Visa policy of Timor-Leste

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

All other countries that are not exempt 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 Timor-Leste diplomatic missions before arrival. However, this decision was subsequently suspended.[2][3]

Visa policy map

Visa policy of Timor-Leste
  Timor-Leste
  Visa free access
  Visa on arrival at Dili airport or seaport only

Visa exemption

Citizens of the following countries and territories may enter Timor-Leste without a visa for stays up to the duration listed:

90 days within any 180 days

30 days

Land border arrivals

Visitors and long-term visa holders are able to enter (and exit) Timor-Leste through the land border in Batugade. This includes Visas on Arrival, which are USD30 per person and valid for 30 days (extendable one time in-country). Batugade is accessible by air through the airport in Atambua or by land with buses from other destinations in West Timor, such as Kupang. Visitors who are exempt from a visa (such as citizens from a Schengen country) do not need a visa at any land border crossing.

Visa on arrival

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.[30]

Prior application

A visa application may be submitted at one of the Timor-Leste 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 Timor-Leste:

  • 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.[30]

Statistics

Most visitors arriving to Timor-Leste by air were from the following countries of nationality:[31]

RankCountry2014201320122011
1Indonesia15,18017,52015,30311,179
2Australia13,42912,81712,13812,419
3Portugal6,1855,8946,1305,916
4Philippines4,1573,9363,8422,413
5China3,7174,3464,9723,464
6United States1,6662,1302,2112,207
7Malaysia1,6651,4551,9441,829
8Singapore1,4651,4571,3811,519
9Japan1,4581,4381,2111,232
10New Zealand896737815711
Total59,81177,13557,51750,590

See also

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for East Timor.

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". 8 May 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-05-08. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  4. ^https://laotiantimes.com/2025/09/22/laos-timor-leste-implement-30-day-visa-free-travel/
  5. ^"Timor-Leste - Travel Page". www.mfa.gov.sg. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Singapore). 6 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  6. ^"Agreements on visa extensions updated table-standardized 2018 - Latin America and the Caribbean"(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 2019-12-20.
  7. ^"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.
  8. ^"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.
  9. ^"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.
  10. ^"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.
  11. ^中外互免签证协议一览表（英文版） [List of Agreements on Mutual Visa Exemption Between the People’s Republic of China and Foreign Countries]. cs.mfa.gov.cn. Archived from the original on 2022-07-08. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  12. ^"List of Agreements on Mutual Visa Exemption Between the People's Republic of China and Foreign Countries"(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 2024-11-12.
  13. ^"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.
  14. ^"Visa Exemption". Royal Embassy of Cambodia to the Republic of Singapore. 13 November 2024.
  15. ^ ab"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.
  16. ^"Philippines, Timor-Leste sign limited visa waiver deal". The Philippine Star. Manila. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  17. ^Under visa agreement on 26 August 2024[16]
  18. ^"Meeting of the Council of Ministers on October 2nd, 2024 « Government of Timor-Leste". timor-leste.gov.tl. Government of Timor-Leste. 2 October 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  19. ^ abSouvannasane, Thongsavanh (22 September 2025). "Laos, Timor-Leste Implement 30-Day Visa-Free Travel". Laotian Times. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  20. ^Martins, Filomeno (13 May 2025). "Parliament Approves Visa Waiver Agreements Between Timor-Leste and Lao DPR". TATOLI Agência Noticiosa de Timor-Leste. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  21. ^"Meeting of the Council of Ministers on January 8th, 2025 « Government of Timor-Leste". timor-leste.gov.tl. Government of Timor-Leste. 8 January 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  22. ^"Notice on Visa-Free Social Visits to Timor-Leste for Malaysian Passport Holders". Embassy of Malaysia, Dili. Dili. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  23. ^"Meeting of the Council of Ministers on May 29th 2025 « Government of Timor-Leste". timor-leste.gov.tl. Government of Timor-Leste. 29 May 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  24. ^"Joint Statement for the Official Visit of the Prime Minister of Malaysia to Timor-Leste « Government of Timor-Leste". timor-leste.gov.tl. Government of Timor-Leste. 24 September 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  25. ^"Meeting of the Council of Ministers on October 15th 2025 « Government of Timor-Leste". timor-leste.gov.tl. Government of Timor-Leste. 15 October 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  26. ^"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.
  27. ^"Timor-Leste and Angola sign Visa Free Agreement for Diplomatic Service Passport". 10 July 2024.
  28. ^"TL and Vietnam sign Visa Waiver Agreement for Services and Diplomatic Passports". 2 August 2024.
  29. ^Philippines, Timor-Leste sign limited visa waiver deal
  30. ^ ab"Visa and passport". Timatic. International Air Transport Association through Emirates. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  31. ^"Data"(PDF). www.statistics.gov.tl. 2014. Archived(PDF) from the original on 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
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