Staying in Bali legally: the real options
How to stay in Bali legally: visit-visa extensions, the E33G remote worker KITAS, income requirements, taxes, and the real costs in Canggu and Ubud. Compare on Jonzy.
Bali runs on remote workers, but Indonesian immigration is stricter than the beach-club vibe suggests. There are three honest tiers: short visit visas, the dedicated remote-worker KITAS, and long-term routes, each with different income bars and tax consequences.
Visit visas: the 60-to-180-day tier
Most nomads start on a visit visa granting 60 days, extendable in-country to around 180 in total. It prohibits working for Indonesian entities and technically exists for tourism; immigration has grown less tolerant of endless back-to-back runs, so treat it as a trial period, not a residence strategy.
The E33G remote worker KITAS
Indonesia’s purpose-built answer: a one-year, renewable stay permit for employees of foreign companies, with an income requirement of roughly $60,000 a year. It brings a real residence card, re-entry rights and a legal basis for remote work that visit visas never gave. Freelancers fit awkwardly, the program is written around employment contracts.
Longer horizons: second-home and investor routes
The second-home visa targets the wealthy (large deposits or property), and investor KITAS routes suit those building an actual Indonesian company, with a PT PMA. These carry more setup cost and compliance than most nomads want; the E33G covers the mainstream case.
Tax: the 183-day line applies here too
Stay past 183 days in twelve months and you are presumptively Indonesian tax resident, taxed progressively on worldwide income, with treaty relief depending on your home country. Many nomads on repeated visit visas ignore this entirely; the enforcement gap is narrowing as immigration data links up.
What Bali actually costs
Canggu’s catalog budget lands far below Western cities but well above rural Indonesia, villas, scooters and Western cafes add up. Ubud runs quieter and slightly cheaper; Jakarta is a different country cost-wise. The catalog’s all-in numbers keep the Instagram version honest.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a digital nomad visa for Bali?
Yes, in effect: the E33G remote worker KITAS gives foreign-employed remote workers a one-year renewable stay, with income around $60,000 a year. Below that bar, extendable visit visas remain the realistic option.
How long can I stay in Bali on a visit visa?
Typically 60 days on entry, extendable to roughly 180 days total in-country. Repeated visa runs to restart the clock are increasingly scrutinised, plan a proper permit if Bali becomes home.
Do digital nomads pay tax in Indonesia?
Past 183 days in a year you are generally tax resident, owing progressive Indonesian tax on worldwide income, subject to treaties. Short stays on visit visas usually stay outside the net; long-stayers should not assume invisibility.
Can I work for an Indonesian company on a nomad visa?
No. Every route here covers work for foreign employers or clients only; local employment needs a sponsored work KITAS obtained by the Indonesian employer.