How do visas work for Bali? (Explanation for students, travelers & nomads)

Bali is one of the most popular destinations in the world for students, interns, digital nomads, and travelers who want to stay for several months. But before you can start your stay there, it’s important to understand which visa you need, how long you’re allowed to stay, and how to arrange this. Below, we explain it step by step.

1. Visa on Arrival (VoA) – the most commonly used option

The Visa on Arrival (VoA) is the most commonly used visa option for students and travelers who come to Bali for a few months.

Validity

• The VoA is valid for 30 days from the moment you arrive in Indonesia.

• This visa can be extended once for an additional 30 days, allowing you to stay in Indonesia for a total of 60 days.

Costs

• The VoA costs IDR 500,000 upon arrival.

• The extension also costs IDR 500,000, which comes to approximately €35 (depending on the exchange rate).

Arranging the extension

The extension must be requested at an immigration office in Indonesia (for example, in Denpasar). This process takes a few days.

We can arrange this extension for you at the immigration office, so you have as little to do as possible yourself and don’t have to stress about the procedure.

How do most students do this?

Many students stay in Bali for around 4 months. A commonly used approach is:

• Arriving with a Visa on Arrival

• Extending the visa once (total of 60 days)

• Then briefly leaving the country, for example for a weekend trip to Singapore, and re-entering Indonesia with a new VoA

This option is often chosen because it is flexible and straightforward.

2. B211A visa (Single Entry Visa) — longer stay up to 180 days

If you want to stay longer than 60 days, the B211A visa is a popular intermediate solution.

What is it?

The B211A visa (also referred to as a “tourist/business visa”) is an extendable visa that you must apply for before departure — for example via an Indonesian embassy, or online as an e-visa.

Validity

• Usually starts with 60 days of stay.

• This visa can be extended twice for 60 days, allowing you to stay in Indonesia for up to 180 days (approximately 6 months).

Advantages

• You can arrange it before departure, so you don’t need to extend your visa on arrival.

• Convenient if you want to stay longer than the VoA allows.

Disadvantages

• It is not a work visa: you are not allowed to do paid work for Indonesian companies , only remote work for companies outside Indonesia.

3. Digital Nomad / Remote Worker Visa (E33G)

This visa was introduced from 2024 to officially facilitate stays for digital nomads and remote workers.

What is it?

The Digital Nomad Visa, officially the Remote Worker Visa (E33G), is intended for foreigners who:

• want to stay in Indonesia, and

• work remotely for an employer or clients outside Indonesia.

Key points

• The visa allows you to stay in Indonesia for up to 1 year under clear regulations.

• You are often required to prove that your income comes exclusively from abroad and that you are not working locally in Indonesia.

• Once issued, this visa can usually be extended or renewed multiple times (details depend on policy and may change).

Requirements

Although the exact rules may still be adjusted by the government, typical requirements include:

• A valid passport

• Proof that you work for a foreign company or have freelance assignments outside Indonesia

• A minimum income and/or bank statement may be required (for example, proof of income from abroad)

Tip: This visa differs from a traditional work permit — it legalizes your stay and remote work, but you may not have any Indonesian source of income.

Important to remember

• Visa regulations change regularly — always check the most up-to-date information with the Indonesian embassy or consulate before departure.

• Overstaying can lead to fines or other issues with immigration.

• For remote workers, it’s important that you do not perform paid local work unless you have a work permit for that.

Visa assistance via Bali Base

No worries about paperwork or complicated procedures. At Bali Base, we can help you apply for and extend your visa. Let us know your travel purpose in advance (study, internship, remote work, or a longer stay), and we will advise you on which visa best fits your situation and how to arrange it.

Once you are in Bali, we work together with a local visa agency that can handle your visa extension for you. This means you don’t have to visit immigration yourself and can fully focus on your stay, studies, work, and life in Bali.