Visa policy of East Timor
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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 Cape Verde, Indonesia, the Schengen Area, Singapore and Thailand 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
[edit]
Visa exemption
[edit]Citizens of the following countries and territories may enter Timor-Leste without a valid visa for up to the duration listed:
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90 days within any 180 days
30 days |
| Date of visa changes |
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- Citizens of Brunei, Cambodia, Laos and Mainland China holding a diplomatic, official or service passport may enter East Timor without a valid visa for up to 30 days.[12]
- Citizens of Mainland China holding a passport endorsed for “public affairs” may enter East Timor without a valid visa for up to 30 days.
- Holders of a United Nations Passport, regardless of nationality, may enter Timor-Leste without a valid visa for up to 90 days.
- Holders of a Interpol Passport, regardless of nationality, may enter Timor-Leste without a valid visa for up to 90 days.
- Timor-Leste has signed visa-waiver agreements with Angola, Philippines and Vietnam (for diplomatic passport holders). However, these visa-waiver agreements have yet to enter into force.[14][15][16][17]
Land border arrivals
[edit]All visitors who need a visa to enter East Timor must apply in advance for a Visa Application Authorization if they wish to enter East Timor through a land border post. 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
[edit]Citizens of all other countries 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.[18]
Prior application
[edit]A visa application may be submitted at one of the East Timor diplomatic missions prior to arrival.
Requirements on arrival
[edit]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
[edit]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.[18]
Statistics
[edit]Most visitors arriving to East Timor by air were from the following countries of nationality:[19]
| 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
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "Tourist & Business Visa". Immigration Service of Timor-Leste. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
- ^ "Tourist Visa and Requirements". Immigration Service of Timor-Leste. Archived from the original on 2019-05-06. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
- ^ "Timor-Leste suspende novas regras para vistos de turismo e negócio". 8 May 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-05-08. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Timor-Leste signs visa exemption agreement with the European Union « Government of Timor-Leste". timor-leste.gov.tl. Government of Timor-Leste. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ http://cs.mfa.gov.cn/zlbg/bgzl/lhqz/201202/t20120207_961630.shtml
- ^ https://www.visaforchina.cn/IST2_EN/upload/file/20240306/List%20of%20Agreements%20on%20Mutual%20Visa%20Exemption.pdf
- ^ "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.
- ^ "VISA EXEMPTION". Royal Embassy of Cambodia to the Republic of Singapore. 13 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Meeting of the Council of Ministers on July 3rd, 2024 « Government of Timor-Leste". timor-leste.gov.tl. Government of Timor-Leste. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ "Visa exemption – ກົມຕຳຫຼວດກວດຄົນເຂົ້າ-ອອກເມືອງ". The Department of Immigration of Lao PDR. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "Timor-Leste and Angola Strengthen Diplomatic and Cooperation Ties « Government of Timor-Leste". timor-leste.gov.tl. Government of Timor-Leste. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ "Timor-Leste and Angola sign Visa Free Agreement for Diplomatic Service Passport". 10 July 2024.
- ^ "TL and Vietnam sign Visa Waiver Agreement for Services and Diplomatic Passports".
- ^ Philippines, Timor-Leste sign limited visa waiver deal
- ^ a b "Visa and passport". Timatic. International Air Transport Association through Emirates. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
- ^ "Data" (PDF). www.statistics.gov.tl. 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2016-10-16.