So you want to live in the hot Indonesian sun and make use of the incredibly cheap living conditions? So did we, which is why we spent weeks researching Asian Digital Nomad Visas, with Indonesia’s Digital Nomad Visa being one of the ones on our list of Visas to research. In this article, we’ll crush some myths, show you additional options, & share the process of application and the requirements needed to qualify.
Indonesian Digital Nomad Visa – Does Indonesia Have A Digital Nomad Visa?
Is there an official Digital Nomad Visa for Indonesia?
There is now an official Digital Nomad Visa for Indonesia. It’s called the Second Home Visa and requires proof of $130k USD+ and a max stay of 10 years. The best way remote workers can stay in Bali is use the B112A Visa to visit and work in Bali for up to 6 months, as confirmed by the Indonesian Prime Minister.
The Indonesian government continues to develop the full Digital Nomad visa and there is no sign of it being confirmed yet.
This Visa promised a 1 year, tax-free residency, with multiple entries and the possibility to extend up to 5 years.
Other Options for Bali’s Digital Nomad Visa
B112A Visa
The B112A Visa didn’t initially allow digital nomads to work remotely in Indonesia, but this has since been changed by the Prime Minister. You may now work remotely on the B112A Visa in Indonesia for up to 6 months.
Here are the requirements for the B112A Visa:
- Cost: $300, $390 renewal
- Duration of stay: 60 days
- Extensions available: two extensions of 60 days equalling 180 days total stay
- Validity: 3 months from date of approval
- Means of transport out – must have a confirmed flight or bus journey onward
- Number of entries by plane – single entry
- Number of entries by land or sea – single entry
- Ability to work – able to work digitally, no employment to be taken from Indonesian companies
Indonesia has plans to offer Digital Nomad Visas, and wants to be the hub of the Digital Nomad movement. However, there is yet to be a proper Visa released as of now. The only two Southeast Asia Countries to offer special Visas are Thailand and Malaysia right now.
Work Permit
You could move to Indonesia on a Work Permit. This is more difficult to get than the B112A Visa, and you’ll need employment from an Indonesian company.
This is called the ITAS permit and it allows you to work in Indonesia for a year. This can be extended further by heading to the Indonesian embassy once you are there.
Tourist Visa
The Tourism Visa is a 30-day Visa that is for tourism purposes and can be extended to 60 days. Many countries are exempt from having to apply for the Visa, but for the list of countries, please see the embassy website. You must leave the country after 60 days and you are not allowed to return for 90 days.
This rule is reported as rarely being enforced and many people do border runs, stop off for a holiday in a neighboring country and renew their Tourism Visa.
We would never recommend this, but this is what people who stay there report.
You are *technically* able to manage a shop or business you have already set up during your stay, as long as that shop or business is not earning money inside the territory of Indonesia or you are in Indonesia for the purpose of working as a digital nomad. You additionally cannot provide services to Indonesian people or work in Indonesia.
If you want to work remotely and are going with the intention to do this, follow the law and get the B112A.
Taxes for Remote Workers in Indonesia
If you are living in the country for more than 183 days per year, then you will have to pay tax to the Indonesian government on your income earned. You may stay for 180 days on the Bali Digital Nomad Visa tax-free as you do not become a resident of the country.
The income tax in Indonesia is as follows:
- 60 million IDR – 5%
- 60 million – 250 million IDR – 15%
- 250 million – 500 million IDR – 25%
- 500 million – 5 billion IDR – 30%
- 5 billion IDR+ – 35%
This tax is much more favorable than somewhere like the UK or US either way, so even if you become a tax resident, you could just move your operations to Indonesia and experience a lower rate of tax.
FAQ
Can I Work in Indonesia on A Tourist Visa?
No. It’s illegal to work on a Tourism Visa in Indonesia. If you are managing a shop or business that is already set up and doesn’t use Indonesian resources to earn money or offer services to Indonesian people, you should be fine. But you must not travel to Indonesia with the purpose to be a digital nomad.
What Visa Do I Need To Stay and Work In Indonesia?
You will need the B112A Visa to do digital remote work in Indonesia. Here’s what it offers:
- Cost: $300, $390 renewal
- Duration of stay: 60 days
- Extensions available: two extensions of 60 days equalling 180 days total stay
- Validity: 3 months from the date of approval
- Means of transport out – must have a confirmed flight or bus journey onward
- Number of entries by plane – single entry
- Number of entries by land or sea – single entry
- Ability to work – able to work digitally, no employment to be taken from Indonesian companies
How Can I Stay Longer Than 180 Days?
You can currently only stay longer using a work permit, which is a difficult process and will only last you 6 months. Or. you can make use of a retirement Visa. The retirement Visa only applies if you are over 55 years old.
All other options are not possible for Digital Nomads until a proper long stay Visa is released. If you are rich, you may be able to make use of the Investor Visa options, which cost up to 80,000 USD in investment and have a 2-year validity, which is renewable once those 2 years are up.
This is cheap when compared to other investment Visas, which can cost $500,000+
I’m Harry – and I was tired of the same old “10 best places I’ve never been but I’m writing about for some reason” blog posts. So… I’m a young traveller on a mission to travel the world and share my true, unfiltered experience, including all the gristly details. From packing my life into one bag for a year, to traveling Vietnam by motorbike, to sorting out Visas for specific countries – I’ve done it all, am doing it all and only give my advice on things I have done – not regurgitated cr*p from another source *cough* most publications *cough*. So bear with us! This project will take some time to grow, and will take a fair bit of money. But I’m determined to make it the single best source of information about traveling on the internet.
