Visa-free entry to Indonesia in Pipeline

Australian tourists may soon be able to enter Indonesia without a visa after President Joko Widodo signed a presidential decree.

Signed by Mr Widodo on March 2, the decree grants visa-free entry to tourists from 79 countries, according to an official.

Australia is No. 11 on the list, which was sent to the law and human rights minister on March 10.

Djoko Hartoyo, spokesman for the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs, which oversees the tourism ministry, said the decree would now be made law.

"It will be applied once it's legislated. It's being … recorded into the state archive first. It shouldn't be long. If the process is finished this Friday, it won't be long after that," Mr Hartoyo said.

It could come into effect as early as next week, Mr Hartoyo added.

Tourists currently have to pay a $US35 ($A45) fee on entering Indonesia.

Arrmanatha Nasir, spokesman for the foreign ministry, said the visa would ease the way for foreign tourists travelling to Indonesia.

The visa-free entry for Aussies was mooted three times last year but nothing came of it, with Australia left off the list of countries granted waivers each time.

Late last year, Australia announced some improvements to visas for Indonesians — a three-year multiple entry class and online applications.

Originally published as Visa-free entry to Indonesia in pipeline