Which Visa Do You Need for Bali? The Complete Guide
Indonesia has simplified its visa system a lot over the past few years, but the options still confuse almost everyone: tourist visas with three different names, KITAS permits for workers, investors and retirees, and rules that change faster than most blogs update. This guide walks you through every realistic option for Bali, from a two week holiday to a permanent move.
The quick answer
| Your situation | Visa to look at | Stay |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday up to 30 days | Visa on Arrival (VOA / e-VOA) | 30 days, extendable once to 60 |
| Long holiday or scouting trip | C1 tourist visa | 60 days, extendable |
| Frequent trips all year | Multiple entry visitor visa (D series) | 1 to 5 years validity, limited stays per entry |
| Remote worker with a foreign income | Remote worker KITAS (E33G) | 1 year, renewable |
| Buying property or opening a company | Investor KITAS (E28A) via a PT PMA | 2 years, renewable |
| Retiree 55 or older | Retirement KITAS (E33F) | 1 year, renewable |
| High net worth, long horizon | Second Home or Golden Visa | Up to 5 years (Second Home), 5 or 10 years (Golden Visa) |
Short stays: VOA and the C1 tourist visa
Visa on Arrival (30 to 60 days)
Citizens of the US, the UK, Australia and most European countries can get a Visa on Arrival, as can Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and Mexico. Colombia, Brazil and Peru are visa free for up to 30 days (not extendable), while Uruguay, Costa Rica and Panama are on neither list and need a visa such as the C1 before travelling. You can buy the VOA at the airport or, better, apply online in advance as an e-VOA. As of September 2026 it costs IDR 500,000, is valid 30 days, and can be extended once for another 30 days without leaving the country. Official source: Indonesia e-Visa portal.
The extension is where people trip up: it involves the local immigration office (or an agent doing it for you), and you should start the process at least a week before your first 30 days expire.
Two more steps apply whatever your visa. Submit the free All Indonesia arrival card within the three days before arrival, on the official All Indonesia site, and pay the Bali tourist levy of IDR 150,000 per person, online on Love Bali, the provincial government site or on arrival; KITAS and KITAP holders are exempt. If you stay in a private villa rather than a hotel, UK government advice says foreigners must register with the nearest police station: ask your host whether they handle it.
C1 tourist visa (60 days and more)
If you already know you want more than 60 days, apply for a C1 single entry tourist visa before you fly. As of September 2026 it costs IDR 1,000,000, asks for a bank statement showing at least USD 2,000 over the last three months, grants up to 60 days and can be extended in-country, which makes it the standard choice for a serious scouting trip: enough time to test areas, visit villas and meet lawyers without watching the calendar.
Living in Bali: the KITAS family
A KITAS is a limited stay permit: your resident card. Different codes match different life situations.
Remote worker KITAS (E33G)
Designed for digital nomads who work for an employer or clients outside Indonesia. The headline requirements are a work contract with a company registered abroad and a documented annual income of around USD 60,000. As of September 2026 the official e-Visa portal lists a fee of IDR 7,000,000 and a bank statement showing at least USD 2,000. In exchange you get up to one year of legal residence. It does not allow earning wages from Indonesian people or companies. Tax is a separate question: a long stay can make you an Indonesian tax resident, as our tax guide explains.
Investor KITAS (E28A)
The standard route for anyone opening a business or structuring a property investment through a foreign owned company (PT PMA). You must hold a meaningful share position in the company (the benchmark is IDR 10 billion in shares, around USD 615,000, in the paid up capital plan). It grants two years of residence and the right to act as a director without a separate work permit. It is the visa most villa investors end up with.
Retirement KITAS (E33F)
Available from age 55 with proof of pension or passive income and a long term rental contract. One year, renewable, and after several years it can convert to a permanent KITAP.
Second Home and Golden Visa
For those with capital who want a long horizon without a company: the Second Home visa (up to 5 years, extendable, IDR 13,000,000, with a deposit of USD 130,000 in an Indonesian state-owned bank or a property worth USD 1,000,000) and the Golden Visa program (5 or 10 years, tied to investments starting around USD 350,000 for individuals). Both are overkill for most people, but unbeatable for stability.
How to choose in practice
- Testing the island for a month or two: e-VOA, then extend.
- Serious scouting trip with villa visits: C1 tourist visa, 60 days minimum.
- Working remotely while you decide: E33G remote worker KITAS.
- Buying a villa to rent out: structure with a PT PMA and an E28A investor KITAS. Take legal advice first, the structure determines what you can own.
- Retiring: E33F from 55, Second Home if you want ten quiet years.
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Get the free guideFrequently asked questions
Can I buy a villa on a tourist visa?
You can visit, negotiate and even sign while on a tourist visa. But the ownership structure (leasehold in your name, or a PT PMA company) is what matters legally, not the visa you entered with. Long term, an investor KITAS makes your life much easier. Read our guide on leasehold vs freehold first.
What happens if I overstay?
Overstaying costs IDR 1,000,000 per day (roughly USD 60) and becomes a criminal matter beyond 60 days, with detention and deportation on the table. Never overstay: extensions are cheap and easy by comparison.
Do visa agents make sense?
For a simple e-VOA, no, do it yourself online. For extensions, KITAS applications and anything involving a PT PMA, a reputable licensed agent saves real time and prevents expensive mistakes. Avoid anyone promising shortcuts that sound too good to be legal, because they usually are not.
Is there a real digital nomad visa for Bali?
Yes, in practice the remote worker KITAS (E33G) is exactly that: one year of legal residence for people employed abroad, with an income requirement around USD 60,000 per year. Tourist visas are not a substitute: the Visa on Arrival prohibits receiving wages from Indonesian people or companies and the C1 prohibits profit-making activities in any form, so the E33G is the route designed for working from Bali.
Researched and drafted with the help of AI tools, then checked and edited by the Bali Compass editorial team. Publication director: the legal representative of Avrankou OÜ.