Attending a Conference or Event in Bali: C10 Visa Guide

Bali hosts a steady calendar of conferences, festivals, industry meetups, and invited speaking slots. If you are coming as a tourist, a Visa on Arrival or B1/B2 may be enough. If you are invited to attend, speak, perform, lecture, or present at an official event, Indonesian immigration expects a different category: the Invited Event Participant Visa C10.

Since 2024 rules tightened around invited participation, using a tourist visa for speaking engagements and official event roles carries more risk. This guide explains when you need C10, what documents you need, how long you can stay, and how it differs from tourist and business visas.

Do you need a C10 visa for a conference in Bali?

You likely need C10 if:

• An Indonesian organiser has invited you to a conference, seminar, festival, or official event
• You are invited to give a lecture, presentation, workshop, or training session
• You are performing or appearing as a featured guest at a cultural show or festival
• Your invitation letter names you as a speaker, presenter, lecturer, or official participant

You may not need C10 if:

• You are a regular tourist attending an open public event with a ticket and no invited role
• You are only holidaying in Bali and happen to visit a conference venue as a spectator
• Your trip is pure tourism with no organiser invitation

The key word is invited. A ticket and a tourist visa can be fine for casual attendance. An invitation letter that makes you part of the official program usually points to C10.

If you are volunteering at an NGO, that is C6B. If you are on a structured internship, that is C22A. If you are scouting business opportunities without a paid local job, look at D1/D2 business categories. Still unsure? Start with our complete Bali visa guide.

What is the Invited Event Participant Visa C10?

The C10 Invited Event Participant Visa is for foreigners invited to participate in official events in Indonesia. That includes conferences, seminars, festivals, exhibitions, performances, and invited lectures or training sessions.

What it allows:

• Attending or participating in the invited event
• Speaking, presenting, lecturing, or performing as invited
• Staying initially for 60 days, with the option to extend twice for another 60 days each (up to 180 days total)
• Applying online as an e-visa without visiting an Indonesian embassy in many cases

What it does not allow:

• Paid local employment outside the invited event
• Freelancing or running a business in Indonesia
• Using C10 as a long-term tourist substitute without a real invitation
• Working remotely under C10 as if it were an E33G digital nomad visa

C10 is purpose-specific. Your activity must match the invitation and the event.

Who should apply for C10?

C10 is a good fit for:

• Keynote speakers and panelists at conferences in Bali or elsewhere in Indonesia
• Invited lecturers and workshop trainers
• Festival performers and cultural guests with an organiser invitation
• Presenters at exhibitions, conventions, or industry events
• Public figures invited by an Indonesian host organisation

You do not typically use C10 if you are:

• On a pure holiday (VOA, B1/B2, or C1)
• Volunteering with an NGO (C6B)
• Doing a company internship (C22A)
• Employed by an Indonesian company (working KITAS)

Documents required for the C10 visa

Most C10 applications need:

• Passport scan (valid at least 6 months; see passport validity rules)
• Recent photo with a white background
• Bank statement showing a minimum balance around USD 2,000
• Invitation letter from the event organiser in Indonesia

The invitation letter is the make-or-break document. It should clearly identify you, the event, dates, location, and your role (participant, speaker, lecturer, performer, and so on). Vague emails or unpaid informal invites often cause delays or rejection. Read our visa rejection guide for common paperwork mistakes.

How long can you stay on C10?

Typical C10 stay structure:

• Initial stay: 60 days from entry
• Extensions: up to twice, 60 days each
• Maximum: about 180 days on one visit path, if extensions are approved

C10 is usually treated as a single-entry visit visa in practice for this category of stay: leaving Indonesia can end the permission, so confirm your itinerary before you book side trips abroad.

For tourism stay comparisons, see VOA vs B1/B2 vs C1. C10 is not a replacement for long tourist stays unless you have a genuine invited event reason.

How to apply for the C10 visa

1. Get your invitation letter from the Indonesian event organiser.
2. Prepare documents (passport, photo, bank statement, invitation).
3. Submit through a licensed agent such as Bali Visa Hub. We check documents, file the application, and update you on status.
4. Wait for processing. Typical service time is around 7 to 14 working days.
5. Receive your C10 e-visa by email.
6. Enter Indonesia and join the event on the correct visa.

Do not wait until the week of your conference. Immigration processing and document fixes take time. Apply early so your flights and hotel remain safe.

C10 cost in 2026

Through Bali Visa Hub, the Invited Event Participant Visa C10 is priced at:

• IDR 5,000,000 for regular processing (about 14 working days)

Confirm the current package when you enquire, as immigration fees and service levels can change.

C10 vs tourist visa vs other options

Tourist visa myth: "I am only speaking for one hour, so VOA is fine." If you are on the official program with an organiser invitation, C10 is the safer match. Immigration looks at purpose, not only session length.

Business visa overlap: Short commercial meetings can sit under other visit categories. Official invited participation at conferences and performances is where C10 is designed to fit. If your trip mixes sightseeing and speaking, talk through the primary purpose with an agent before you apply.

Common mistakes event travellers make

• Assuming VOA covers invited speaking or lecturing
• Applying late, with flights already booked for next week
• Weak invitation letters that omit role, dates, or organiser details
• Bank statements that are incomplete, outdated, or below the expected amount
• Mixing volunteer work or paid local jobs into a C10 stay
• Overstaying after the event if you linger without an extension (see overstay fines in 2026)

If your C10 is delayed while another visa is ending, ask about a bridging visa before you fall out of status.

Frequently asked questions

Can I attend a public festival on a tourist visa?

Often yes if you are only visiting as a member of the public. If the organiser invites you as a performer, guest, or speaker, use C10.

Do I need an embassy appointment?

In many cases C10 is processed as an e-visa online through an agent. You still need solid documents and a proper invitation.

Can I extend C10 after the conference?

Extensions of 60 days (up to two times) may be possible if immigration rules and your status allow. Plan early rather than assuming an automatic extension.

Can I work remotely on C10 between event days?

C10 is not a remote work visa. For laptop work for overseas clients, look at E33G and our guide can you work remotely on a tourist visa in Bali?.

What if my invitation is from a hotel or informal host?

Immigration expects a proper organiser invitation tied to an official event. Informal letters increase rejection risk.

Heading to a Bali conference or invited event?

Send your invitation letter, passport details, and travel dates to Bali Visa Hub or message us on WhatsApp. We will confirm whether C10 is the right category and handle the application through our licensed Bali partner so you can focus on the event.