Dili, Timor-Leste: Visa on Arrival Rules and Flights Travellers Should Know

Timor-Leste, the small half-island nation between Indonesia and Australia, draws fewer than 100,000 visitors a year and is now being pushed as an alternative to busier Southeast Asian beach spots. For travellers considering a trip, the practical points are a cash-only economy, a Visa on Arrival at Dili's airport and a limited flight network.

Key facts

• Most international travellers can obtain a Visa on Arrival at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili.
• The Visa on Arrival typically costs $30 and must be paid in cash.
• Direct flights operate to Dili from five cities, including Bali, which has at least one flight every day.
• Timor-Leste uses only U.S. dollars and is largely a cash economy.
• The country joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2025.

How do I get there?

Timor-Leste has direct flights from five cities. The most convenient route is from Bali, which is served by three airlines and has at least one flight every day. Direct services also operate from Singapore's Changi Airport, Xiamen in China, Darwin in Australia and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

Overland travel is possible but longer: travellers must first fly to Kupang in Indonesia, at the western end of the island, and then continue to the Timor-Leste border by minibus.

Do I need a visa?

Most international travellers can get a Visa on Arrival once they land at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili. The key exception is the point of entry: the facility is not available to those arriving by land. Anyone taking the overland route from Kupang must apply for a visa in advance, at an embassy or at the consulate in Kupang.

How much money should I bring?

Timor-Leste is a cash economy and uses only U.S. dollars. Smaller denominations, such as five- or 10-dollar bills, are needed, because most places will not have change for higher notes and will not accept credit or debit cards. The Visa on Arrival must also be paid in cash.

What is there to see?

History is a large part of the appeal in the capital. The Cristo Rei of Dili, an 88.6-foot-tall statue east of the city overlooking the Bay of Dili, was given by Indonesian President Suharto in 1996 and is popular for sunrise and sunset views. The Timorese Resistance Museum and Archives and Centro Nacional Chega cover the independence struggle, while Santa Cruz Cemetery marks the spot where Indonesian troops opened fire on over 200 locals in 1991, the event that led to the 1999 UN referendum.

Dili's best-known beaches are Areia Branca and Dolok Oan, on the calmer northern coast. For a day trip, a short ferry ride north reaches Atauro Island. Jaco Island, off the eastern shore, requires 8 to 10 hours of driving plus a short boat crossing from Dili.

What this means for travellers

Travellers arriving by air should plan to pay the Visa on Arrival charge in cash in U.S. dollars. Anyone crossing by land from Indonesia needs to secure a visa before reaching the border, at an embassy or at the consulate in Kupang. Carrying small U.S. dollar notes is essential, and reliance on card payments should not be assumed.

Infrastructure remains limited: beachfront resorts and watersports are scarce. As Anas Madeira, the Intrepid Travel tour leader for Timor-Leste, put it in the company's report, "We are not a destination where everything has been built or polished for tourists."

Dili features on Intrepid Travel's 2027 Not-Hot List, which highlights lesser-travelled destinations. According to the US-ASEAN Business Council, Timor-Leste aims to become a hub for sustainable tourism and is targeting 200,000 annual visitors by 2030. No start dates or further rule changes for travellers have been announced.