Applying for a visa to arrive in Bali
How Much Does It Cost? Understanding Visa Types for Bali/Indonesia
Before deciding on the best visa for your needs, it's essential to understand that there are three main types of visas in Bali/Indonesia. Choosing the right one depends on two key factors:
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Your Budget:
Some people opt for the cheapest visas due to budget constraints, but this can be a mistake for those planning long-term stays.
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Your Purpose of Stay:
Not everyone comes to Bali for just 2-3 weeks. Many wish to settle, assimilate, and even conduct business here.
Let's start with the most basic type of visa:
VISA ON ARRIVAL (VOA)
The Visa on Arrival (VOA) is issued immediately when you land in Bali, right at the border control.
Current Situation
Due to the current influx of budget travelers from Russia and Ukraine, the Indonesian government is considering restricting this visa type for citizens of these two countries. This is not only because some travelers arrive due to conflicts but also due to their behavior on the island. Many of these tourists are trying to stay long-term and engage in illegal business activities without the necessary permits.
Although not everyone behaves this way, a significant number do. The number of deportations of VOA holders is currently at an all-time high. Common illegal activities include:
Photography and videography
Marketing services
Real estate services
Prostitution
Renting bikes or cars
Brokerage services, massage services, working in beauty salons, conducting paid training, and more
Most of these activities are prohibited on the island, not just for VOA holders but in general, which is why the local authorities are cracking down. If you plan to pursue similar activities, VOA is not the right choice.
THIS VISA IS EXCLUSIVELY FOR LEISURE AND ENJOYING THE LOCAL BEAUTY.
A convenient addition to the regular VOA is the e-VOA, which can be obtained online in advance through the Indonesian immigration website here https://molina.imigrasi.go.id.
It follows the same rules as the regular VOA but can be arranged ahead of time. It's recommended to apply 2-3 weeks before your intended arrival date in Indonesia.
Cost: USD 35
Validity: 30 days
Extension: Can be extended once for an additional 30 days without leaving the country
Extension Cost: 1,000,000 IDR (around USD 65) through a local visa agency
Total Duration: Up to 2 months (30 days + 30 days)
TOURIST VISA EVISA B211
The most popular visa because it allows you not to leave Indonesia at all. Used by most tourists/expats for long-term residence in Indonesia.
This visa still does not allow you to engage in entrepreneurial activity. It does not provide any advantages for legal employment in Indonesia. Its main advantage is the POSSIBILITY NOT TO LEAVE Indonesia for a long time. Some of my friends live on it for years, simply renewing and issuing a new one while inside the country.
And this, in addition to saving time, significantly SAVES THE BUDGET. Any so-called visa run (a short flight out of the country and back in to activate the visa) requires at least $200 per person, even for a flight to neighboring Malaysia. If you take a VOA for $35 upon entry and extend it for $65 + $200 tickets for a visa run - the total amount will already be $300 for 2 months of residence. I have not yet included the cost of food on the flight, possibly a hotel for the night, the constant risk that the flight will be cancelled and the money for the ticket will not be returned. And this is a common occurrence in Indonesia.
Therefore, if you are planning to just visit the island for a month or two - VOA will be quite enough. But if you are moving, planning to stay longer and more than two months - save your precious time and money.
Cost: USD 210 – 400
Validity: 60 days
Extensions: Can be extended twice for an additional 60 days each without leaving the country
Extension Cost: 2,600,000 IDR (around USD 170) through a local visa agency
Total Duration: Up to 180 days (60 + 60 + 60)
BUSINESS VISA B211
The B211 Business Visa is an interesting option provided by the Indonesian government. Notably, this visa does not allow you to engage in business activities in the traditional sense. However, it does permit specific types of business-related activities for entrants:
- Consulting on development, construction, etc.
- Sourcing suppliers for goods/services
- Oversight of investment projects
- Participation in negotiations and conferences
Many entrepreneurs opt for this visa when they need to engage in the activities mentioned above. This allows you to stay in Indonesia legally.
Key Benefits
With this visa, you can REGISTER A COMPANY IN INDONESIA and apply for a KITAS (the next visa type), providing a legal basis for part of your entrepreneurial projects.
HOWEVER, YOU CANNOT TAKE MONEY FOR YOUR SERVICES, RUN ADVERTISING, OR HIRE EMPLOYEES.
What else is prohibited?
- You cannot charge for your services
- You cannot run advertisements
- You cannot hire employees
- You cannot work in any capacity or profession
- You cannot oversee employee actions
- You cannot organize paid conferences
- You cannot conduct paid public speaking events
- You cannot set up paid clubs or interest groups
This list is not exhaustive, but it's essential to understand that this visa does not classify you as an entrepreneur in Indonesia. You can become an entrepreneur through the next type of visa.
Cost: USD 240 – 400
Duration: 60 days
Extensions: Can be extended twice for an additional 60 days each without leaving the country
Extension Cost: 3,000,000 IDR (around USD 200) through a local visa agency
Total Duration: Up to 180 days (60 + 60 + 60)
INVESTOR KITAS
For more information on legalizing your business activities, you can read about it https://bali-legal.com/en/legalizaciya-na-bali-en.
Check out the article on opening a business in Bali HERE https://bali-legal.com/en/business-bali-bez-oshibok-en.
Investor KITAS is a document issued for a duration of 1 or 2 years based on the establishment of a company in Indonesia. While it allows for certain business activities, it still restricts some functions that are typically performed by employees.
As an Investor, You CAN:
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Sign Contracts: Enter into legal agreements
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Train Employees: Provide training for your staff
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Hire Personnel: Recruit employees for your company
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Conclude Agreements: Formalize arrangements with business partners
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Receive Funds: Accept payments into your company's bank accounts (you cannot engage in sales; you can only receive funds)
This list is not exhaustive, but it's essential to understand that this visa does not classify you as an entrepreneur in Indonesia. You can become an entrepreneur through the next type of visa.
Cost: USD 1,700 – 2,000
Validity: 730 days
Renewal Duration: You can extend the KITAS once for an additional 730 days without leaving the country. After that, it is possible to obtain a 5-year visa.
Renewal Cost: USD 1,700 – 2,000 with a local visa agent
Total Validity: 730 days
IF YOU PLAN TO ENGAGE IN BUSINESS ACTIVITIES IN INDONESIA, I RECOMMEND TWO SCHEMES:
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Arrival in Indonesia with the B211 Visa – Open a company and obtain an Investor KITAS during your stay
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Remote Company Registration – Complete the process for opening a company and obtaining an Investor KITAS before arriving in Indonesia