As you prepare for your stay in Bali, it will be extremely important for you to know which of the visas for remote workers in Indonesia is most suitable for you, as well as the process to obtain it. Due to the huge numbers of tourists and long-term visitors the country receives every year, several visa categories are available and each one has a different set of requirements and varying prices.
Before you leave for Indonesia, you should ensure your passport is valid for at least a year beyond the maximum date you expect to be in the country, and also that you have sufficient supporting information in terms of bank statements and proof of address.
Below, we outline some of the available visas for remote workers in Bali.
Indonesia holds a visa exemption program with over 160 countries around the world. Included in the list are those holding US, UK, Canadian and Australian citizenship. This permit is given upon arrival in Indonesia, at all major immigration desks. It is free of charge for those eligible but is only given for a maximum of 30 days and in non-extendable or transferable. During these 30 days in Indonesia, visitors holding this entry permit are not allowed to engage in any business or employment activities. Since you can obtain it at the airport, this is one of the most popular visas for remote workers in Bali.
This will be the preferred type of visa for remote workers in Bali. You can request it immediately upon arrival at the immigration desks and you will be directed to an area when you can submit your payment of around 25USD for the VOA. Once you are approved and provided with the visa on your passport you are entitled to enter and stay in Indonesia for up to 30 days, with an extendable period of 30 days once in the country.
In order to extend your VOA, it is advisable to contract the services of an immigration agent in your city to assist you further with this process which does have a fee. You are advised to begin your extension process at least a week before the expiration of your initial VOA validity period.
This is another popular type of visa for remote workers in Indonesia. The Social-Cultural Visa aims to foster international people-to-people connections between Indonesian and overseas individuals. In order to obtain this visa, you must obtain a Sponsorship Certificate from an Indonesian citizen. This certificate can be obtained even if you do not currently hold any contacts in Indonesia, by soliciting the services of an immigration agent. Once provided with the certificate, you must pay the relevant fees (these depend on your local consulate) and then submit your passport at your local embassy or consulate. If approved, you will be issued with a 60-day visa which is extendable 3 times for up to 30 days each time.
This is certainly the most recommended visa for remote workers in Indonesia. This visa allows eligible individuals to stay in the country for a period of up to 12 months in 60-day increments. The Visa is suitable to remote workers because it allows holders to engage in business transactions, networking, meetings and other related activities. Even though the visa does not permit employment in Indonesia, it is the only option that does allow holders to conduct business-related activities.
The Visa has a cost of around 230USD plus agent fees and you must have been in Indonesia for at least 90 days before starting the process. You must then collect the visa in another country - Malaysia and Singapore are often the best options.
The Multiple Entry Visa in Indonesia functions in the same way as the Multiple Business Visa but does not allow the holder to carry out any business functions and has a slightly lower cost.
For those looking to invest in Indonesia, Investment Visas of up to two years are available to those investing more than ca. 70000USD in profitable Indonesian companies. In all instances, remote workers are advised to use this information as reference only and to contract the services of legal professionals when processing any visa applications in Indonesia.
For more information about living in Ubud as a remote worker, check out our complete Ubud guide.