Vietnam, there is a 90-day electronic visa, which we can also help arrange.

Hong Kong

Visa-free entry with a comfortable margin on the permitted period, plus convenient direct flights. There is one drawback: prices in the city itself.

  • Entry: visa-free. Up to 14 days for citizens of Russia and Kazakhstan, and up to 30 days for citizens of Belarus. On entry, proof of sufficient funds is required, and as a rule a return or transit ticket as well.

  • Getting there: direct flights Denpasar to Hong Kong, around 5 hours, daily.

  • Advantages for a visa run: entry is straightforward and the permitted period leaves room to spare even for a short trip. Hong Kong remains a major aviation hub, so the trip is easy to combine with a connection or with shopping.

  • Recommendation: with a 5-hour flight, allowing 2 to 3 days works better. The city is expensive, so a shorter stay is easier on the budget.

Returning to Bali with a Visa Already in Hand

As in Part 1, the main rule stays the same: return to Bali with your Indonesian visa already arranged, so that entry back into the country goes smoothly.

Get in Touch with Legal Indonesia

The destinations in Part 2 are farther away, which means they need more precise planning. A difference in passport changes the entire route here: a Russian citizen flies to the Philippines visa-free, while a Belarusian citizen has to prepare documents at a consulate in advance. Add to that temporary programs such as the free ETA in Sri Lanka, and arrival form requirements that appear and change.

We arrange visas on arrival and Indonesian tourist visas ahead of time, help with visas for the other countries we handle, and for long-term visas we calculate the trip timeline before departure. Write to us before you fly: we will select a visa to fit your passport and advise how many days to allow for the visa run.

Head of the Visa Department Legal Indonesia
Alvia Nur Aliyah

Sources

  • The official visa portal of the Philippines and Executive Order 408 on visa-free entry

  • The Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka and the official ETA portal

  • Vietnam's current visa policy, including Resolution 44/NQ-CP

  • The Embassy of Belarus in Vietnam and Vietnamese state media

  • The Immigration Department of Hong Kong, table of visa requirements

  • IATA Timatic, the visa requirements reference for airlines

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