The Indonesia digital nomad visa, also commonly known as the Bali digital nomad visa, was announced back in 2021 but ran into issues and delays along the way. 

Global nomads are still awaiting the details of the Bali remote working visa with the original plan of a five-year long-term solution still in the works. Currently, remote workers are only permitted to live and work (tax-free) in paradise for a maximum of 180 days with the double extension offered by the Bali B211a Visa. The latest development of long-term stays in Bali arrived on October 25, 2022, with a five-to-ten-year second-home visa announcement. However, this updated visa still isn’t quite tailored to remote workers and only wealthy applicants (with minimum savings of Rp2,000,000,000) will be accepted. 

Navigating Indonesia and Bali as a digital nomad is, therefore, still a little confusing with no direct route to take. Find out everything we know so far about the Indonesia digital nomad visa and what alternatives are currently available in our guide to remote working in the country. 

What is the Indonesia Digital Nomad Visa?

Like countless other remote workers, we are still waiting for the launch of the much-discussed Indonesia digital nomad visa. Currently, it’s the Bali B211a visa that most closely resembles a traditional digital nomad visa and allows applicants to live and work from the tropical paradise for an initial 60-day period. The visa can be renewed twice during the stay, offering a maximum total of 180 days. 

The e-visa must be applied for before arriving in Bali and functions exclusively as a single-entry visa. If a visa-holder leaves Indonesia for any length of time during this stay, the visa will be terminated.  The only alternative to the B211a is currently the Indonesia second-home visa, designed with wealthy foreigners or ex-Indonesian citizens in mind. Applicants are able to stay for either five or ten years in the country, providing that they are interested in positively contributing to the Indonesian economy. Various activities, primarily investment, are encouraged for visa holders. The second-home visa is available to apply for from December 25, 2022.

Why is the Indonesia Digital Nomad Visa Better Than a Tourist Visa?

All travelers, tourists, and digital nomads looking to visit Bali must do so with at least some kind of visa. Visitors from more than 80 countries will automatically qualify for a tourism visa, valid for 60 days, on arrival to the country. Those nationalities that do not qualify for the visa on arrival must apply for the Bali B211a visa—the same visa that is used for long-term stays—before their arrival to the country. 

The main benefit of the recently announced second-home visa is therefore the length of time that can be spent in the country. With a stay length of either five or ten years available, the long-term visa is heading in the right direction for remote workers and digital nomads to benefit.

Indonesia Digital Nomad Visa Requirements 

Despite remote workers still awaiting the launch of the official Indonesia digital nomad visa, both the temporary Bali B211a visa and second-home visa can both be applied for. Naturally, both of these visas do come with a handful of requirements (highlighted below) that all applicants must satisfy for a successful application. 

Bali B211a Visa Requirements 

Digital nomads looking to apply for the Bali B211a visa must satisfy the following requirements for a successful application: 

• Valid Passport: The applicant's passport must be valid for a minimum of 12 months from entry to Indonesia. If only a 60-day-stay is planned, passport validity must be a minimum of 6 months. 
• $2,000 USD Minimum Bank Balance: Applicants must prove a minimum bank balance of at least $2,000 USD to guarantee adequate funds during their stay.
• Proof of Onward Travel: Applicants must provide proof of an exit ticket from Indonesia, preventing overstays.

Indonesia Second-Home Visa Requirements

Digital nomads looking to apply for a second-home visa must satisfy the following requirements for a successful application: 

• Valid Passport: Applicants must provide a copy of a passport valid for at least 36 months
• Proof of Funds: Applicants must prove a minimum bank balance of at least Rp2,000,000,000 (two billion rupiahs) or equivalent. This must be placed in Indonesian state-owned banks.
• Passport-Sized Photograph: Applicants must provide a recent full-color photograph with a white background sized 4cm x 6cm
• Curriculum Vitae: Applicants must provide a copy of their resume when applying for the visa. 

How to Apply 

Both Indonesian digital nomad visa alternatives can be easily applied for online, offering both a simple and efficient application method. A step-by-guide to applying for both the Bali B211a visa and the Indonesia second-home visa can be found below:

Step 1: Collect all Necessary Documents

The first step when applying for any international long-stay visa is to collect all necessary documents, ready for application.

B211a Visa Documents

• Copy of Valid Passport (Minimum 6-Month Validity for 60-Day Stay, Minimum 12-Month Validity for 180-Day Stays)
• Recent Passport Photo (4cm × 6cm)
• Proof of Funds (Bank Statement with a Minimum of $2,000 USD)
• Proof of Onward Travel

Second-Home Visa Documents 

• Copy of Valid Passport (36-Month Validity) 
• Proof of Funds Placed in Indonesian State-Owned Banks.
• Passport-Sized Photograph (Full-Color, White Background, Sized 4cm x 6cm)
• Curriculum Vitae

Step 2: Complete an Online Application

Once the respective documents have been gathered, the online application can be completed for the corresponding visa. Digital nomads applying for the Bali B211a Visa can create a profile on the official immigration site before continuing with the application. An application fee of between $100 USD and $400 USD (dictated by the visa selected) must be paid by all applicants. 

Those applying for a second-home visa can also conveniently make their application on the official immigration site via the website-based application. It is currently unclear as to whether an application processing fee is required.  

Step 3: Await Visa Approval

Once the application has been submitted, all that’s left for remote workers to do is await approval of their Indonesian e-visa. Current processing times for the B211a visa are between 7 and 14 days with applicants required to travel to Indonesia within 90 days of approval. The first day of entry to the country is registered as the first day of the visa period. 

Why Choose Indonesia for your Next Remote Working Trip?

Indonesia, and Bali in particular, might just be the worst-kept secret in the world of digital nomads. One of the most popular remote working destinations globally, Bali is a haven for laptop-wielding travelers. Canggu, Seminyak, Ubud, and Uluwatu are all top choices on the island with sun, sea, and surf surrounding the province. 

But the popularity of Bali has led to an increase in infrastructure and tourism to the neighboring island of Lombok with a strong digital nomad community. Fewer nomads choose to spend time in the capital city of Jakarta, but with a unique feel and good working infrastructure, we would recommend nomads traveling to the islands to avoid skipping the bustling metropolis. 

Turning to the numbers and using the 2021 Legatum Prosperity Index, an annual independent study used to rank countries/territories, Indonesia ranks in 62nd place, between Peru and Thailand, out of a total of 167 different nations. The country performs well in Social Capital, ranking 15th globally, but poorly in Living Conditions and Personal Freedom, ranking 108th and 102nd respectively.

Remote Work Culture in Indonesia

The remote work culture in Indonesia is second to none with an estimated 5,000 digital nomads living and working in Bali alone. It’s hard to imagine a better destination than Indonesia for digital nomads to call home with a fantastic community, speedy internet connection, and great infrastructure offering the perfect working environment. 

Coworking spaces are plentiful in Bali with popular hubs such as Tropical Nomad, located in the center of Canggu, and Outpost proving one of the top destinations in Ubud. Those looking for a more informal workspace will also be spoiled for choice and it’s rare to visit any cafe or restaurant (during the day) without at least one remote worker busy behind their laptop. 

Cost of Living and Quality of Life in Indonesia 

It should come as no surprise that the cost of living proves to be one of the biggest motivators that pulls digital nomads from their hometowns over to Indonesia. On average, the cost of living in Indonesia is approximately 56.5% lower than in the United States, translating to monthly expenses for a single person living in the country of approximately $420 (without rent). For a family of four, this figure increases to an approximation of $1,450 (without rent) per month. 

Digital nomads living in Indonesia are also able to benefit from low rental prices with huge savings compared to costs in the United States. Prices are estimated to be as much as 82.2% lower than equivalent properties in the US. The low cost of living, however, offset by the quality of life in the country, rated as very low with an overall index score of 98.0 from a potential total of 240.0. The country does perform well in climate indexes, but poorly across the board in purchasing power, pollution, property price, and traffic commute time.  

Healthcare in Indonesia

Turning attention to the 2021 Legatum Prosperity Index, specifically the health pillar, Indonesia is listed at the 80th position, between Mexico and Algeria, from the 167 nations considered in the study. 

The health pillar takes into account a range of indexes, from access to the healthcare systems to illness outcomes and mortality rates to paint an accurate picture of the system as a whole. Ultimately, this ranks Indonesia poorly as a healthcare provider and care should be taken by remote workers when sourcing healthcare in the country. Despite not being listed as an official requirement and with more than 63% of hospitals privately owned in the country, we would recommend investing in health insurance before traveling to Indonesia. 

Conclusion 

Indonesia has long been a paradise for digital nomads, remote workers, and adventurous holidaymakers searching for sun, sea, and surf on the islands. Bali and Lombok lead the way on a global stage for digital nomads, which only asks more questions about the delays for the launch of the digital nomad visa. Wealthy remote workers, with savings of at least Rp2,000,000,000 deposited into state-owned banks, are now able to qualify for the Indonesia second-home visa. This permits a long-term stay of either five or ten years in the country, providing that applicants aim to benefit the Indonesian economy during their time.

Remote workers traveling to Indonesia will find alternatives in the Bali B211a Visa, which can be renewed for a total maximum of 180 days, but a dedicated digital nomad visa is still not available to global travelers. The 2021 announcement of the remote working visa, rumored to allow digital nomads to visit for up to five years is still expected to be announced. But ongoing discussions and negotiations mean that further delays are, unfortunately, expected. 

‍