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Updated June 2023
Bali is a popular destination for many travelers and digital nomads who are drawn to its breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and friendly people. However, working remotely from Bali requires more than just packing your laptop and booking a flight. It is crucial to have a valid visa that allows you to legally live and work online in Indonesia.
In this article, we will give you an overview of the visa options available to digital nomads in Bali. Keep reading to learn more.
Table of Contents
What is a digital nomad visa?
A digital nomad visa is a specific type of visa that grants individuals from foreign countries the ability to engage in online work for their clients or employers abroad while residing in a host nation for a designated duration. Typically, obtaining a digital nomad visa entails providing evidence of income, possessing health insurance coverage, and holding a return ticket.
It is important to note that a digital nomad visa differs from a tourist visa or a work permit. A tourist visa exclusively permits leisurely visits to a country and prohibits any form of employment. Conversely, a work permit allows individuals to work for a local company or organization in the host country, usually necessitating sponsorship from an employer.
Does Bali have a digital nomad visa?
Even though there had been significant anticipation regarding the introduction of a digital nomad visa in Indonesia, government officials ultimately unveiled the Second Home visa as an alternative last year.
While the Second Home visa grants a lengthy stay of 5 or 10 years, its stringent prerequisites make it an impractical choice for the majority of remote workers. The most challenging requirement is the demonstration of sufficient funds, necessitating an Indonesian bank account in the applicant’s name or that of a sponsor, with a minimum value of IDR 2 billion. Furthermore, this visa does not permit legal employment with an Indonesian company or the provision of local commercial services.
Below, we present you with the alternatives for your Bali digital nomad visa.
What are the alternatives for Bali digital nomad visa?
Visa on Arrival
Indonesia visa on arrival (VoA) is a type of visa that allows eligible travelers to enter Indonesia for tourism, business talks, meetings, and transiting purposes. The VoA is valid for 30 days and can be extended once for another 30 days, giving you a total of 60 days in Indonesia. The VoA is available for citizens of 72 countries and territories below:
1. South Africa
2. The United States of America
3. Saudi Arabia
4. Argentina
5. Australia
6. Austria
7. Bahrain
8. Netherlands
9. Belarus
10. Belgium
11. Bosnia Herzegovina
12. Brazil
13. Brunei Darussalam
14. Bulgaria
15. Czech Republic
16. Denmark
17. Estonia
18. Philippines
19. Finland
20. Hong Kong
21. Hungary
22. India
23. United Kingdom
24. Ireland
25. Italy
26. Japan
27. Germany
28. Cambodia
29. Canada
30. South Korea
31. Croatia
32. Kuwait
33. Laos
34. Latvia
35. Lithuania
36. Luxembourg
37. Malaysia
38. Malta
39. Morocco
40. Mexico
41. Egypt
42. Myanmar
43. Norway
44. Oman
45. France
46. Peru
47. Poland
48. Portugal
49. Qatar
50. Romania
51. Russia
52. New Zealand
53. Serbia
54. Seychelles
55. Singapore
56. Cyprus
57. Slovakia
58. Slovenia
59. Spain
60. Sweden
61. Switzerland
62. Taiwan
63. Thailand
64. Timor Leste
65. China
66. Tunisia
67. Turkey
68. United Arab Emirates
69. Ukraine
70. Vietnam
71. Jordan
72. Greece
The VoA is a convenient and affordable option for travelers who want to visit Indonesia for a short period of time. However, it is not designed for digital nomads or remote workers who want to stay and work online in Indonesia for longer than 60 days. For that purpose, you may want to consider other visa options, such as the Visit Visa B211A below.
Single-Entry Visitor Visa (B211A)
Visit Visa B211A Indonesia is a type of visa that is valid for 60 days and can be extended twice for another 60 days each, giving you a total of 180 days in Indonesia. You can also apply for another B211A visa onshore after your first one expires. Visit Visa B211A Indonesia allows you to work online for your clients or employers abroad as long as you do not work for local companies or get paid in Indonesia.
Please note that both of these visas are not specifically designed for digital nomads or remote workers and may not offer full legal protection or certainty.
How to apply for a visa for digital nomads in Bali?
Visa on Arrival
Required documents
International travellers must present all requirements for a VOA for Tourism at the immigration counter, namely:
- a passport valid for at least 6 (six) months;
- a return ticket or a connecting ticket to continue travelling to another country; and
- other documents are required under the provisions of the COVID-19 Task Force.
- receipt of VoA payment
Applicaion process
To apply for your visa on arrival in Indonesia, you need to follow these steps:
- prepare the required documents.
- arrive at one of the designated airports or seaports in Indonesia.
- fill out an arrival card and pay the visa fee at the counter. You can pay with US Dollars or Rupiah.
- show your passport, visa fee receipt, and other documents to the immigration officer and get your visa stamped on your passport.
You can also apply for a visa on arrival in Indonesia online before traveling to Indonesia through the Indonesian Immigration Office official website. You need to create an account, upload your passport and photo, choose a suitable visa, pay the fee online, and download the visa once approved. You need to print the visa and show it to the immigration officer upon arrival.
For more information about Indonesia visa on arrival, you can look at our article below:
Single-Entry Visitor Visa (B211A)
Required documents
- a passport with a validity of at least 6 to 12 months at the date of entry (check with your travel agent)
- a scanned copy of your passport, including the main page stating your details and the page of the passport cover
- a coloured passport-size photograph
- proof of at least one vaccination dose
- a health certificate for children under the age of 12 stating that they are fit and healthy to travel. This is in lieu of a vaccination certificate
- proof of your Bali quarantine hotel reservation
- your bank statement in the form of a PDF file. The account balance must show at least USD 1,500 (AED 5,509)
- valid travel insurance with a minimum coverage of USD 25,000
There may be additional requirements in terms of documents and personal or contact information. A reputable travel agency will guide you through the whole process and ensure that you’ll be able to complete your visa application as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Application process
You can apply for your Single-Entry Visitor Visa (B211A) with these steps:
- Prepare the required documents.
- Contact an authorized travel agent or sponsor who can help you with the online application process. You can also use Bali.com’s service to facilitate your B211A application online.
- Provide your passport and photo, choose a suitable visa, pay the fee online, and download the visa once approved. You need to print the visa and show it to the immigration officer upon arrival.
- Apply for the visa extension at any immigration office in Indonesia before your visa expires. You can extend your visa twice for another 60 days each.
What are the cost for a visa for digital nomads in Bali?
Visa on Arrival is priced at USD 35 and can be extended for an additional 30 days at a cost of USD 54.05. The Single-Entry Visitor Visa (B211A) costs USD 50, with the option to extend it for another 60 days for USD 55.
