Is Indonesia Safe? Canada's Travel Advice, Risk Areas and Scams

In plain terms, Canada does not tell you to stay away, but it does not rate Indonesia as a take-normal-precautions destination either. Its advice points tourists to everyday risks you can plan around: scooter crashes, card fraud, lookalike taxis and counterfeit alcohol laced with methanol. Volcanoes, earthquakes and rainy-season floods add risks you cannot control, so leave some slack in your plans.

Set up a HelloRoam Indonesia eSIM before you fly, and your phone has data when you land. You can then check boat times to Lombok, look for updates to Canada's advice and message family back home.

A high degree of caution means staying alert, not staying home

Canada uses four levels: take normal security precautions, exercise a high degree of caution, avoid non-essential travel and avoid all travel. Only the top two are formal travel advisories. At the second level, Canada says there are safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly, so you should be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

Get your Indonesia eSIM before you flyInstall it at home, turn it on when you land. From CA$4.88.See Indonesia plans

For Indonesia, the terrorism threat drives much of that caution. Canada notes that past attacks have targeted tourist attractions, nightclubs, public transport and airports, and it calls further attacks likely. It asks travellers to be especially vigilant during religious holidays and public celebrations, and to choose hotels with metal detectors, guards and security cameras.

Demonstrations also happen from time to time. Even peaceful ones can turn violent, and security forces may use tear gas and water cannons to break up crowds. Stay away from large gatherings and check local news before you head out.

Most of Indonesian Papua carries Canada's strongest warning for the country

Canada advises against non-essential travel to all provinces of Indonesian Papua because of regular violent incidents, threats against foreigners by militant groups and a risk of kidnapping. Two places are left out of that warning: the islands of Raja Ampat Regency and the city of Sorong, both in Southwest Papua, where the national level applies instead. Canada also says you need a permit to travel to Indonesian Papua, and that the rules for entering and staying there can change at any time.

Everywhere else sits at the national level, but the advice still flags local risks. This table sums up what Canada says, area by area.

Bali has no separate warning, but scooters and fake alcohol need care

Bali has no regional advisory of its own, so Canada's national level applies there. The island still comes up again and again in the details of Canada's advice.

Start with scooters. Canada says motorcycle and scooter accidents are the main cause of death and serious injury among foreigners in many parts of Indonesia, including Bali. To drive, you must carry an International Driving Permit along with your Canadian driver's licence, and local authorities may ask to approve a permit issued outside Indonesia. Traffic keeps to the left. Rental bikes are often stolen, and you may have to pay for a replacement.

Then there is methanol. People have died after drinking alcohol laced with methanol, and Canada warns that counterfeits of well-known brands often contain dangerous amounts of it. It lists poisonings at hotels, bars and shops in Bali, Lombok, the Gili Islands and Sumatra. Skip lesser-known or illegal brands, never buy alcohol from individuals, and get medical help if you feel sick after drinking.

Petty theft, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching, happens in tourist areas including Bali and Lombok. Criminals sometimes force people to withdraw cash at ATMs, so keep valuables out of sight and your passport secure.

Help works differently here too. There is no Government of Canada office in Bali. During business hours, the Consulate General of Australia in Denpasar assists Canadians under the Canada-Australia Consular Services Sharing Agreement, and Ottawa's Emergency Watch and Response Centre answers at any hour. Canada also suggests signing up for the Australian government's Smartraveller email updates for Bali.

Foreign tourists entering Bali also pay the Love Bali Tourist Levy, on top of any visa fee. The provincial government's Love Bali levy website lists it at IDR 150,000 as of October 2026, and Canada says to pay directly through that site.

Card fraud, lookalike taxis and visa touts are the scams to plan for

Canada reports a very high rate of credit and debit card fraud in Indonesia, including online fraud, and a rise in visa scams, including in Bali. Every row below comes from Canada's advice.

For visas, stick to official channels. Canada points travellers to the official eVisa site for Indonesia, run by Indonesia's Ministry of Immigration and Corrections. Indonesia strictly enforces its visa rules, and foreigners have been held in immigration detention for violations or overstays.

Travelling alone or after dark raises the risk

Canada says violent crime, such as armed robbery, occurs regularly in Indonesia, and foreigners travelling alone or at night are at particular risk. Avoid showing signs of wealth, and keep doors locked and valuables out of sight if you travel by car.

Women travelling alone may face harassment and verbal abuse, according to Canada. The UK Foreign Office's safety advice for Indonesia says reported cases of rape and sexual assault are high in Bali and Lombok, and advises staying alert at night and avoiding poorly lit areas. The spiked-drink risk above matters here too, since Canada links it to sexual assault as well as robbery. Canada's advice for women travellers covers trip planning in more depth.

Night driving is a hazard of its own. Outside major cities and main roads, some drivers don't use their lights, and Canada suggests hiring a driver if you plan to rent a car. If you are in a crash that seriously injures someone, you may face mob anger; Canada advises staying in your vehicle until the police arrive.

Strict laws on drugs, medicine and ID apply to visitors

Penalties for possessing, using or trafficking illegal drugs are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences. Suspects can be held for long periods without bail while police investigate, and police have arrested tourists after random drug tests.

Check your medicine before you pack. Some prescription and over-the-counter drugs that are legal in Canada, such as those containing codeine or morphine, are controlled substances in Indonesia. Canada says it is illegal to bring them in, even in small quantities, without prior permission from the Indonesian Ministry of Health and the required documents. Breaking that rule can lead to confiscation, fines or prison.

Other rules in Canada's advice that affect visitors:

• Carry your passport and stay permit at all times. You can be detained and fined if you don't have the originals on you.
• Religious police enforce sharia law in Aceh, and some rules can apply to non-Muslims.
• Indonesian national law does not criminalize same-sex relationships, but some provinces prohibit them, and in Aceh same-sex acts between Muslims are punished by caning. Canada asks 2SLGBTQI+ travellers to consider the risks carefully.
• The UK Foreign Office says Indonesia's new criminal code penalizes cohabitation and sex outside marriage if certain members of either person's immediate family file a complaint.
• Indonesia does not recognize dual citizenship. If officials treat you as an Indonesian citizen, they may refuse you access to Canadian consular services.
• Gambling is illegal.
• Ramadan is expected to begin on or around February 7, 2027. Between sunrise and sunset, be discreet about eating, drinking and smoking in public.

Health risks include rabies, dengue and unsafe food and water

Canada's health advice for Indonesia lists rabies, carried by dogs and some wildlife including bats, and dengue, spread by mosquitoes that usually bite in the daytime. There is no vaccine or medication available in Canada to prevent dengue, so protect yourself from mosquito bites. If an animal bites or scratches you, Canada says to get medical care as soon as possible. Hepatitis A from unsafe food and water is also a risk. Canada suggests seeing a health care provider or travel health clinic, preferably 6 weeks before your trip, for advice that fits your plans.

Volcanoes, earthquakes and floods can change plans at short notice

Indonesia has 129 active volcanoes, according to Canada's advice. Ash clouds can disrupt flights, including on Bali, and rain near a volcano can set off lahars, dangerous floods that carry volcanic debris. Canada lists ongoing concerning activity at four volcanoes:

• Mount Sinabung, in North Sumatra
• Mount Merapi, on the border of Central Java and the Special Region of Yogyakarta
• Mount Semeru, in East Java
• Mount Anak Krakatau, between Java and Sumatra

Local authorities can raise alert levels and order evacuations at short notice. Respect exclusion zones, and check MAGMA Indonesia's map of active volcanoes, partly in Indonesian, before a crater hike.

Indonesia also records thousands of earthquakes each year. A magnitude 7.7 quake struck near Flores Island in mid-August 2026, and Canada reports that aftershocks continue. A tsunami can arrive within minutes of a nearby quake, and the risk can last for hours, so learn the evacuation route if you stay on the coast.

The rainy season runs from November to March, though heavy rain can fall in any month. Flooding and landslides can hit with little warning, including in Jakarta and parts of Bali, and roads can become impassable. If you are still choosing dates, our guide to Bali's wet and dry months shows how the seasons play out on the island.

Burning in Sumatra and Kalimantan sometimes pushes air pollution to unhealthy levels, especially from June to October. On high-pollution days, Canada advises limiting time outdoors.

Thailand and Indonesia share the same Canadian risk level

If you are choosing between the two, Canada's scale gives no overall winner: both countries sit at "exercise a high degree of caution". The difference lies in the regional warnings.

Thailand has the stricter no-go zones, but outside those zones both countries sit at the same level. Read Canada's advice for Thailand in full before you decide, because the details that matter depend on where you plan to go.

Police are on 110, and Canadian help comes from Jakarta, Bali or Ottawa

Canada's advice lists 110 for police and tells travellers to research and carry contact details for local medical facilities. The UK Foreign Office's Indonesia help page lists 118 for an ambulance. Save these contacts before you fly.

The Emergency Watch and Response Centre helps Canadian citizens around the clock, but it does not answer questions about immigration, permanent residence or visas.

Mobile data can be ready before you land in Indonesia

An eSIM set up before you leave lets you land with mobile data instead of looking for a SIM counter or airport Wi-Fi. HelloRoam's Indonesia plans connect to Telkomsel, XL and Smartfren, and you can install the eSIM at home in Canada before you board.

Compare mobile data plans for Indonesia by trip length before you pack. If you will spend most of your stay at one resort with reliable Wi-Fi, you may not need a plan at all. HelloRoam support answers 24/7 if your eSIM does not connect after landing.

Canada's advice for Indonesia can change before you fly

Travel advice for Indonesia changes with events, so read Global Affairs Canada's Indonesia page again in the days before you leave, and monitor local media once you arrive.

Canada's free Registration of Canadians Abroad service can notify you of an emergency at your destination or at home, and send important information before or during a natural disaster or civil unrest. Canada's own advice is clear on one last point: the decision to travel is yours, and so is responsibility for your personal safety.