From the 30-day VOA to the 10-year Second Home Visa. The Bali tourism levy everyone forgets to pay. The E33G digital nomad visa that launched in 2024 and started getting aggressively enforced in 2026. And the drug laws that are not theoretical. All of it, verified for July 2026.
Most Western travelers enter Indonesia on a Visa on Arrival — a 30-day stamp obtained at the airport or, ideally, applied for online in advance as an e-VoA. The e-VoA is strongly recommended: same fee, same 30 days, skip the airport queue entirely.
1. All Indonesia Arrival Card. All foreign nationals must submit a digital arrival card before arriving in Indonesia. Complete it at allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id — this replaced paper arrival cards in October 2025. It's free, separate from your visa, and required regardless of visa type. Missing it creates friction at immigration. Do it the same day you apply for your e-VoA.
2. e-VoA (if needed). Apply at evisa.imigrasi.go.id — at least 48 hours before arrival, 72+ hours recommended. IDR 500,000 (~USD 28) paid online by card. You receive an approved e-VoA to present at the e-gate lane, skipping the physical VoA queue.
The e-VoA is the same 30-day Visa on Arrival, applied for online before travel. Same fee, same rights — no queue at the airport, and you can use the faster e-gate lanes at immigration.
Available at all major international airports and select land and sea borders. Same fee, same 30 days — but you join the physical queue to pay and get your stamp. At Bali's Ngurah Rai, this queue runs 45–90 minutes when multiple wide-body flights arrive simultaneously.
| Category | Countries | Method | Duration | Extension? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa-Free | Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Timor-Leste, Suriname, Colombia, Hong Kong SAR | No visa needed | Up to 30 days | Not extendable |
| VoA / e-VoA | US, UK, EU (all members), Australia, Canada, NZ, Japan, South Korea, India, China, and 80+ others — 97 countries total | VoA or e-VoA | 30 days from entry | One extension for 30 more days (60 total) |
| Embassy visa required | Nationalities not on VoA list (incl. Afghanistan, Israel, North Korea, and others — full list at imigrasi.go.id) | Embassy visa | Varies by type | Depends on visa issued |
The e-VoA is one of the best things Indonesia's immigration system has done in recent years. Before it existed, the Bali airport VoA queue — especially when multiple long-haul flights landed at once — was genuinely unpleasant: 45–90 minutes standing in a warm hall after an overnight flight. The e-VoA lane bypasses that entirely. Apply at evisa.imigrasi.go.id, minimum 48 hours before you land, and you're done in under a minute at the airport. The only scenario where the physical VoA makes sense is a genuinely last-minute trip — and even then, the physical and electronic VOA cost the same. Plan ahead and apply online.
Since February 14, 2024, all foreign nationals entering Bali pay a provincial tourism levy of IDR 150,000 (~USD 8.40). This is separate from your visa — it's a Bali provincial government charge, not Indonesian immigration. It applies on every entry into Bali regardless of what visa you hold.
The levy is charged each time you cross into Bali: at Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS), at the Gilimanuk port (Java–Bali ferry), and at Padangbai (Lombok–Bali). If you fly into Jakarta and then travel overland to Bali, you pay when you cross into Bali. If you leave Bali and return from another Indonesian island, you pay again on re-entry. It is per Bali entry, not per Indonesia trip.
The Bali government's Love Bali platform lets you pay the levy online before departure. You receive a QR code to scan at the dedicated levy counter at DPS — usually fast, completely separate from immigration.
Cash and card counters are available at Ngurah Rai airport before immigration. During busy arrivals this adds 10–20 minutes before you even reach the immigration queue.
The levy applies to foreign nationals only. Indonesian citizens — including those with dual nationality entering on an Indonesian passport — are not charged the levy.
Holders of Indonesian long-stay residence permits (KITAS and KITAP) are exempt. The levy targets visitors, not legal residents. Applies to all KITAS types including Retirement and Investor KITAS.
Holders of the E33G Remote Worker Visa and the Second Home Visa are exempt from paying the levy each time they re-enter Bali — they hold KITAS status.
IDR 150,000 is about USD 8.40 — this is not a financial burden. What it is, though, is one more thing to have sorted before you land. The smart move is to arrive at Bali with three things pre-sorted: the Love Bali levy QR code, your e-VoA approval, and your All Indonesia arrival card. All three available on your phone. With those done you clear the entire Ngurah Rai arrival process in under 20 minutes. Miss any one of them and you're joining queues in a hot hall after a long flight. Fifteen minutes of prep before you leave home saves an hour on arrival.
The VoA gives you 30 days, extendable once to 60. After that, the B211A social/cultural visa is the most commonly used route for 60–180 days without the full KITAS commitment.
The B211A (also called the C1 Visit Visa) is the go-to for those wanting 2–6 months in Indonesia without the full KITAS process. Applied at an Indonesian Embassy before arrival, it starts with 60 days and extends twice in-country for 60 days each — 180 days total.
The B211A must be applied for before you arrive — it cannot be obtained on arrival. Apply at the nearest Indonesian Embassy with your passport, passport photo, bank statement (typically showing ~USD 2,000+), proof of accommodation, travel itinerary, and a letter of sponsorship from an Indonesian individual or registered entity. Processing: typically 5–10 working days. The e-visa portal (evisa.imigrasi.go.id) may process this category — check availability before attending in person.
~USD 50–150 consular fee depending on nationalityPresent your B211A/C1 visa on arrival. Your 60-day stay begins from the entry date. Set a reminder 14 days before expiry — extension processing takes time and now requires an in-person visit.
Apply at any Indonesian Immigration office before your permit expires. Circular Letter IMI-417 (June 2025) now requires all foreigners to attend in person for extensions — biometric registration is part of the process. Bring passport, current visa/permit, passport photo, and the extension fee. Typically 3–7 working days processing. Denpasar (Bali) immigration can have significant queues during peak season — go early in the day.
IDR 500,000–1,000,000 (~USD 28–56) per extensionSame in-person process as the first extension. After 180 days total, this visa is exhausted. To stay longer you must exit Indonesia and re-enter with a new visa, or have started a KITAS application through proper channels before this point.
Maximum 180 days total on B211A/C1A common question is whether you can convert a tourist VoA or B211A into a KITAS without leaving Indonesia. In most cases the answer is no — Retirement KITAS and most other KITAS types must be applied for through an Indonesian Embassy before arrival, not converted in-country. Some immigration agents offer "onshore" bridging arrangements but these are complex and expensive. If you want a KITAS, plan for it before you arrive — not after 60 days in Bali when you decide to stay.
Bali is one of the world's benchmark digital nomad destinations. Indonesia also now has a formal remote worker visa. Here's what's available, what it actually costs, and the honest picture on what's changed in 2026.
Indonesian law requires a work permit for any work performed in the country, including remote work for overseas clients. For years, enforcement against individual remote workers was essentially zero. That has changed significantly in 2026. Bali immigration launched the "Dharma Dewata" Immigration Patrol Task Force in April 2026 — roughly 100 officers deployed across Canggu, Ubud, Seminyak, Kerobokan, and Uluwatu. 62 foreigners were detained in the task force's first three weeks alone, and immigration recorded 165 deportations from Bali between January and mid-April 2026. Officers now actively monitor LinkedIn profiles, social media geotagged at coworking spaces, and publicly available work activity online — even unpaid sponsored content is treated as work. The E33G Remote Worker Visa exists specifically to solve this problem legally.
Indonesia's dedicated remote worker permit. 12-month KITAS status with the right to work remotely for a foreign employer or clients registered outside Indonesia.
Government fees are fixed; agent fees vary widely. Self-processing is possible but requires navigating the immigration portal carefully.
E33G holders who spend more than 183 days in Indonesia within a 12-month period become Indonesian tax residents and are theoretically taxable on global income. The E33G program is structured to exempt foreign-sourced earnings from local income tax in practice — but this is an area where rules are evolving and enforcement is increasing since April 2026. If you're committing to a full year, consult a cross-border tax advisor before you land. The Omnibus Law provides a first-time tax resident carve-out limiting Indonesian tax to domestic-sourced income for up to 4 years — but that protection depends on correctly establishing your status from day one.
The honest picture on freelancers: the E33G requirement is "a contract with a company outside Indonesia." Immigration processes this with a corporate mindset — they want a formal employment contract with a single employer. Freelancers with multiple income streams have gotten through by consolidating documentation and presenting their income clearly, but it takes preparation and often an agent who knows how to frame it. The USD 60K threshold is also genuinely non-trivial. If you don't meet it, the B211A social visa is still available — but that visa authorizes exactly zero work of any kind. The era of "work on a tourist visa, nothing will happen" has ended in Bali.
The KITAS (Kartu Izin Tinggal Terbatas — Limited Stay Permit) is Indonesia's primary long-term residency permit. Multiple pathways exist — retirement, investment, Second Home, and remote work. Here's how each compares.
| KITAS Type | Who It's For | Duration | Key Financial Req. | Work Rights? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retirement KITAS | Age 55+ retirees | 1 year, renewable (KITAP after 4 yrs) | USD 50,000 deposit in state bank | None |
| Second Home Visa (KITAS) | HNWIs, younger retirees, investors | 5 or 10 years | IDR 2B (~USD 110,000–130,000) state bank deposit | None (remote OK) |
| E33G Remote Worker (KITAS) | Remote workers for foreign employers | 1 year (annual reapply) | USD 60K+/year income from abroad | Foreign only |
| Investor KITAS (PT PMA) | Foreign business owners | 1–2 years, renewable | PT PMA setup (IDR 2.5B+ paid-up capital) | Own business |
| KITAP (Permanent Stay) | After 3–4 years continuous KITAS | 5 years, renewable indefinitely | Established by prior KITAS history | Same as prior KITAS type |
Introduced in 2022 under Government Regulation No. 48/2021, the Second Home Visa is Indonesia's most significant immigration reform in decades. It offers genuine multi-year residency without needing a local employer or business entity.
The headline requirement is IDR 2,000,000,000 (~USD 110,000–130,000, depending on the exchange rate used) held in a designated Indonesian state bank — BNI, BRI, Mandiri, or BTN. Alternatively: proof of owning property in Indonesia valued at minimum IDR 5 billion (~USD 275,000+).
The deposit remains in your own account — it earns interest at the bank's savings rate and is fully refundable when you leave. It is a financial commitment, not a fee. You prove it within 90 days of arriving in Indonesia, not before you apply.
The Second Home Visa is one of the most family-inclusive visa structures in Southeast Asia. The primary holder's IDR 2B deposit covers the entire family application — no separate financial requirement per dependent.
The Retirement KITAS is strictly for retirement. No employment, no business operations, no managing rental properties commercially.
A common pitfall: retirees who own a Bali villa and manage it as a short-term rental. Even passive-seeming villa management can be classified as commercial activity requiring a different permit structure. If you own property in Bali and want to rent it out, you need a proper PT PMA corporate structure — speak to an Indonesian corporate lawyer before setting this up.
Under Indonesian tax law, entering on any KITAS triggers Indonesian tax residency from the date of entry — regardless of days spent. However, foreign nationals establishing Indonesian tax residency for the first time benefit from a 4-year period under the Omnibus Law where only Indonesian-sourced income is taxable. Foreign-sourced income is generally not taxed during this window — but this protection depends on correctly establishing your status from day one. Consult a cross-border tax advisor before committing to KITAS, particularly if you have significant international income, investments, or pension distributions.
Indonesia is a beautiful, welcoming country. It also has some of the strictest drug laws in the world and enforces overstay rules consistently. This covers both — not to alarm, but because the consequences are serious enough that "I didn't know" is not a useful defense after the fact.
| Overstay Duration | Fine (per day) | Consequence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | IDR 1,000,000 (~USD 56) | Fine at departure | Paid at the airport or during any immigration interaction. One day counts. |
| 2–60 days | IDR 1,000,000/day (~USD 56/day) — accumulates up to 60 days | Fine + record | Maximum fine: IDR 60,000,000 (~USD 3,360). Must be paid before departure. |
| Over 60 days | Fines + formal deportation proceedings | Detention + deportation | Detained at immigration detention centre. Deported at own expense. Re-entry ban enforced. Potential lifetime ban for severe cases. |
Indonesia's Narcotics Law (Law No. 35 of 2009) classifies narcotics into three groups. Possession, use, or trafficking of Group I narcotics — which includes marijuana, cocaine, heroin, MDMA, and methamphetamine — carries penalties from mandatory minimum sentences to life imprisonment to the death penalty for trafficking. Bali specifically has been the site of multiple high-profile Western nationals prosecuted and imprisoned under these laws. The Bali Nine case is the most well-known example. These are not theoretical risks.
Drugs are visibly offered in Bali's tourist areas — around clubs in Seminyak and Canggu particularly. Indonesian police conduct regular operations and tourists are not exempt. Undercover officers operate in some tourist zones. Someone offering to sell you drugs in Bali may be working with police. The risk profile is genuinely different from what many Western travelers are accustomed to at home.
Every few years, a Western national makes international news after being arrested in Bali on drug charges. The legal consequences are severe, the process is slow, and being from a Western country provides essentially zero meaningful protection once charges are filed under Indonesian law. The embassy can provide consular access and a lawyer list. That's the limit of what they can do. Bali's surf, food, culture, and community are extraordinary reasons to visit and stay. This is the equally extraordinary reason to treat Indonesian drug law with complete seriousness. There is no negotiation on this point.
Foreign embassies in Jakarta for citizen emergencies, consulates in Bali for the large Western expat community, and Indonesian Embassy locations for visa applications before travel.
Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan 3–5, Jakarta 10110. American Citizen Services, emergency passports, notarial services. US Consular Agency Bali at Jalan Hayam Wuruk 188, Denpasar handles routine citizen services for Bali-based Americans.
id.usembassy.gov →Jalan Patra Kuningan Raya Blok L5–6, Jakarta 12950. British citizen services and emergency travel documents. British Honorary Consulate in Bali for non-emergency matters.
gov.uk/world/indonesia →Jalan H.R. Rasuna Said Kav. C15–16, Jakarta 12940. Australian Consulate General in Bali at Jalan Tantular 32, Renon, Denpasar — handles much of Bali-based citizen assistance.
indonesia.embassy.gov.au →World Trade Centre, 6th Floor, Jalan Jend. Sudirman Kav. 29–31, Jakarta 12920. Citizen services and emergency consular assistance for Canadians. Jakarta handles all Bali-based cases — no permanent Bali presence.
international.gc.ca →Jalan M.H. Thamrin No. 1, Jakarta 10310. Passport services, notarial services, and consular assistance. German Honorary Consulate in Bali for non-emergency matters.
jakarta.diplo.de →Most Western countries maintain a full embassy in Jakarta. Many also have a consular presence in Bali given the large expat community. Full list at Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and at imigrasi.go.id.
kemlu.go.id →2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036. Visa services for US applicants including B211A/C1 and KITAS-related applications. Indonesian Consulates General also in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, and Chicago.
The e-VoA and All Indonesia arrival card: evisa.imigrasi.go.id and allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id respectively. Some longer-stay visa categories can also be applied for online. For KITAS and complex visa applications, an in-person Embassy appointment or licensed sponsor process is still generally required.
38 Grosvenor Square, London W1K 2HW. Full visa services for UK applicants including B211A and Retirement KITAS applications.
8 Darwin Avenue, Yarralumla ACT 2600. Full visa services. Indonesian Consulates General also in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth for regional applications.
US Embassy Jakarta: +62-21-5083-1000 · US Consular Agency Bali: +62-361-233-605 · US State Department 24-hour line: +1-888-407-4747 (from US) or +1-202-501-4444 (from Indonesia). Save your home country's Jakarta embassy number and the Bali consular contact separately — they handle different things. For emergencies that require physical assistance in Bali, the Bali consular number reaches staff faster than routing through Jakarta.
Every topic covered in depth — pick any deep dive and go straight in.
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Hak Sewa vs Hak Pakai vs PT PMA. Why nominee structures are illegal. What upfront rent really means.
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Read the guide →KITAS vs tourist accounts, best banks, QRIS, e-wallets, and the IDR-only rule for domestic transactions.
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