I’m surprised at the lack of clarity given on several websites about how to get a visa and how long it will last. Im from the UK but flying in from Australia and I’m only going to focus on tourist visas for that’s all I have had experience in.
There are three basic types:
1. Standard 30 day entrance tourist visa. Simply que at immigration and get the stamp. This is NON EXTENDABLE. But you can do a visa run and get another 30 days. This is often a $250 Aud return flight to Kuala Lumpur/Singapore.
2. Standard visa on arrival, VOA, for 30 days. This you pay for at Denpasar airport, $35 USD, this is where I flew into. It get in a different Q! This one you CAN get extended to 60 days but the slow process will take 10+ days and you will need to part with your passport for a couple of days and visit the immigration department for your photo to be taken near the airport. You can do this yourself or pay someone to do it. Check the place is reputable this is your passport we’re talking about. This costs about $34 AUD for the service and about the same for the visa. You can do the fast version, takes about a week all in for roughly double. You can only extend it once. Despite all the above I have read some blogs that said at Lombok airport they are friendly and you can often get your VOA 30 day visa don get it extended when you arrive….
3. Apply before you arrive. But this has to be done a short period before you get there and can be a pain if in another country so I didn’t research this any further!
4. Overrun your visa and pay approx $20 USD/day…
Put simply if you want to stay more than forty days it is by far the simplest and cheapest option to do a day visa run – so factor this into your plans!
Bibliography;
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/asia-south-east-asia-islands-peninsula/indonesia/how-long-do-i-have-to-out-of-the-country-to-renew-30-day-visa-on-arrival
https://www.bali.com/visa-indonesia-entry-requirements-bali.html