Before exploring Bali's rice fields, dipping your toes in the sands of its beaches or tasting its delicious cuisine at local warungs, you'll first need to get through customs at the airport. Don't worry though, it's a breeze as long as you're prepared, know all the rules and have everything sorted with your Indonesian visa on arrival.

Upon landing in Bali, or at any Indonesian airport, you'll need to fill in a customs form. They're digital now, making things super easy. They can be filled out on your phone or tablet after scanning a QR code.

If you really want to fly through immigration, you can do it up to three days in advance. Before you do though, it's a good idea to know what you can and can't bring into the country as you will need to declare certain items on the form.

You'll be able to bring in all the necessities for your trip to Bali, which is especially ideal if you're picky about any brands you use for toiletries or other personal goods. However, there are a few restrictions that it pays to be aware of so you don't have anything taken away from you at customs.

All basic personal belongings are permitted. Feel free to pack your favourite clothes and toiletries,. Declaring these items is unnecessary if they are for personal use and their value is not more than US$250.

Unless you're tight on room or restricted to carry-on liquit limits, we actually recommend you bring your own toiletries rather than buying them locally. Sun creams are vital on the tropical island, but can be much more expensive to buy than here in Australia.

While card payments are becoming a lot more prevelant across Bali, having some cash is a good idea. But, be aware of limits on how much you can bring in. Are you carrying a stack of banknotes? You must declare if you're bringing more than IDR 100 million or more in cash (or the equivalent to other currencies. In Australian Dollars, that's about AU$1,000).

Our tip? Just withdraw cash locally at an ATM. The exchange rates are almost always better than if you get it ahead of time in Australia. They'll be at the airport too if you need notes to pay for a taxi.

You can bring up to one litre of alcohol into Indonesia. If you ahve more than that, you'll need to declare it, and you must pay customs duty.

While Indonesia is a predominately Muslim and don't drink much alcohol, Bali is majority Hindu and alcohol is widely available. The island also very much caters to western tourists, so just about anything you want to drink will be available here.

Note that drinking age in Indonesia is 21. So if you're 18, 19 or 20 and legally buying alcohol at duty free in Australia, you aren't of age to drink it upon arrival in Indonesia.

Carrying tobacco products for personal use is fine. But, some limitations apply. You can only bring no more than 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, and 100 grams of tobacco.

Buying cigarettes in Indonesia will cost a lot less than in Australia, so it may be best to just bring what you need and purchase any additional packs locally.

Similar to in Australia, vapes are technically illegal but widely available. It's best to leave yours at home to avoid any legal issues.

Carrying gadgets like smartphones, tablets, and laptops are permitted. One person can bring a maximum of 2 items. Short-term visits (less than 3 months) do not require declaration for these electronic items.

When you are in medicinal treatment, just bring your medicine and declare it. Remember to always have the prescription with you, if applicable. It's best to keep it in the box or packaging it came in too. Unfortunately, Chinese medicines are prohibited.

Every country does have slightly different rules around drugs, so it's best to check if your particular medication is legal in Indonesia before departure.

Please note that Bali customs regulations are strict regarding banned items. If you do not want to get caught, avoid carrying these items.

Indonesia has a zero-tolerance policy on drugs. Even the smallest amount of illegal drugs can land you in jail. And just because a drug is legal in one country, doesn't mean it will be in Indonesia too. These include narcotics, cannabis, and psychotropic substances. (Even if you do have a legal prescription for cannabis in Australia, you'll need to leave it at home as it's not legal in Indonesia.)

Don't worry, over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen, which you don't need a prescription for but are still considered a drug, are okay to bring with you. Just keep it in its original packaging so it's very clear what any tablets are.

All dangerous items like guns, firearms, ammunition, and explosives are strictly forbidden. It's best to also leave any replicas or toys at home too.

Indonesia has strict anti-pornography laws. So, possessing pornographic materials can lead you into trouble. It's best to leave any of these at home. Whether it's magazines, movies or images saved on your phone, make sure they're not coming into Indonesia with you.

No matter how convincing your fake watch or handbag is, it's best to not try bringing it into Indonesia. The country is pretty strict with counterfiet goods.

Like Australia, Indonesia has a unique ecosystem and bringing in anything that can harm that is illegal. This includes any pets. Seeds and fruits are considered plants, so even if you're bringing a snack for the plane, it's best to finish it before disembarking.

In addition to the previous items, you must be aware of several restricted items. These include cordless telephones, plants, animals, and cultural artefacts.

Simply, it is a form telling customs officers what you're bringing into the country, including any substances that are only allowed to be brought in limited qualities (such as liquor or tobacco).

Most countries require travellers to fill our these forms declaring what they have in their baggage.

Laws are a bid different from country to country, and this prevents anything illegal from bring brought into Bali or the rest of Indonesia.

The declaration process is more straightforward than you think. Electronic Bali customs declarations are now available to help travellers comply with the rules.

Customs declarations, whether you're declaring goods or not, is simple. The e-customs declaration is now part of the All Indonesia entry system, which combines a few entry forms into one service. It can be completed within 3 days before the arrival date into Indonesia. If you forget, that's ok - you can also fill it out at the airport using the Wi-Fi if needed.

If you're flying to Bali from somewhere else in Indonesia, say Jakarta, Yogyakarta or Lombok, you won't have to fill this out again.

Here's what to do

It is mandatory to declare all goods honestly. Falsely declaring them can result in severe penalties. In extreme cases, carrying illegal items can result in criminal charges.

Note: The form may default to Indonesian, but you can change the language in the top right corner of the page.

Nope! The online form is all that's needed these days. If you don't have a mobile phone with you, it's best to fill this out in advance. You will need to show a QR code to the customs officer, so print it out if needed.

You'll need to either get a visa on arrival, or organise one in advance, and have proof of an onward ticket. If you're returning to Australia with the same airline on a roundtrip-ticket, just show them the same booking confirmation.

If you're travelling to another country, you can show them the ticket to that country.

No. You'll be able to bring in the same items to Bali as you would to Borneo, but the acceptance of what you're bringing in may differ.

For example, drinking alcohol in Bali is generally accepted, but in other parts of the country, including West Java and West Sumatra, it's less accepted.

While customs and entry restrictions are national, here's a simple chart for what you can expect in different parts of the country.

Once you've got flights and a hotel booked, check out some of the stellar activities we have on offer. From jungle swings to scuba diving, there's thousands of incredible things to do in Bali.

Ready to explore Bali? Here’s all the basics you need to know before booking your trip.

Flights to Bali | Hotels in Bali | Activities and attractions in Bali | Best time to visit Bali | Best places to stay in Bali | Budgeting for Bali | Getting around in Bali | eSims for Bali | Power outlets in Bali | Visa rules for Bali | Airport transfers in Bali

Written by: Alex Keshen

The content strategist and SEO lead for Traveloka Australia, Alex manages the blog and other pages across the site. An avid traveller, digital content creator and writer, she’s contributed to publications such as Australian Women's Weekly, Marie Claire, Elle, Gourmet Traveller, Finder and Explore Travel… and has found the time to visit 50+ countries while doing it. She loves good flight sale and will share some of the best ones she can find right here on our Explore blog. Follow her regular Deals of the Week column for the latest bargains on flights, hotels and more.