FAQs by category
- General
- Bahrain
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What If My Passport Number Changes After My e-VOA Is Approved?
Passport renewal or replacement after e-VOA approval creates a significant problem because Indonesian immigration systems link your e-VOA directly to your specific passport number. This situation requires immediate action to avoid entry complications.
Why this matters:
Your e-VOA is electronically tied to the passport number provided during application. When you present a different passport number at immigration, the system cannot match records, potentially resulting in:
- Entry denial at the checkpoint
- Requirement to obtain a new visa, either online or on arrival, which may involve additional cost or inconvenience
- Significant delays at immigration
- In rare cases, travelers may be required to arrange a new visa or face refusal of entry if they are not eligible for a visa on arrival.
What causes passport number changes:
- Passport renewal due to expiration
- Lost or stolen passport replacement
- Damaged passport replacement
- Name change requiring new passport issuance
Your solution options:
- Apply for new e-VOA (strongly recommended):
- Submit fresh application using new passport details
- Previous e-VOA becomes invalid—don't attempt using it
- Allows clean immigration processing without complications
- Travel with both passports (limited circumstances): Carrying both old and new passports is generally not accepted as a valid solution for Indonesia e-VOA holders, as the visa remains linked to the original passport number.
- Only viable if old passport wasn't surrendered during renewal
- Some countries don't confiscate expired passports
- Present both at immigration with explanation
- Success depends on immigration officer discretion—unreliable method
- Contact e-VOA support:
- Explain situation immediately after passport change
- They may confirm that a new e-VOA application is required, as passport details cannot be amended after approval
- Don't assume they can update passport numbers—policies vary
Best practice: If your passport number changes for any reason, apply for a new e-VOA using your updated passport details before travel. This is the only reliable way to ensure smooth entry into Indonesia without immigration issues