Bali's remote worker visa (E33G): the 2026 guide
Indonesia's E33G remote worker KITAS in 2026: $60,000/year income floor, one-year stay, how to apply online, and what Bali really costs.
Key takeaways
- E33G requires about US$60,000/year of income from an employer outside Indonesia.
- The permit runs 12 months, is extendable, and is applied for online via Indonesia's e-visa portal.
- Canggu and Ubud budgets often land $1,300–$2,200/month, visa-run culture is no longer the only option.
For a decade Bali's remote-work scene ran on tourist visas and border runs. Indonesia's E33G remote worker KITAS, launched in April 2024, replaced that grey zone with a real one-year permit for foreign employees of overseas companies. Applications run through the official e-visa portal, no agent required, though many still use one. Here is how the numbers and the fine print work.
The requirements
E33G targets remote employees, you need an employment relationship with a company registered outside Indonesia, and the income floor is one of Asia's highest.
- About US$60,000/year in income from your foreign employer.
- Proof of a bank balance (commonly around US$2,000) and an employment contract.
- A passport with long validity and a clean record.
- Apply online at evisa.imigrasi.go.id; the permit is a KITAS valid 12 months and extendable.
What about freelancers?
E33G is written around employment, solo freelancers without a contracting entity fit awkwardly. Some use their own foreign company as the employer; others stay on shorter visit visas (B211A-style or the 60-day visa on arrival extensions) for scouting trips. If your structure is freelance-heavy, read the requirements on imigrasi.go.id carefully or get licensed local advice before relying on the route.
Tax treatment
Indonesia generally treats stays over 183 days as creating tax residence, but the remote-worker framework is designed so qualifying foreign income is not taxed in Indonesia during the permit, verify the current implementing rules, and remember your home country's rules (like US FEIE) run in parallel.
What Bali actually costs
Canggu is the remote-work capital: villas and kosts from $500 to $1,500+/month, coworking everywhere, and traffic that doubles as the local sport. Ubud trades surf for jungle calm at similar prices; Sanur and Uluwatu bookend the vibe spectrum. A realistic single-person budget runs $1,300–$2,200/month including a scooter, food, and coworking. Fibre and Starlink have mostly solved the internet question; power cuts still happen.
Bali vs Chiang Mai and Da Nang
Thailand's DTV lasts five years but caps each stay at 180 days; Vietnam has no nomad visa at all. E33G is the only one of the three that gives a straightforward 12-month residence for remote employees, if you clear the income bar, Bali becomes the region's most stable base. If you do not, Thailand's DTV at a lower cost of entry usually wins.
Run Bali against your numbers
Jonzy scores Canggu and Bali against your income, passport, and lifestyle, cost, climate, safety, internet, and compares them with Chiang Mai, Da Nang, and the rest of Southeast Asia's remote-work circuit.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do I need for Indonesia's E33G remote worker visa?
About US$60,000 per year from an employer registered outside Indonesia, plus proof of savings (commonly around US$2,000) and an employment contract. Figures can change, verify on the official e-visa portal before applying.
How long can I stay in Bali on the E33G?
The E33G is a KITAS (limited-stay permit) valid for 12 months and extendable, so you can live in Bali year-round without visa runs.
Can freelancers get the E33G?
The permit is written around foreign employment. Freelancers without a company that can act as their employer fit awkwardly; some use their own foreign entity, others stay on visit visas. Get current official guidance before relying on it.
Do E33G holders pay Indonesian tax?
The framework is designed so qualifying foreign-sourced remote income is not taxed in Indonesia during the permit, but implementing rules evolve and home-country tax still applies. Confirm the current treatment before you move.