Bali, Indonesia rolled out a Second-Home Visa in October 2022 allowing digital nomads and wealthy visitors to stay for up to a decade and engage in various activities, like investing their hard-earned cash. While the visa’s target audience remains broad (investors, tourists, retirees), digital nomads with deep pockets fit into this picture.
For ordinary digital nomads like you and me, there are other visa options. Collating from official sources and insights from our digital nomad colleagues, we came up with this guide to help you navigate the visa types and choose one that fits the bill.
Quick Facts
- Visa length: 10 years (Second-Home Visa)
- Minimum income: $135,000+
- Cost of a visa: around $200
- Timeline for visa processing: 4 business days
Bali (Indonesia) Digital Nomad Visa Table of Contents
- What Is the Indonesia Digital Nomad Visa?
- How to Apply for the Second-Home Visa
- Visa Options for Digital Nomads
- If Your Visa Is Rejected
What Is the Indonesia Digital Nomad Visa?
To be sure, there’s no one “Indonesia digital nomad visa”. Rather, there are visa types with benefits and requirements that more or less fit a digital nomad’s situation. Indonesia’s latest, the Second-Home Visa released in December 2022, is hailed by the local media as Indonesia’s digital nomad visa, coming at the heels of several countries launching a new visa type of late to get a piece of the remote work global market.
So, let’s start with explaining the Second-Home Visa, then move to the other “Indonesia digital nomad visas” if the former is unattainable.
Second-Home Visa Explained
Indonesia’s Second Home Visa caters to a diverse group, including, digital nomads (the moneyed type), investors, tourists, and retirees, who can also extend its benefits to their family members. The Second-Home Visa grants foreign nationals the chance to live in Indonesia for five or ten years, nurturing a digital nomad lifestyle or embracing a leisurely retirement amidst the captivating beauty of the country.
How to Apply for the Second-Home Visa
To apply for a Second Home Visa for a duration of five or ten years, follow these steps via the Online Visa Approval system:
- Your national passport is valid for at least 36 months.
- Proof of funds, such as an account owned by either the Foreign Nationals or the Sponsor, with a minimum value of 2,000,000,000 IDR (around $135,000) or equivalent.
- Recent colored photograph (4 cm x 6 cm) with a white background.
- Curriculum vitae detailing your work background.
For family members:
- National passports of all family members are valid for at least 36 months.
- Recent colored photographs of each family member (4 cm x 6 cm) with a white background.
- Valid Second Home Visa or Second Home Temporary/Limited Stay Permit held by the husband, wife, children, or parents.
- Proof of family relationship, which can be:
- a marriage certificate/book for the husband/wife holding the Second Home Visa or Second Home ITAS; or
- a birth certificate or family register (KK) indicating the parent-child relationship with the Second Home Visa or Second Home ITAS holder. If these documents are in a language other than Indonesian, they must be translated by a sworn translator. Note: Translation is unnecessary if the documents are in English.
- Submit your visa application through the official website of the Directorate General of Immigration or the Online Visa Approval system.
The visa process is efficient, with a maximum processing time of four working days once the fee of around $200 is paid. So, gather your documents, complete the payment, and get ready to embark on your exciting journey to Indonesia with your extended stay visa secured.
But, the Second-Home Visa May Not Be for You If…
- You lack the proof of fund (about $135,000)
- You don’t plan to stay for five years or longer in Bali or other parts of Indonesia
- You’re not planning to invest or run a business in or from Indonesia
No worries, you have other options with less stringent requirements.
Visa Options for Digital Nomads
If you only plan to stay for a few months in Bali or anywhere in Indonesia, a visitor visa should suffice. You can stay from 30 to 90 days, and even up to 180 days (subject to approval).
Single-Entry Visitor Visa (B211A)
The single-entry visa is for tourists, among others, to visit and explore Indonesia’s attractions, participate in recreational activities, and attend meetings, incentives, conventions, or exhibitions. Digital nomads are classified as visitors as long as they don’t compete in the local labor market (we’ll explain this below). So yes, go ahead with this visa.
Period of stay
The B211A visitor visa grants an initial 60-day stay and can be extended up to a maximum stay of 180 days. Each extension is granted in increments of 60 days.
Requirements
- Passport valid for a minimum of 12 months (180-day visa) or six months (60-day visa)
- Proof of income of at least $2,000 or equivalent
- Return or onward ticket
- Two colored photographs (4 cm x 6 cm)
Steps to Apply for a Single-Entry Visitor Visa
- Visit the Directorate General of Immigration website or access the Online Visa Approval platform.
- Fill in the necessary information and provide all the required documents.
- The Immigration Officer will review your application and ensure that all requirements are complete.
- Once your documents are verified, you will receive a payment code. Proceed to pay the applicable immigration fees as specified by the regulations.
- The Immigration Officer will create a profile for you and conduct data verification.
- Once approved, you will receive the visa grant approval.
- Your visa will then be issued, allowing you to travel to Indonesia.
Processing time takes four business days from payment of fees, as follows:
- 60-day visa (tourist): 1,500,000 IDR per person
- 180-day visa: 6,000,000 IDR per person
Make sure to follow each step carefully and provide all the necessary information and documents to ensure a smooth visa application process.
Visa on Arrival (VoA)
If 30 days in Bali are all you need, the Visa on Arrival (VoA) may even be a better option. VoA allows a 30-day stay with an option for a 30-day extension. The process is a lot more simple—just apply for a VoA upon arrival. Just make sure your country is eligible for VoA (most are), such as the ASEAN countries, the U.S., the U.K., Australia, and several other countries. Here’s a complete list.
Requirements
- valid passport for at least six months
- return or onward ticket to another country
- duly filled VoA application form
- visa fee payment of around $34
The visa will be approved at a checkpoint at your point of entry, such as airports, seaports, and cross-border posts.
e-VoA or Electronic Visa on Arrival
The e-VoA enables eligible foreign nationals to apply for it prior to their trip to Indonesia unlike the regular VoA, which needs to be obtained upon arrival at the VOA counter before the immigration checkpoint. The period of stay, requirements, activities, and fees are similar to that of the VoA. Most countries are eligible for the e-VoA, including the ASEAN members, the U.S., the U.K., and Australia. The complete list is here.
Steps to apply for an e-Voa Visa
Here is a step-by-step guide for obtaining an e-VOA:
- Visit https://molina.imigrasi.go.id/ and complete the required form with accurate information.
- Proceed to payment and select a debit or credit card within the Visa, MasterCard, or JCB network.
- Provide the necessary payment details and verify the transaction.
- Once the payment is completed, you will receive the e-VOA via email.
Here are the subsequent steps upon receiving the e-VOA:
- Download or print the e-VOA document in preparation for your departure.
- Upon arrival, proceed to the e-VOA counter.
- Present your e-VOA to the officer who will scan the QR code, verify your details, and affix a VOA sticker to your passport.
Do you need a work permit?
Although you’ll be technically working while in Bali (likely in your room, in a chat with the boss located elsewhere), the government is less likely to ask for a work permit so long as:
- Your work doesn’t compete with local employment.
- Your work doesn’t involve tapping into local businesses.
- Your company is not based in Indonesia.
- You’re not sourcing materials from Indonesia.
- You’re not providing service to the people of Indonesia.
In short, as long as your work does not disadvantage the local economy, you should have no problem living a digital nomad life in Bali, as you’ve been doing before arriving in Indonesia.
If Your Visa Is Rejected
If your visa application is rejected, you can submit another application, but please note that the fees are non-refundable. Make sure your email address is correct to receive the rejection reason. When reapplying, address the specific reason for the visa refusal. Common mistakes include misspelling your name, providing a different name than on your passport, confusing 0 and O, failing to submit required documents, inadequate financial evidence, using self-created declaration forms, typing your email incorrectly, using an outdated photo, and becoming confused about your nationality if you have multiple passports.
Safe Travels in Bali!
In a land of exotic wonders and endless coconuts, Indonesia’s “digital nomad visa” beckons adventurous souls to embrace the laptop lifestyle with a touch of paradise. With the flexibility to stay from 30 days to ten years, depending on the visa type, you get the chance to work and play in a tapestry of stunning landscapes and cultural treasures. See you in Bali!
References:
- Indonesia immigration website https://www.imigrasi.go.id/en/.
- Second home visa https://www.imigrasi.go.id/en/visa-rumah-kedua/
- Visa type B211A https://www.imigrasi.go.id/en/visa-kunjungan-satu-kali-perjalanan-b211a/
- Visitor Visa for Tourism No Longer Needs Sponsor https://www.imigrasi.go.id/en/2023/02/08/genjot-pariwisata-indonesia-visa-kunjungan-wisata-tidak-lagi-perlu-penjamin/