Which Bali visa do you need? A plain guide by situation
A plain guide to Indonesia's visa options, matched to real situations: short trips, remote work, employment, family, retirement and more.
Most people who write to us start with the same question: which visa do I actually need. The honest answer depends less on your passport and more on what you plan to do in Indonesia, and for how long. Below are the situations we see most often, matched to the visa that usually fits. If your plans do not match any of these exactly, the visa finder on our homepage is a quick way to narrow things down, or you can message us directly through /contact/.
A short holiday, under a month
If you are coming for a holiday, a family visit, or a quick stopover of up to 30 days, the Visa on Arrival (e-VOA) is normally the simplest route in. It gives you 30 days in Indonesia and can be extended once for a further 30 days, all inclusive from Rp 500.000. Full details are on the /visa-services/visa-on-arrival/ page.
Around two months in Bali
For visits longer than a month but shorter than a full season, most travelers choose the Tourist Visa (C1). It grants an initial 60 days and can be extended, all inclusive from Rp 2.500.000. This is the visa we process most often for people planning an extended holiday, a surf season, or a few months exploring the islands. See the full requirements on /visa-services/tourist-visa/.
Working remotely for clients or an employer abroad
If your income comes from outside Indonesia, whether from a foreign employer or overseas clients, the Digital Nomad Visa (E33G) is built for that situation. It covers a full year in Indonesia, all inclusive from Rp 12.500.000. It is a different category to the Tourist Visa, and the two are not interchangeable for someone planning to work while here. Details are on /visa-services/digital-nomad-visa/.
Employed directly by an Indonesian company
If an Indonesian business is hiring you, you need the Work Permit (KITAS), sponsored by that employer. It runs for 1 to 2 years, all inclusive from Rp 19.000.000. Your employer’s HR team or the company sponsoring you will usually be your first point of contact, and we coordinate the paperwork with them directly. See /visa-services/work-permit-kitas/.
Visiting family, studying, or volunteering
For longer stays built around family, study, or volunteering rather than tourism, the Social & Cultural Visa (C6B) is the closer fit. It runs for 60 days and can be extended to a total of 180 days, all inclusive from Rp 3.500.000. It needs a sponsor in Indonesia, which we can help arrange if you do not already have one. More on /visa-services/social-cultural-visa/.
Retiring in Bali, aged 55 or over
If you are 55 or older with a pension or a steady income, the Retirement Visa (E33F) gives you a year of residency, renewable, all inclusive from Rp 14.500.000. We cover this in more depth in our dedicated retirement guide, and the visa page itself is at /visa-services/retirement-visa/.
Investing or running a business here
Setting up and running a company in Indonesia, through a PT PMA, calls for the Investor Visa (E28A). It runs for 1 to 2 years and is renewable. Because company formation varies by sector, the price is confirmed with you directly rather than quoted as a flat figure. Read more at /visa-services/investor-visa/.
Already in Bali and running out of time
If you are already here and your current visa is close to expiring, you very likely do not need to leave the country. A visa extension adds time in 30-day increments and is handled without a border run, all inclusive from Rp 800.000. See /visa-services/visa-extension/ for how it works.
If none of these quite fit
Every situation is a little different, and rules change, so we confirm the current position for your nationality before you commit to anything. The visa finder on our homepage is a fast way to narrow down the options, and our full price list is on /pricing/. Whichever way you would rather start, a message on WhatsApp through /contact/ gets you a straight answer from someone who files these applications every week.
Common questions
Can I switch from one visa to another once I am in Bali?
Sometimes, depending on the two visas involved and your circumstances. Some conversions are straightforward and some are not possible without leaving the country first. Message us through /contact/ with your situation and we will tell you plainly what your options are.
What if I am not sure which situation applies to me?
That is a normal starting point. Tell us roughly what you want to do and for how long, and we will match you to the right visa rather than the one that happens to be cheapest or fastest.
Do prices ever change after I am quoted?
No. The price you are quoted is confirmed in writing before you pay, and that is what you pay. See /pricing/ for the current all-inclusive figures for every visa.
Can families or groups apply together?
Yes. Each person needs their own application, but message us with the number of people traveling together and we will handle the group as one coordinated process.