Timor-Leste Visa Requirements

Citizens of most countries receive a 30-day tourist visa on arrival at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili. The fee is $30 USD, payable in cash only. Bring exact change — the immigration counter does not always have bills to make change.

You'll need: a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date, a return or onward ticket (this is sometimes checked), and the $30 fee. No photos required. No advance application needed.

Processing time varies. When a single flight arrives, you can be through in 15 minutes. When two or three flights land simultaneously, expect 30-60 minutes. The airport has improved its processing capacity since the terminal expansion began, but peak-hour queues still happen.

Citizens of a small number of countries do not need a visa at all for short stays. As of 2026, visa-free entry (up to 90 days) is available for citizens of: EU/Schengen Area countries (under the 2015 EU–Timor-Leste visa waiver agreement), Indonesia, and Cabo Verde (Cape Verde).

If you hold an EU passport, you can enter Timor-Leste visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. No fee, no visa sticker — just a passport stamp. This applies to all 27 EU member states plus Schengen-associated countries (Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein).

Indonesian citizens can enter visa-free for stays up to 30 days. This is particularly relevant for the land border crossings between Indonesian West Timor and Timor-Leste.

Tourist visas can be extended at the Immigration Department (Direcção Nacional de Imigração) in Dili. Apply at least 15 days before your current visa expires. The maximum cumulative stay on a tourist visa is 90 days.

Extension fees are tiered: $35 USD for up to 30 additional days, or $75 USD for 30 to 60 additional days. You'll need your passport, a passport-sized photo, and a completed application form (available at the office). Processing usually takes 1-3 business days.

For stays longer than 90 days, you need a visa arranged in advance through a Timorese embassy or consulate. Options include business visas, work permits, and study visas. These require supporting documentation and sponsor letters.

Timor-Leste has land borders with Indonesian West Timor. The main crossing is at Mota'ain/Batugade on the north coast road between Kupang and Dili. A southern crossing exists at Salele/Bobometo.

Visa on arrival at land borders is no longer available for most nationalities. Except for citizens of Indonesia, Portugal, and the United States, all other travelers must apply in advance for a "Visa Application Authorization" through a Timorese embassy or consulate (such as the consulate in Kupang, West Timor). Present this authorization at the border, where you will be granted a visa upon payment of $30 USD.

If entering from Indonesia, make sure your Indonesian visa allows re-entry — otherwise you won't be able to return. A multiple-entry Indonesian visa or visa-free arrangement (for eligible nationalities) is essential if you plan a round trip.

The Oecusse exclave (Timor-Leste territory surrounded by Indonesia) has its own border crossing. Traveling between mainland Timor-Leste and Oecusse by road requires transiting through Indonesia, so you need appropriate Indonesian visa arrangements.

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry. Immigration officers do check this — airlines will also verify before boarding.

A return or onward ticket is technically required but enforcement is inconsistent. Budget travelers on open-ended trips should have a refundable onward ticket or a printed itinerary showing intended departure.

Proof of sufficient funds (officially $50-100 USD per day of intended stay, depending on the source) can theoretically be requested but is rarely asked for in practice. Having a credit card and some cash is sufficient.

Travel insurance is not a formal entry requirement but is strongly recommended. Medical evacuation from Timor-Leste to Darwin or Bali costs $10,000+ and is the only option for serious medical emergencies.

Overstaying your visa in Timor-Leste results in tiered fines under the Migration and Asylum Law: $150-300 USD for overstays up to 30 days, $230-350 for 30 to 90 days, and $350-580 for overstays exceeding 90 days. Fines are payable upon departure and immigration enforces them.

If you realize you will overstay, visit the Immigration Department in Dili before your visa expires to arrange an extension. Extension fees ($35-75) are far cheaper than overstay fines.

Repeat overstayers may face entry bans. Timor-Leste is a small country with a small immigration service — they do keep records.