Until fairly recently, digital nomads in Bali had no option for a “digital nomad visa”, instead, they were forced to work illegally on back-to-back tourist visas.
However, while there are still talks of a 5-year visa for nomads in Bali at some later date, there is now a great option for a Bali digital nomad visa, and that’s the E33G Remote Worker Visa (KITAS).
So, let’s take a look at how you can live and work remotely in Bali while staying on the right side of the law.
The Digital Nomad Visa In Bali: The E33G Remote Worker Visa
Let’s talk about the E33G Remote Worker Visa and the conditions that are attached to the issuance of this visa.
Then, we’ll look at how to apply and how much it costs to apply.
How Long Can You Stay On A Digital Nomad Visa?
The E33G Remote Worker Visa allows you to stay in Indonesia for a continuous period of up to 1 year. It is a multiple-entry visa, which means you can exit and re-enter Indonesia throughout the 1-year period.
However, once the year is up, this visa cannot be directly renewed, and you will need to leave Indonesia and apply for a new digital nomad visa.
In the future, there may be a visa that lasts for up to five years, but for now, it’s only a single year.
What Does The Bali Digital Nomad Visa Allow You To Do?
This visa allows you to travel in and out of Indonesia at will. It allows you to carry out any tourism-related activities. It also enables you to carry out work and assignments for an overseas company.
That’s very important. While you’re welcome to live out your digital nomad dream on this visa and can spend as much time as you like in the island’s co-working spaces and cafes.
You cannot carry out any work for companies registered in Indonesia, and you can still find yourself in hot water for working as an influencer or other social media entity if you don’t have an overseas entity supporting that work.
It’s also important to note that you are free to work anywhere in Indonesia; you’re not restricted to just working in Bali. So, if you visit Bali and then decide you want to work elsewhere in the country, you can, and the visa validity doesn’t change if you base yourself in Yogyakarta, Jakarta or Solo, etc.
Other Benefits Of The Digital Nomad Visa
While these benefits are not explicitly spelled out on the immigration site, you are also able to:
- Open a local bank account, including an Indonesian Rupiah account
- Obtain a local driver’s license and purchase a motorbike or car for legal use
Obtain discounts on medical assistance (note: most digital nomads will need health insurance in Bali; your new visa does not provide access to the government health insurance), but it does ensure you will be charged local prices at hospitals and clinics. If you need medical attention while carrying out remote work because you fall ill or get into an accident, it can be very expensive. A specifically designed policy can help keep your costs to a minimum
Legally lease land or property
Obtain local pricing at tourist attractions
How To Apply For The Bali Digital Nomad Visa?
It’s actually quite straightforward to carry out the application process yourself. You need to visit the official immigration website for e-visas and then declare your nationality, followed by a statement that you are coming for professional or employment activities.
Then, you say your sub purpose is to be a remote worker and that you want an E33G visa for 1 year (there are no other options).
Then, you click the details and login button and follow the onscreen process to demonstrate your adherence to the eligibility requirements, and then you pay the fee with a card.
What Documents Do You Need For The Indonesian Remote Worker Visa?
If you want to apply successfully for the Indonesia Digital Nomad Visa, you’re going to need the following documents:
- A valid passport, which must be a passport valid for at least 6 months
- A personal bank statement and you must show a minimum of $2,000 USD in your bank account for a period of at least the last 3 months. The statement must include your name, date of period, and the balance in the account
- A recent photograph of yourself (there are specific conditions for the photograph that are posted on the immigration website; make sure to follow these carefully). You cannot be issued a temporary stay permit or any visa without the correct photograph
- A copy of your curriculum vitae (CV) or resume
- A bank account statement that provides proof of income of at least $60,000 USD annually. If you cannot provide proof of income, you will not be granted a remote worker visa
- A copy of your employment contract with a company outside of Indonesian territory
Note: All these criteria are non-negotiable. If you cannot provide the right documents for your visa options in Indonesia, you won’t be issued the visa.
How Much Is The Bali Digital Nomad Visa?
The E33G Remote Worker Visa is 7 million IDR (approx. $415 USD or $700 AUD). This fee is non-refundable, so it’s very important that you have all your documents in order before you submit the application.
We should also note that in keeping with many government sites, when you apply for the Indonesian remote worker visa or Indonesia digital nomad visa, you may be required to pay a small surcharge in addition to the 7 million IDR fee. Usually, this is a very small additional percentage that reflects the cost of card processing.
Is It Worth Using An Agent For Your Bali Digital Nomad Visa?
If you have all the correct paperwork, we’d apply for your Bali digital nomad visa through the immigration website. It’s easy and straightforward, and it’s cheap.
However, if you want to work remotely in this digital nomad hotspot and you don’t have all the paperwork that the Indonesian government expects for your visa application, then you may find that an agent can help you cut some corners for a fairly substantial additional fee.
We should note that the legal status of visas issued after the intervention of Indonesian companies is unclear, and it’s possible that these may be revoked without notice at a later date.
Does The Digital Nomad Visa Require You To Pay Tax In Indonesia?
Maybe, maybe not. The legislation around this visa suggests that foreign-earned income will be tax-free, but this would mark a major break with the usual process in that, after 183 days in the country each year, you become an Indonesian tax resident.
We would strongly suggest talking this over with an accountant with experience in international tax law before you commit to a nomad visa here.
FAQs
Can You Get A Digital Nomad Visa In Bali?
Technically, you are supposed to apply for the digital nomad visa from home. Visa applications can be made from inside Bali, but you will need to use the services of an agent, and it can be much more expensive than doing it before you come to Indonesia.
The best way to get your visa is through an online application on the official immigration site while you are offshore. This ensures that your visa validity is genuine and approved by the government.
How Long Can You Stay In Bali As A Digital Nomad?
This depends. If you want to stay on a nomad visa, then after your visa expires, you can obtain another nomad visa, but it seems like you are limited to a single additional visa. That means you can work remotely in Bali for up to 2 years in total legally.
However, while we cannot encourage you to break the law, the coworking spaces of Bali are full of people who have been working remotely without permission for years on back-to-back tourist or social visit visas.
So, in theory, you can stay here for a very long time as long as you don’t mind taking the risk that one day, you may be caught and potentially fined, deported and blacklisted.
Can I Get A 6-Month Visa For Bali?
You cannot get a 6-month digital nomad visa, but there is a tourist visa, which can be used to stay in Bali for 6 months.
The C1 Visa allows you to enter the country for up to 60 days, and then it can be extended twice, without leaving the country, for an additional 60 days for each extension.
Once the 180 days are up, you will need to leave Bali and return on a new visa.
Can I Live In Bali Permanently?
Maybe. It really depends on your circumstances. A work permit allowing you to work a local job can lead to permanent residency.
A marriage visa for someone married to an Indonesian national can lead to permanent residency, too.
Retirees (who meet a host of criteria) and investors can also qualify for permanent residency in Indonesia.
However, if you want to stay longer in Bali than a digital nomad visa allows you to, you will need a different visa application, and these visas often cost a lot more money than the nomad options.
Does A Visa For Digital Nomads Lead To Indonesian Citizenship?
No, a digital nomad visa does not lead to Indonesian citizenship. In fact, you might be shocked to learn that, unlike in many Western nations, it is extremely difficult to become a naturalised citizen of Indonesia, and very few people are accepted each year.
The requirements include living in the country for at least 10 years while holding permanent residency, proof that you can read, write and speak Bahasa Indonesia and that you have done something of significant benefit for the archipelago.
We would note that for most people, permanent residency is actually going to be a better deal than obtaining Indonesian citizenship. Indonesia does not allow dual nationality, which means you would need to surrender your existing citizenship and passport.
Given that an Indonesian passport is fairly weak and it’s hard to travel to many developed nations with this passport, permanent residency is a more practical approach.
Can I Live In Bali And Work Remotely?
Maybe. Living abroad anywhere means taking into account your circumstances. If you want to work remotely legally from Bali, you need sufficient funds as a minimum balance in an account, a decent annual income (from an employment contract, not as a freelancer), and to meet certain other criteria.
However, we should note that many do not follow the legal route and simply nomad while on a tourist visa and to date, the authorities appear to tolerate this behaviour as long as you don’t make any waves.
Final Thoughts On The Digital Nomad Visa Bali
Bali is on almost every nomad’s travel itinerary, and it’s now relatively straightforward for remote workers to get a remote worker visa to ensure they work legally from Indonesia (including Bali).
Just follow the steps above, and you’ll soon be the proud holder of a digital nomad visa for a year.
