East Timor (Timor Leste) - Facts
- The latest country to join the community of independent nations, East Timor (Timor-Leste) has only recently shaken off its colonial past. While hardly a cruising destination in its own right, westbound boats from Australia can make at a short stop in this small country which, for the last three decades, has been the focus of international news.
- In 1999, in a UN-supervised referendum, the people of East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia. On 20 May 2002, East Timor was internationally recognized as an independent state. Up-to-date confirmation concerning entry formalities is best obtained from one of the East Timorese missions in the neighbouring countries, such as the one in Darwin.
- Reports are that basic repair facilities in Dili are good, but provisions tend to be more expensive than elsewhere due to most having to be imported. It is also reported that checking in procedures is very straightforward here.
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Posted on behalf of Andrew and Leslie Godfrey
SV Sonrisa, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Update on getting Indonesian Visas in Dili, Timor Leste. Posted September 04 2018
I have seen several cruisers in the SE Asia area not wanting to go to Dili, East Timor to renew their Indonesian visas. My wife and I were there for two weeks in November 2017 with our boat Sonrisa parked in the harbor.
We met locals, took local public transport to the local vegetable market and saw the tourist sites in the city and further afield. Nothing but friendly people – people wanting to learn English and giving us rides for free back to our boat after we stayed put too late in a far end of town where the taxis had stopped for the night.
There are hawkers and I am sure bad people exist, but I think the descriptions under security are too aggressive and I think a lot of cruisers are missing out on a great country and a great opportunity for getting new Indonesian visas because of a couple of lines about crime that is certainly lower than would be in any similar sized American or Australian city.
We were there with three other boats – Red Dragonfly, Impetuous 2 and Double Angel and would expect similar comments from them.
Andrew and Leslie Godfrey
If you want to apply for an Indonesia Visa in Dili, you have to do this before going to the consulate by following this website: https://www.imigrasi-kbri-dili.com/
The comment about crime in the area does not seem applicable, my wife and I did a lot of walking around at both day and night and met nothing but wonderful people. Took large laps in several of the local Micro lets, and up to the market, again just more friendly people.
We always parked the dingy in the Maritime Police area and that just kept the kids from playing in the dingy rather than any worry about it. Definitely check out the Resistance Museum, very educational for $1 entrance fee and will give you a lot of info about the people around you. Checking in, the harbor master was in a temporary office further down than where Immigration was.
Also, checking OUT you visit Quarantine, we paid $77 for about two weeks in a 40′ boat, not sure how the fee was calculated, but seemed legit and got a receipt that the Harbor Master needed to give me the clearance papers. Visit Occuse, it is as nice as described in the “related reports” section.
If you need help getting you Indonesian Visas you can meet Kim at Dili Central Backpackers and for a fee, she was able to get the sponsor letter and full visas turned around in about 4 days.
Posted on behalf of SY Segue:
The info on the site for Timor Leste is totally correct. One of the easiest countries EVER to check into! The only item that needs clarification is that the $30 dollar immigration fee applies to non-EU citizens.
My wife and one of my crew are Spanish and it was free for them to enter…. my other crew (Brazilian) and myself (Canadian) had to pay $30 each. Actually REALLY enjoying this newest country!
Posted on behalf of Rebecca Childress:
Update on our experience using our Indonesia Social Visa (Visit Visa) from Timor Leste
We were surprisingly stamped in for 60 days when we checked in to Kupang, even though our visa said 30 days on entry, and then renewable up to 6 months. Unfortunately, when we went to renew the visa after 45 days, we were told that it was our fault that we were 15 days overdue, and there would be quite a large fine (almost $1000 USD!).
We were able to negotiate out of this fee, but by the time this was complete, we only had 3 days left on the 60 days. Not enough time to renew the visa again in Lombok, so we were forced to check out and leave Indonesia.
So if you see 30 days printed on the visa, renew it 7 days before the 30 days is up to avoid any problems …even if the stamp says 60 days! Does any of this make sense? Of course not, but such is Indonesia paperwork.
Rebecca