American citizens must have valid passports, visas and onward tickets to get into Indonesia. It's important to choose the right visa to avoid problems with Indonesian authorities.

Determine what type of visa you need to get. There are several different types of visas, including tourist, student, business and others. Indonesian immigration officials enforce stringent restrictions on visa and participating in activities that are outside the boundaries of your visa can get you thrown in prison for up to 5 years.

Visit the Indonesian Embassy in Washington D.C. or an Indonesian Consulate to apply. Alternatively, you can download the visa application and apply through the mail.

Provide your passport, original travel itinerary, passport photos, visa application, visa fee, a recent bank statement, a letter of employment and a self-addressed stamped envelope when you apply for a visa through the mail.

Apply for a tourist visa when you arrive in Indonesia. There are visa application centers at most of the major Indonesia airports and a few seaports. These visas are valid for either 7 days or 30 days, and you typically only need your passport and onward/return ticket as documentation.

Keep your passport and visa with you as you travel in Indonesia to avoid problems with thieves or immigration authorities.