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

In accordance with the law, citizens of all countries except Cape Verde, Indonesia, the Schengen Area, Singapore and Thailand 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 East Timor diplomatic missions before arrival. However, this decision was subsequently suspended.^[2]^[3]

Visa policy map

Visa exemption

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

90 days within any 180 days

European Union member states (except Ireland)

30 days

Date of visa changes
15 April 2015: Cape Verde^[4]^[5] 26 May 2015: Schengen Area member states^[6]^[7] 24 June 2015: Mainland China (travelling on duty, diplomatic, official and service passports)^[8]^[9] 19 September 2019: Indonesia^[10] 5 September 2022: Cambodia (diplomatic, official and service passports)^[11] 3 July 2024: Singapore, Thailand, Brunei (diplomatic, official and service passports)^[12] 26 August 2024: Philippines^[13] 10 October 2024: Laos (diplomatic, official and service passports)^[14]

Citizens of Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Mainland China and Philippines holding a diplomatic, official or service passport may enter East Timor without a valid visa for up to 30 days.^[12]
Citizens of Mainland China holding a passport endorsed for “public affairs” may enter East Timor without a valid visa for up to 30 days.
Timor-Leste has signed visa-waiver agreements with Angola and Vietnam (for diplomatic passport holders). However, these visa-waiver agreements have yet to enter into force.^[15]^[16]^[17]^[18]

Land border arrivals

All visitors who need a visa to enter East Timor must apply in advance for a Visa Application Authorization if they wish to enter East Timor through a land border post. If other conditions are met, a single or multiple entry visa valid for up to 90 days is granted for a fee of US$30. Visitors which are exempt from a visa (such as citizens from a Schengen country) do not need a visa (and hence no Visa Application Authorization) 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.^[19]

Prior application

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

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.^[19]

Statistics

Most visitors arriving to East Timor by air were from the following countries of nationality:^[20]

Rank	Country	2014	2013	2012	2011
1	Indonesia	15,180	17,520	15,303	11,179
2	Australia	13,429	12,817	12,138	12,419
3	Portugal	6,185	5,894	6,130	5,916
4	Philippines	4,157	3,936	3,842	2,413
5	China	3,717	4,346	4,972	3,464
6	United States	1,666	2,130	2,211	2,207
7	Malaysia	1,665	1,455	1,944	1,829
8	Singapore	1,465	1,457	1,381	1,519
9	Japan	1,458	1,438	1,211	1,232
10	New Zealand	896	737	815	711
	Total	59,811	77,135	57,517	50,590