Visa policy of East Timor

Visitors to East Timor must obtain a visa, unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries.

In accordance with the law, citizens of all countries except Indonesia, Cape Verde, and the Schengen Area must obtain a visa upon arrival or prior to arrival. ^[1]

In April 2019, the Interior Minister adopted an Order number 470 to be applied from 1 May 2019, requiring all non-visa-exempt visitors to obtain a visa from one of the East Timor diplomatic missions before arrival. However, this decision was subsequently suspended. ^{[2] [3]}

Visa policy map

Visa policy of East Timor

  East Timor

  Visa free access

  Visa on arrival at Dili airport or seaport only

Visa Exemption for Ordinary Passports

•   Cape Verde: Timor-Leste signed a mutual visa-waiver agreement with Cape Verde for Ordinary Passports on 21 July 2014 and entered into force on 14 April 2015. This agreement allows citizens of the respective countries to stay up to 30 days without a visa but with no extensions being allowed. ^{[4] [5]}
•   European Union: Timor-Leste signed a mutual visa-waiver agreement with the European Union on 28 May 2015 which was applied on a provisional basis as from the date of signature and ratified on 15 December 2015. ^[6] This agreement allow citizens of countries in the Schengen Area, Bulgaria & Romania to stay in the country without a visa for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period. ^[7]
•   Indonesia: Timor Leste implemented a visa-free policy towards Indonesian citizens on 19 September 2019. This allow Indonesian citizens to visit for up to 30 days, with an option to extend their stay once by the same period. ^[8]

Non-Ordinary Passports

• Holders of Diplomatic, Official & Service Passport of any country in the Schengen Area, Bulgaria & Romania do not require a valid visa to enter Timor-Leste for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period under an agreement.
• Holders of Diplomatic, Official & Service Passport of all ASEAN Countries and Cape Verde do not require a valid visa to visit Timor-Leste for up to 30 days, with an option to extend their stay once by the same period (30 days).

Land border arrivals

All visitors who need a visa arriving at a land border post must apply in advance for a Visa Application Authorization which is then presented to an immigration official at the border. If other conditions are met a single or multiple entry visa valid for up to 90 days is granted for a fee of US$30. Visitors which are exempt from a visa (such as citizens from a Schengen country) do not need a visa (and hence no Visa Application Authorization) at any land border crossing.

Visa on arrival

Citizens of all other countries (Including Cyprus, Ireland & Britain) which are not visa-exempt may apply for a visa on arrival at the Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport or at the Dili Sea Port. If other conditions are met a single entry visa valid for up to 30 days is granted for fee of USD30. Transit visas are available for stays less than 3 days for fee of USD20. There is no visa-free transit option. ^[7]

Prior application

A visa application may be submitted at one of the East Timor diplomatic missions prior to arrival.

Requirements on arrival

Aside from holding a passport valid for not less than 6 months from the date of entry all travellers also must meet strict conditions to be allowed entry to East Timor:

• Intention of a genuine visit (as tourist or business trip).
• Accommodation arrangements and a return or onward ticket.
• US$150 per day expected to remain in the country (for tourist or business visas).
• US$100 plus US$50 per day (for transit visas).

Visa extension

All nationals with a visa may extend their stay to a total cumulative stay of 90 days by submitting their application to the Immigration Department. The fees are US$35 for a 30-day extension, or US$75 for an extension between 30 and 60 days. ^[7]

Statistics

Most visitors arriving to East Timor by air were from the following countries of nationality: ^[9]

Rank	Country	2014	2013	2012	2011
1	Indonesia	15,180	17,520	15,303	11,179
2	Australia	13,429	12,817	12,138	12,419
3	Portugal	6,185	5,894	6,130	5,916
4	Philippines	4,157	3,936	3,842	2,413
5	China	3,717	4,346	4,972	3,464
6	United States	1,666	2,130	2,211	2,207
7	Malaysia	1,665	1,455	1,944	1,829
8	Singapore	1,465	1,457	1,381	1,519
9	Japan	1,458	1,438	1,211	1,232
10	New Zealand	896	737	815	711
	Total	59,811	77,135	57,517	50,590

See also

• Asia portal

• Visa requirements for East Timorese citizens

References

1. "Tourist & Business Visa". Immigration Service of Timor-Leste. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
2. "Tourist Visa and Requirements". Immigration Service of Timor-Leste. Archived from the original on 2019-05-06. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
3. "Timor-Leste suspende novas regras para vistos de turismo e negócio". Archived from the original on 2019-05-08. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
4. "Timor-Leste signs Agreements with Cape Verde and Sao Tome and Principe « Government of Timor-Leste". timor-leste.gov.tl. Archived from the original on 2017-08-24. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
5. "Cabo Verde approves waiver agreement for ordinary visas with Timor-Leste". 14 April 2015. Archived from the original on 2 October 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
6. "AGREEMENT between the European Union and the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste on the short-stay visa waiver". Archived from the original on 2015-05-27. Retrieved 2015-05-27.
7. "Visa and passport". Timatic . International Air Transport Association through Emirates . Retrieved 1 April 2017.
8. "Resolução do Governo N.º 25 /2019 de 18 de Setembro - Dispensa de Visto de Turismo a Cidadãos da Indonésia" (PDF). Jornal da República - Ministério da Justiça (in Portuguese). 2019-09-18. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-05-08. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
9. "Data" (PDF). www.statistics.gov.tl. 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2016-10-16.