UK Visa for Indonesians 2025: Application, Best Cards & Travel Guide

Visa requirements

Flights from Indonesia to United Kingdom

Money, cards & forex fees

ATMs in United Kingdom

Top cities in United Kingdom

UK Standard Visitor Visa for Indonesian nationals

Indonesian passport holders require a Standard Visitor Visa for UK tourism, family visits, and short business trips. The visa costs £115 for a 6-month entry. Multi-year options are available: 2-year (£400), 5-year (£800), 10-year (£1,000). For Indonesian professionals and students' families who visit the UK regularly, the multi-year visa is excellent value. Applications are submitted online at gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa. VFS Global handles biometric enrollment in Jakarta (two centres), Surabaya, and Bali. Processing takes approximately 3–4 weeks. Priority processing (5 working days) is available for an additional fee and recommended for travellers with firm travel dates. Previous Schengen or US visa history significantly strengthens Indonesian applications — include copies of all prior visas and stamps.

Documents for UK visa: Indonesian applicants

Financial evidence: 3–6 months of bank statements from your primary account (BCA, BRI, BNI, Mandiri, or others). Regular salary credits and a maintained balance. Provide tabungan (savings) and giro (current account) statements if you have both. Employment: Surat Keterangan Kerja from your employer on company letterhead, stamped and signed by HR, stating your position, salary, leave approval dates, and employer details. Payslips (slip gaji) for 3 months. For civil servants (PNS), an official letter from your government department. Identity ties to Indonesia: KTP (Indonesian national ID card) and NPWP (Nomor Pokok Wajib Pajak — taxpayer ID) demonstrate formal residency. Property certificate (Sertifikat Tanah or Hak Milik) if you own property. For self-employed applicants: SIUP (business licence), company NPWP, business bank statements, and recent tax declarations (SPT).

Flights from Jakarta and other Indonesian cities to the UK

Garuda Indonesia operates direct Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta (CGK)–London Heathrow service. Flight time is approximately 14 hours direct. This is the most convenient option for Jakarta-based travellers. Economy fares: IDR 14,000,000–28,000,000 (approximately $850–1,700) return. Singapore Airlines via Singapore (CGK–SIN–LHR) is the most popular connecting option — excellent service quality and competitive fares. Emirates via Dubai and Qatar Airways via Doha are both popular choices — particularly for travellers from Surabaya (SUB), Bali (DPS), Medan (KNO), and other Indonesian cities that have direct connections to the Gulf hubs. Batik Air (Lion Air group) connects Indonesian cities to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, where connections to London are available. This is a budget option but adds significant journey time.

Best Indonesian travel cards for GBP spending

Standard Indonesian bank cards (BCA, BRI, BNI, Mandiri) charge 3–4% on international purchases. On a IDR 35,000,000 (approximately £1,700) UK trip, fees reach IDR 1,050,000–1,400,000 — roughly $65–90 in avoidable fees. Jenius VISA (issued by BTPN) is Indonesia's most internationally capable digital bank card for international travel. It charges approximately 2% forex — significantly below the standard Indonesian bank rate. The Jenius app is user-friendly for managing international spending. Bank Mandiri Visa International charges 2.5% forex — the most competitive traditional big-bank option. Wise is available for Indonesian residents. Convert IDR to GBP at the mid-market rate (0.5% fee) before departure and spend GBP in the UK with no additional markup. Wise provides £200/month in free ATM withdrawals. For ATM withdrawals in the UK: LINK network ATMs (HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds) charge nothing at the machine. Your Indonesian bank's international ATM fee applies. With Jenius, the international ATM fee is lower than most Indonesian banks.

Halal food and Indonesian community in London

London's halal dining scene is one of the most developed in Europe, which makes it particularly welcoming for Indonesian visitors who are predominantly Muslim. Halal certification is widespread across Asian, Middle Eastern, and South Asian restaurants. For Indonesian food specifically: Bali Bali Restaurant in Covent Garden, Sedap Indonesian Restaurant in Islington, and several Indonesian-owned eateries across London serve nasi goreng, rendang, sate, and gado-gado. The quality and authenticity are generally good, though not matching Warung culture back home. The Indonesian Embassy is in South Kensington — the area has several Indonesian-community businesses. The KBRI (Kedutaan Besar Republik Indonesia) also runs cultural events that may coincide with your visit. Islamabad Prayer Centres and mosques across London: East London Mosque in Whitechapel, London Central Mosque near Regent's Park, and Finsbury Park Mosque all serve substantial Muslim communities and offer Friday Jumu'ah services.

UK border arrival for Indonesian nationals

Indonesian nationals use the 'All Passports' staffed queue at UK border control. No e-gate access. Queue times at Heathrow T2 (where Singapore Airlines and Garuda Indonesia arrive) can be 30–60 minutes. Border officers ask standard questions: employment in Indonesia, purpose of visit, length of stay, accommodation. Have your Surat Keterangan Kerja, hotel booking, and bank statement accessible on your phone. For Indonesian visitors, demonstrating employment and income stability through consistent bank statements and a well-documented employer are the most effective tools at the border. Previous UK or Schengen visit stamps in your passport are a positive signal.

Practical tips: UK for Indonesian visitors

Weather: dramatically different from Indonesia's tropical climate. Pack warm layers, a waterproof jacket, and comfortable walking shoes. Even summer requires a light jacket for evenings. SIM card: buy a UK SIM at Heathrow (EE, O2, Vodafone) for £10–20. Telkomsel and Indosat's UK roaming rates are expensive for data-heavy use. Public transport: the London Underground is the fastest way around central London. Download Citymapper for comprehensive navigation. Tap-and-pay with your card or phone on the Tube — no Oyster card needed. For prayer: East London Mosque, London Central Mosque, and numerous smaller mosques across the city. The Muslim population in London is large and well-served with prayer facilities in major shopping centres and public buildings. For the Cotswolds: self-drive from Bath or Oxford is the best approach. UK motorway driving is straightforward for Indonesians familiar with cars, but note the left-hand traffic (opposite to Indonesia). An international driving permit is recommended.

On-arrival tips

• 1Indonesian nationals use the 'All Passports' staffed queue at UK border — allow 30–60 minutes at Heathrow peak times.
• 2London has extensive halal dining throughout — particularly in East London, Edgware Road, and Wembley.
• 3Border officers may ask about employment and financial ties to Indonesia — have Surat Keterangan Kerja, NPWP, and bank statements accessible.
• 4Previous Schengen or US visa stamps significantly strengthen an Indonesian UK visa application.
• 5Jenius VISA is the most practical Indonesian digital bank card for UK spending — lower forex fee than most Indonesian bank cards.
• 6Download Citymapper for London transport before landing.