How to spot fake arrival-card sites
You searched for the Indonesia arrival form on your phone and the first result asks for payment.
IndonesiaQuest Editorial · Updated 20 October 2026
A fake arrival-card site copies the look of an official page and asks for money or personal details. The surest defence is to reach the official portal from a link on an official Indonesian government page, then read the address before you type anything. If a page makes you hurry or pay a fee you did not expect, stop and check.
This guide gives you a short red-flag list, a table of protective habits and a plan for the day something goes wrong.
What are the red flags?
Look-alike sites vary, but they share a pattern. Scan for these before you enter any detail:
- The address is slightly off: an extra word, a changed letter or an unfamiliar ending.
- The page was found through an advert at the top of a search result.
- It asks for a fee for something the official page offers directly.
- It pushes urgency, such as a countdown or a warning that you will be refused boarding.
- It asks for card details on a page with poor spelling or no contact details.
- It asks for more personal data than the official form, such as bank logins.
Official Indonesian government addresses end in go.id. Treat any other ending with suspicion until you have matched it to a link on an official page.
How does the official Bali levy site look?
The Bali levy is paid on the Love Bali portal, served from lovebali.baliprov.go.id, which accepts bank transfer, virtual account and QRIS [1]. A voucher is emailed after payment. Read the step-by-step guide on how to pay and check the Bali levy and the glossary entry on the Love Bali levy.
If a page asks you to pay in a way that the official portal does not show, close it.
Which habits protect you?
| Habit | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Start from an official page link | Search adverts can lead to look-alikes |
| Read the address letter by letter | Fakes change one letter |
| Bookmark the correct address | Saves you from searching again |
| Pay by a method you can dispute | A card or bank gives you a route to complain |
| Keep screenshots of each step | Evidence helps if you must report |
The glossary entry on the All Indonesia arrival card explains what the official declaration is. For the wider picture, see the entry checklist for Malaysian passport holders.
Want a second pair of eyes on your plan?
If a site asks for payment and you are not sure it is official, send us the address and what it asks. We can help you check it and pass your brief to a licensed agency if you want help with the forms.
You get a reply from a person who reads your plan, plus a quote from a licensed Malaysian agency if you want one.What if you already paid or typed details?
Stay calm, because quick action helps.
- Contact your bank or card provider and report the payment.
- Change any password you typed on the page.
- Save screenshots, receipts and the address of the site.
- Complete the correct official steps so your trip is not affected.
- Report the site to the relevant authority or platform.
If your passport number was entered, watch for unusual messages and calls that mention your trip.
What to ask an agency about forms
Some packages include help with forms. Ask in writing:
- Do you complete the arrival declaration or the levy for us, and with whose consent?
- Is there a fee, and what does it cover?
- How do you store our passport details, and for how long?
- Do we pay the levy ourselves on the official portal?
- Which official pages should we check before we fly?
So how do you stay on the right page?
Start from an official link, read the address, pay only on the portal that matches, and keep your evidence. The departure planning overview and the Bali guide sit alongside this checklist. Always check the official immigration pages before you travel.
Keep planning
- Departing from Malaysia for IndonesiaYou have limited leave, and the trip is won or lost on how smoothly you leave home.
- Bali, planned for Malaysian travellersYou have limited leave, a family to keep happy and one island everyone keeps recommending.
- Where to stay: area guidesYou know the island, but the choice of base still decides how tired everyone feels.
- Airport pickup fees and hotel transfersYou land tired, and the hotel's pickup offer arrives with a price you cannot judge.
- Attractions and cultural places in IndonesiaYou have limited leave and a long list of temples, and you want the days to feel unhurried.
- Bali's Hindu culture vs Muslim-majority regionsYou are a Muslim traveller who wants to know how daily life shifts once you leave home.
Questions Malaysians ask
How do I know I am on the official arrival-card site?
Open the portal from a link on an official Indonesian government page, not from a search advert. Read the address carefully letter by letter. Official Indonesian government addresses end in go.id, and look-alikes change a letter or add extra words. When in doubt, close the page and start again.
Is it normal to pay to complete the arrival card?
Check the official portal for what it charges, because a form that you can complete on a government page should not need a service fee from a stranger. A paid helper may still be legitimate if you knowingly chose one, but understand what the fee covers first.
What should I do if I already paid a fake site?
Contact your bank or card provider straight away, report the transaction, and save screenshots and receipts. Change any password you entered. Then complete the official steps on the correct portal so your trip is not at risk.
Are Bali levy scams real?
Look-alike pages exist for travel forms, and the Bali levy is a likely target because every visitor needs to pay it. Use only the Love Bali portal, check the address, and match the payment methods to those it shows.
Can an agency complete the forms for me?
A licensed agency can guide you to the official pages and sometimes help you fill them in with your consent. Ask what exactly they do, whether a fee applies and how your passport details are stored. Keep control of your own payment.
Sources
- Love Bali, Bali Provincial Government, accessed 20 October 2026
Entry rules, ferry times and prices change. Check the official source or your licensed agency before you book.
Ready to shape your Indonesia trip?
If a site asks for payment and you are not sure it is official, send us the address and what it asks. We can help you check it and pass your brief to a licensed agency if you want help with the forms.
You get a reply from a person who reads your plan, plus a quote from a licensed Malaysian agency if you want one.