When it comes to traveling to Bali visa issues are likely the single most confusing headache, with frequently changing visa regulations, so many different options compare to other countries, and understanding the fees and how long you are likely to stay. With all of the factors, choosing and sorting your Bali visa can be overwhelming, but in this article, we’ll get you sorted with the latest Indonesia visa news, the criteria to decide which visa you need, and how to go about getting it – whether getting your visa online or with the help of a recommended agent.
Important note: As of 2023, Indonesian officials have eliminated visa free entry, at and throughout Indonesia for passport holders of all non-ASEAN countries. You will still be able to get a Visa On Arrival (VOA) at the Ngurah Rai International Airport, but I highly recommend applying for the e-VOA to allow for visa extensions online later.
Table of Contents
- Overview of the Bali Visa Options
- 60 Day Visa on Arrival and e-VOA
- 6 Month B211 Social e-Visa and Business e-Visa (Single Entry)
- 1-Year Multiple Entry Business Visa
- 6 Month Entertainer KITAS (allows foreigners to do paid performances)
- 2 Year Investor KITAS (Temporary Resident Permit)
- 5 Year Second Home Visa (Permanent Resident Permit)
- 10 Year Golden Visa
- How to get your visa before arriving on Bali
- Visa Runs: Where to go and how to do them
- Bali Visa Requirements
Why is it important to pick the right Bali visa for your stay?
The visa you pick determines 1) how long you can stay on Bali 2) what activities you are legally allowed to do (working, performing, journalism, volunteering, etc.) and 3) how easily you can leave and come back on the same visa, without going through the visa application and payment process
The best visa for your Bali stay as a digital nomad depends on three things.
How long do you plan to stay? Less than two months (Visa on Arrival for 60 days), up to six months (six month B211a Social Visa or the eB211 “Digital Nomad Visa”), or longer than six months (one year multiple entry business visa or KITAS)?
Do you plan to return to Bali more than a couple of times? (If yes, the multiple entry one year business visa will be for you, and later, an investor KITAS)
Do you plan to do any work in person in Bali? Whether for a company in Bali, or as an in-person presenter or entertainer? (If yes, you may need an Entertainer KITAS or to rearrange your plans)
The visa options you will have for Bali are as follows:
Note that the Bali Visa Waiver (free visa) no longer exists
Note that as of 2023 the free Bali visa waiver no longer exists and you will either have to pay for or arrange a visa, no matter what.
Now, we will review the requirements to attain your visa (click here to jump to a detailed overview of your Bali Visa Options)
Overview of the Bali Visa Options
Recommended visas for initial stays and short stays on Bali
60 Day electronic Visa on Arrival “Tourist Visa” (Single Entry Visa)
6 month B211a Social Visa and e-B211 Business visa (Single Entry Visa)
30 Day Visa on Arrival (VOA) and electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VOA) “Tourist Visa” + Optional 30 Day Extension (Single Entry Visa)
The Bali Visa on Arrival and e-Visa on Arrival allow 30 day initial stays with the option to extend your stay for an additional 30 days, for a total of 60 days. Note that that in-person Visa On Arrival (received at the airport) requires a visit to the immigration office for the visa extension. However, the e-Visa on Arrival can be extended online without visiting the immigration office
Official information for the Indonesian e-VOA can be found at https://www.imigrasi.go.id/en/e-voa/ and you can apply for and pay for the e-VOA at the official Indonesian Immigration site at https://molina.imigrasi.go.id/ for up to 5 people.
The e-VOA costs 500,000 IDR (~$20 USD)
- 30 Visa on Arrival (B213 visa) with option to extend fro 30 additional days in person – 500,000 IDR paid on arrival at a special counter at the Ngurah Rai airport. A 30 day visa extension is possible and can be processed through a visa agent for 800,000 IDR (additional fee) (Click here to visit Imigrasi’s online visa selection page)
For those that enter Indonesia with an e-VOA, you can extend for the following 30 days by logging into http://molina.imigrasi.go.id/ and clicking the “extend” button and following the procedures that follow and processing payment. The current fee for an e-VOA extension is 800,000 IDR (~$54 USD).
- 30 eVisa on Arrival (eB213 visa) with option to extend fro 30 additional days online – 500,000 IDR paid online. A 30 day visa extension is possible and -can be processed online via the site and account you initially received the visa through for a 800,000 IDR (additional fee) (Click here to visit Imigrasi’s online visa selection page)
You can learn more about extending your e-VOA at the official Indonesian Immigration site here.
For those that receive a normal VOA on arrival at the airport, you will need to visit the immigration office to extend your visa for a fee of 800,000 IDR (~$54 USD)
60 Day e – Tourist Visa (211a) Single Entry Visa (Non-Extendable)
The 60 day single entry tourist visa allows a a full 60 day stay in Indonesia for tourist purposes, with no worry about extending mid stay. Note that this visa differs from the “B211a Social Visa” in that it can’t be extended. For more information, visit the official Indonesian Immigration visa site at https://molina.imigrasi.go.id/.
60 Day electronic Visa on Arrival “Tourist Visa” (Visa211a) has a 1,500,000 IDR total cost, paid through the official immigration website. You can apply for eVOA by yourself through the official website of Immigration Indonesia www.molina.imigrasi.go.id. This visa is not extendable.
6 month e-B211 “Social Visa” and e-B211 “Business Visa” aka “Digital Nomad Visa” (Single Entry Visa)
For those that wish to stay in Bali for up to 6 months for tourism purposes (or anything besides paid work or volunteering on the island) but have no plans of leaving Bali before the end of their visa, the B211a social visa is perfect for you.
The 6 month B211 visa, commonly called the “Social Visa,” “Single Entry Business Visa,” “e-B211” and the “Bali digital nomad visa” in recent press releases is a general visa that allows you to stay in Bali for an initial period of 60 days and extendable every 60 days up to a total of 6 months. While on this visa you can work remotely, as long as your customers and company aren’t based in Indonesia, but you technically can’t volunteer or perform.
You can process this visa for yourself online, however, I recommend using a reliable visa agent to speed up and simplify the process. In either case, this is an e-visa which means no need to visit the embassy.
You can find official information on the 6 month Social visa at the official Indonesian Immigration website here: https://www.imigrasi.go.id/en/visa-kunjungan-satu-kali-perjalanan-b211a/
Additionally, you can contact a reliable visa agency (MPG) here: Whatsapp at (+62811387262) or visit Ibu Ayu’s site at https://www.mpgbali.com/
Processed through a visa agency the initial visa cost is 4,000,000 for the initial 60 days, and 2,600,000 for each additional 60 day extension. The total price of the 6 month e-B211 is 9,200,000 (~$615 USD)
D212 1 year multiple entry “Business Visa” (requires leaving every 60 days)
For those that don’t mind leaving Bali every 60 days, I highly recommend the D212 multiple entry 1 year business visa.
This visa allows you a full year to enter Bali an unlimited number of times, as long as you leave at maximum every 60 days.
Processed through a visa agent, the cost of a D212 1 year multiple entry business visa is 5,500,000 IDR (~$365)
Visit the official Indonesian Immigration site to learn more about the D212 visa here
6 Month Entertainer KITAS (Temporary Residence Permit): Allows paid work as a performer, comedian, speaker, DJ, or event facilitator
For visitors that plan to do any kind of paid performances not that you cannot perform (paid or free) under any of the tourist visas – VOA, B211 – or without an appropriate work permit. If you do and are caught but the immigration and national police task force, you will be deported, as many foreigners have been recently. The only way to perform legally in Indonesia as a foreigner not in a company is under a properly arranged “Entertainer KITAS”
The “Entertainer KITAS” is the only visa that permits working, performances, running workshops, DJ’ing, doing standup comedy, or anything like that legally (and without the risk of deportation). But be warned, this visa isn’t cheap.
This visa must be processed through a visa agent, and pricing for the 6 month Entertainment Visa is as follows:
Offshore Entertainment KITAS (Badung, Denpasar Area) 12,000,000 IDR + Visa fee 150 USD
Offshore Entertainment KITAS (all Indonesia) 17,000,000 IDR + Visa fee 150 USD
Government TAX 600 USD for 6 months
Recommended visas and Resident Permits for longer stays and permanent stays on Bali
2 Year “Investor KITAS” (permanent residency permit)
5 Year “Second Home Visa”
5 Year KITAP (permanent residency permit)
As you decide to stay on Bali for a year or more, with more emphasis on staying in Bali for 6 to 9 months, and less desire to renew visas and take on visa runs, you will want to consider the opportunity (and hassle) of temporary or permanent residence permits – respectively name KITAS or KITAPs.
2 Year “Investor KITAS” (permanent residency permit)
The 2 year “investor KITAS” is the most coveted and popular “visa” among long stayers in Bali. The KITAS allows the holder to stay as long as they wish within the 2-year period of validity and to come and go as they please.
Additionally, the KITAS can allow the holder to perform “director activities” in the Foreign Owned Indonesian company they have invested in and thus enables their KITAS.
However, this golden ticket comes with a price. KITAS holders must hold at least 10% of shares in an Indonesian company (PT PMA) and opening a PMA requires a 10 Billion IDR capital investment. Though this portion of the requirements is a bit confusing, I won’t venture to explain them better here. Instead, I’ll point you to the expert that helped me understand my situation better and what is best for me.
If you are interested in investing in an Indonesian company and legally attaining a KITAS, contact Ibu Ayu at MPG Consulting.
MPG Consulting: Contact via Whatsapp at (+62811387262) or visit Ibu Ayu’s site at https://www.mpgbali.com/
5 Year “Second Home Visa” (replaced the former retirement visa)
The “Second Home Visa” replaced the former “retirement visa” in 2022 and, quite frankly, has shifted to targeting long stayers for “investment in Indonesia” in exchange for a 5 year or 10 year permanent resident permit.
To qualify for an Indonesian Second Home Visa, applications must meet 1 of 2 criteria:
Place 2,000,000,000 in an Indonesian Bank Account ($133,000 USD) and be able to show proof of that balance to immigration at any time
OR
Purchase a home that qualifies as a “luxury home” in Indonesia with a minimum value of 5,000,000,000 ($335,000 USD) under “Hak Pakai” and show proof of title ownership. Leasehold rental/ownership of a property does not qualify
The price of the 5 year “Second Home ITAS” processed via a Visa agent is 45,000,000 IDR ($3,000 USD)
Learn more information at these official sources:
Official Indonesian Immigration Website: imigrasi.go.id/en/visa-rumah-kedua/
New 10 Year “Golden Visa”
In August of 2023, Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs announced that Indonesia would be offering a 5 to 10 year golden visa, allowing foreigners to stay for the period free to come and go and “conduct business activities.” However, the visa requires an investment of a minimum $350,000 in Indonesian Government bonds.
Details on this program are still forthcoming. If you are interested in this visa I recommend contacting a reliable visa agent to inform you and guide you through the process.
How can you get a visa before you arrive in Bali?
Tip: Use a visa agent, to apply for your visa and visa extension to speed up the process and avoid visiting the Indonesian Embassy and immigration office
Only the “Visa on Arrival” (VOA) or its cousin, the e-VOA can be attained on arrival.
For all other visas (6 month social visa, 1 year business visa, 2 year investor KITAS visa, 6 month performer’s KITAS visa) you will need to apply for the visa while outside of Indonesia and you will need to use an agent. I universally only recommend 2 visa agencies as I have used both tens of times, and trust their work enough to recommend them.
I highly recommend using a visa agent for the process to save you visits and hassle at the Indonesian Embassy, Even better, these visa agents were able to arrange my visas while I was outside of Indonesia, all via Whatsapp. These are the only visa agents I recommend:
The Only Visa Agencies I Recommend
MPG Consulting: Contact via Whatsapp at (+62811387262) or visit Ibu Ayu’s site at https://www.mpgbali.com/ for a full list of visas available right now. For KITAS, immigration issues, business visas, and social visas, I recommend Ibu Ayu and her team above all others on Bali.
Bali Business Consulting: Contact via Whatsapp at (+62 819-1640-6464) or visit their site at https://balibusinessconsulting.com/ for pricing, updated visa lists, and details
What are Visa runs, and where are the best places to do visa runs to from Bali?
Once you’ve reached the end of your stay on a visa in Bali, if you decide you want to stay on Bali longer, you will need to leave Indonesia for a short period to process a new visa, and then return. However, you don’t necessarily need to go back to your home country. These “Visa runs” are simply short trips is cheap flights to a nearby country, to allow you to apply for a new visa or reset the clock on your last trip for your existing visa (for the 1 year business visa).
If you want to spend several months on Bali, but not necessarily in a single visa (as you would have to with a single entry 6 month B211a social visa or e-B211 single entry business visa), then using the 2-month visa on arrival visitor visa to stay for 60 days, exploring another country on a quick visa run, and returning
Where are the best places to go for visa runs from Bali? Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and (maybe) Thailand
The best countries to go on visa runs from Indonesia, due to cheap flights as well as the great experience are Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Additionally, a visa run allows you to buy things that aren’t available in Bali with good enough quality or a good enough price.
So, why these countries in particular?
Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur is the easiest and best location for a simple visa run. Cheap high-rise “serviced apartments,” countless shopping malls, and the insane food scene hidden in KL make this a great places to spend a few days. Also check out Penang, Georgetown, Cherating, and Malaka if you have time. KL also has the cheapest flights from Denpasar airport of the top visa run options
Vietnam: Hanoi, Hoi An, Da Nang, and Saigon are all cheap flights away, a wonderful change of pace, and remarkably cheaper to stay in than Bali. Don’t forget your visa to Vietnam as most nationalities require a visa to enter.
The Philippines: The islands of the Philippines is purely for vacation experience and one I highly recommend. A pure water world with pristine ocean water and beaches and no trash. You’ll appreciate that last part after your first rainy season in Bali. Also, flights to various islands from Denpasar Airport are very cheap.
Thailand: Chiang Mai and Bangkok are both great for stocking up and recharging and equally good for high quality medical check ups and dental. Unfortunately, Thailand tends to have the most expensive flights from Ngurah Rai Airport among the good visa run options.
Visa Requirements
All foreign nationals must meet the following requirements to receive a visa to travel to Bali:
A departure flight ticket from Indonesia
Accommodation booking proof
Passport valid for minimum 6 months
Hav e valid passport from one of the 92 countries eligible for VOA, e-VOA, and B211
Proof of sufficient funds for the length of your stay
What you can’t do on a normal Indonesian visa while in Indonesia
Be warned (again) that without the right visa in Indonesia and respective work permit, you can’t do any of the following activities. If you are caught by immigration, the consequences will be thousands of dollars in fines, deportation and blacklisting, or both.
Work for customers or companies based in Indonesia
Volunteer
Perform (even for free)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Carlos is a nomad, slow traveler, and writer dedicated to helping others live abroad and travel better by using his 7+ years of experience living abroad and background as a management consultant and financial advisor to help other nomad and expats plot better paths for an international lifestyle. Click here to learn more about Carlos's story.