Hi Agent 69,
If I need to go through immigration on arrival, how long should I leave for the connection?
If you are going to be on QR956 from Doha and scheduled to arrive at 15:35, I would be conservative and allow 3+ hours. There may be flights Garuda at 18:30 and 19:25. While the connecting flight may be running late, it is not good to assume it will be. You can also save time by applying for your
e-visa on arrival online before you depart and printing it out, likewise the
online customs declaration (less than 72 hours before arrival) and
online health declaration.
The no risk option is to stay a night at a nearby hotel and continue the journey the next day. I had a good experience with FM7 Airport Hotel, booking through their website. You put your arrival flight details when you book. Before you arrive, they email you with a map and detailed instructions for where to meet the guy for the free airport transfer; on the day/night, the guy was at the arrival gate in a yellow uniform and a sign with my name. For clients with jetlag or an early flight, FM7 offers breakfast from 4am, not 6am like everywhere else. At reception, there is a timetable for when the bus takes guests to the airport.