Timor-Leste Visa Requirements by Nationality (2026)

Getting a visa for Timor-Leste is straightforward for most nationalities. This page covers everything you need to know before you travel. Rules change, so check the Immigration Service of Timor-Leste shortly before you fly.

Who Needs a Visa

Visa-free entry (Schengen Area, up to 90 days in any 180-day period):

Citizens of all Schengen Area countries, including Portugal, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland
This exemption does not cover the United Kingdom or Ireland, and does not allow paid work

Visa-free entry (ASEAN, up to 30 days, tourism only):

Citizens of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand (passport valid for 6 months from the date of entry)
In February 2026 the National Parliament approved Timor-Leste joining the ASEAN Visa Exemption Framework (visa-free stays of up to 14 days). Until the Immigration Service adds them to its list, citizens of other ASEAN countries still need a visa on arrival

Other exemptions: holders of diplomatic, official or service passports can stay up to 90 days without a visa on first entry, as can holders of a UN Laissez-Passer.

Everyone else (including Australian, British and US citizens) can get a Tourist Visa on arrival for US$30, paid in US dollar cash. Card payments are not available at the immigration desk.

Important: The ATMs at Dili airport are located after the immigration desk. Bring US$30 in cash before you land.

Visa Requirements by Nationality

The Immigration Service grants the tourist visa on arrival to any foreign national who meets its criteria, so for most passports the answer is the same: visa on arrival, 30 days, US$30 cash. Only Schengen citizens and four ASEAN countries are exempt. No other bilateral agreement is in force yet (October 2026).

Passport	Visa?	Stay	Cost
Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and the rest of the Schengen Area, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland	No visa	90 days in any 180 days (no paid work)	Free
Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand	No visa (tourism)	30 days	Free
Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar	Visa on arrival	30 days	US$30
Australia, New Zealand	Visa on arrival	30 days	US$30
United States, Canada	Visa on arrival	30 days	US$30
United Kingdom, Ireland (not covered by the Schengen exemption)	Visa on arrival	30 days	US$30
China	Visa on arrival	30 days	US$30
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka	Visa on arrival	30 days	US$30
Japan, South Korea	Visa on arrival	30 days	US$30
Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde and other Portuguese-speaking countries outside the Schengen Area	Visa on arrival	30 days	US$30
Any other nationality	Visa on arrival, if you meet the criteria	30 days	US$30

Whatever your passport, apply for the visa before you travel if you have previously been refused entry, removed or excluded from Timor-Leste, or have unpaid fines. If you are crossing overland from Indonesia, see the border advice below.

Visa on Arrival

The tourist visa on arrival grants a single entry and a stay of up to 30 days. Requirements:

Passport valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry, with blank pages for the stamps (the UK government advises at least two)
A completed arrival declaration (e-Declaration), filed free of charge on the Customs e-service up to three days before you travel, according to the Immigration Service (when we checked on 26 October 2026, the form accepted arrival dates up to four days ahead). Show the QR code it generates at immigration and customs; a departure declaration is also required when you leave
If requested: evidence of onward travel, of accommodation, and of sufficient funds (the Immigration Service sets this at US$100 per entry plus US$50 per day of stay)
US$30 visa fee in cash

If you plan to travel to Oecusse and back through Indonesia, tell the immigration officer when you arrive: multiple entries may be allowed for travel to Oecusse.

A tourist visa does not allow any work, paid or unpaid. The rule is enforced: in October 2026 the Interior Minister said 19 foreigners working on tourist visas had been detained in Dili since September and would be expelled (Lusa via Observador, 14 October 2026). To work, see living and working in Timor-Leste.

Land and Sea Border Entry

The Immigration Service lists these border posts for all travellers: Nicolau Lobato International Airport, Dili Seaport, Tibar Bay Port, Batugade (Mota’ain), Salele (Suai), and Sakato and Oesilo (Oecusse). It says the visa on arrival can be obtained at official border posts open to foreign nationals where the Migration Service is present.

Government travel advice is less consistent for the land border with Indonesia: the US State Department advises arranging a visa in advance through the Timor-Leste consulate in Kupang, while the UK says you can buy a visa on entry at Batugade. If you are coming overland, the safest option is to get your visa in advance at a Timorese embassy or consulate (Denpasar or Kupang) or to confirm with the Immigration Service by email (informacao@migracao.gov.tl) before you travel.

For flights into Dili and the overland route from Kupang, see our guide on how to get to Timor-Leste.

Advance Visa Application

If you have previously been refused entry, removed or excluded, or have outstanding fines, you must apply before travelling at a Timor-Leste embassy or consulate. Anyone else may also apply in advance using the form on the Immigration Service forms page.

Visa Extension

The tourist visa can normally be extended once only, for a further 30 days:

Fee: US$40
Where: in person at the Migration Service headquarters in Dili
When: apply at least 15 days before your visa expires; processing takes up to 15 days
Further extensions are generally not permitted unless exceptional circumstances apply

Other Visa Types

Beyond tourist and business visas, the following are also available:

Transit Visa (US$20 cash, single entry, stay of up to 72 hours)
Working Visa
Student Visa
Cultural, Scientific, Sport & Media Visa
Residence Visa

Lost Passport

If you lose your passport while in Timor-Leste, file a police report immediately and then contact your country’s embassy or consulate in Dili. See our Embassies & Consulates page for contact details.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an e-visa for Timor-Leste?

No. The Immigration Service describes two routes for tourists: the visa on arrival at an official border post, or a visa applied for in advance at a Timor-Leste embassy or consulate. The only online step is the free arrival declaration on the customs website.

Do Filipino citizens need a visa for Timor-Leste?

Yes, for now. Filipinos get the visa on arrival (30 days, US$30). The National Parliament approved joining the ASEAN Visa Exemption Framework in February 2026, but the Immigration Service still lists only Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand as exempt.

Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Timor-Leste?

Yes. Chinese passport holders get the tourist visa on arrival at Dili airport or another official border post: 30 days, US$30 in cash.

Do Indian citizens need a visa for Timor-Leste?

Yes. Indian citizens can get the visa on arrival (30 days, US$30 cash), as can Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Nepali and Sri Lankan citizens, provided they meet the Immigration Service’s criteria.

Can I pay the visa fee by card?

No. The US$30 fee is paid in US dollar cash, and the ATMs at Dili airport are after the immigration desk.

How long can I stay in Timor-Leste?

30 days on a tourist visa, extendable once for another 30 days (US$40). Schengen citizens can stay 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa, and Indonesian, Malaysian, Singaporean and Thai citizens 30 days.