Bali, Indonesia visas: Visa-free entry for Australians promised, again

Indonesia is again promising to give Australians visa-free entry, however it wants rules relaxed for its own citizens before waiving the $US35 ($48.71) fee for tourists.

Australia was among 84 countries added to its free visa on arrival list on Monday, to be enacted early next year.

However it's the third time this year the move has been discussed.

In March, when tensions were high over Indonesia's executions of Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, Jakarta blamed a lack of reciprocal arrangements for its decision to remove Australia from a list of 45 countries going visa-free.

In September the tourism minister promised Australia would be among the next batch of countries to have visa fees waived, but it wasn't included when the policy became effective on October 1.

In a statement, Co-ordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Rizal Ramli, said more discussions were needed with Australia.

"Because of tight regulations on visas in Australia, the government will have further negotiations with the Australian embassy regarding giving free visas," he said.

Jakarta wanted commitments on three things: long-term visas for officials at the level of director and above, visas for business and tighter security in airports and ports regarding drugs.

The Jakarta Post reported Dr Ramli saying in reference to the death penalty: "we don't want any more people committing wrongdoing and then have to punish them with our law".