Indonesia (Bali): travel laws for tourists, topic by topic
Tough
Overall verdict for Indonesia (Bali): Tough. Below, the risk level of each of the 23 topics that get travellers fined or arrested. The exact rule, thresholds and penalties are in the LawsTravels app.
Indonesia (Bali): read the 3 riskiest rules free →
🎁 Free, no account: Drugs, Medicines, Smoking
The 23 topics at a glance
Banned or serious riskAllowed, with limitsRelaxed
💊Drugs🎁 FreeBanned or serious risk
💉Medicines🎁 FreeBanned or serious risk
🛡️Theft & scamsAllowed, with limits
🐾AnimalsAllowed, with limits
🚬Smoking🎁 FreeBanned or serious risk
🍺AlcoholAllowed, with limits
❤️Sex & datingBanned or serious risk
👕Dress codeAllowed, with limits
🕌ReligionAllowed, with limits
🚗DrivingBanned or serious risk
📷Photo & videoAllowed, with limits
🔪WeaponsBanned or serious risk
💶FinesAllowed, with limits
🛂Visa & customsRelaxed
🤝BehaviorAllowed, with limits
⛓️Jail riskBanned or serious risk
⚖️ExtraditionAllowed, with limits
📡Internet & VPNRelaxed
🚁DronesAllowed, with limits
💵Cash & currencyRelaxed
🩺Vaccines & healthRelaxed
💻Remote workAllowed, with limits
🗣️Politics & protestAllowed, with limits
How Indonesia (Bali) compares
With 7 of 23 topics flagged red, Indonesia (Bali) is stricter than 4 of the 9 other countries in South-East Asia (regional average: 7.1). Worldwide, Indonesia (Bali) ranks #37 of 148 for strictness (tied with 13 other countries).
What sets it apart
- Medicines: flagged red here, while only 13 of 148 countries are this strict.
- Smoking: flagged red here, while only 16 of 148 countries are this strict.
What to watch most in Indonesia (Bali)
- ADHD medicine is the number one problem: banned outright in some countries, prescription or not.
- Codeine and tramadol are ordinary painkillers in Europe and controlled narcotics in the Gulf and Egypt.
- CBD is legal in much of Europe and completely banned in the Gulf and parts of Asia — including cosmetics.
- The vape is the real trap: several countries fine or arrest for simple possession, including devices with no nicotine.
- Indoor smoking bans now cover terraces, beaches, parks and bus stops in a growing number of cities.
- Throwing a butt on the ground is a separate, and often expensive, littering offence.
- The age of consent is the first thing to check, and it varies from 13 to 21 depending on the country and sometimes the region.
- Some countries criminalise sex outside marriage, which can affect an unmarried couple sharing a hotel room.
- Same-sex relations remain a criminal offence in around 60 countries, with sentences up to life in a handful.
Indonesia (Bali) at a glance
CapitalJakarta
CurrencyIndonesian Rupiah (IDR)
LanguageIndonesian
Emergency number112
Driving sideLeft
Mains voltage127 / 230 V
Calling code+62
Plug typesC · F
Frequently asked questions
Is Indonesia (Bali) strict with tourists?
Overall verdict: Tough. 7 of 23 topics are flagged as banned or a serious risk (Drugs, Medicines, Smoking, Sex & dating, Driving, Weapons, Jail risk), 12 require caution.
What can get me fined or arrested in Indonesia (Bali)?
The strictest topics for travellers in Indonesia (Bali) are: Drugs, Medicines, Smoking, Sex & dating, Driving, Weapons, Jail risk. Each has specific thresholds and penalties, detailed in the app.
Where do I find the exact rules for Indonesia (Bali)?
In LawsTravels: open Indonesia (Bali), each topic shows the level, the rule, the thresholds and what to do at customs, offline. 3 topics are free on every country; the other 20 unlock for the price of a coffee.
What is the emergency number in Indonesia (Bali)?
In Indonesia (Bali), dial 112. Capital: Jakarta. Currency: Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). Main language: Indonesian.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Indonesia (Bali)?
In Indonesia (Bali), traffic drives on the left. Mains voltage: 127 / 230 V. Calling code: +62. Plug types: C · F.
Countries with the closest profile
Levels summarise publicly available legal information for travellers and are not legal advice. Laws change and enforcement varies: confirm with the embassy or consulate of your destination.
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