Bali has to be one of the most lusted-after destinations on the planet, and nomads worldwide flock to its sunny shores for its trendy beach bars, lush rice paddies, and perfect surfing conditions.
There’s only been one problem up until now…how to stay there long term.
The most common visas that nomads use are the tourist visa which can be renewed for up to 60 days, the visa on arrival (VOA) which is valid for 30 days, or the business visa which will allow you to stay in the country for 180 days.
Whichever of these you choose, all of the visas are less than ideal for living in the country for more than six months, as you would have to do a border run to neighboring countries such as Malaysia or Singapore in order to be granted a new visa.
Now, Indonesia is encouraging remote workers and digital nomads to live in the country tax-free for up to five years.
The visa will only be available for those who earn their income outside of Indonesia. These plans have been in place for quite some time, however, the COVID-19 pandemic forced Indonesia to shut its borders to the rest of the world, halting its new visa plans.
The aim is to create a more sustainable type of travel in islands such as Bali. While the island is especially popular with Australians on short sun-seeking trips, the country wants to create a way for tourism to impact the economy better and entice a different type of traveler.
There is no date proposed for rolling out this plan, however, the Indonesian government is invested in this visa and we imagine it will be in place by the end of the year.
Bali is not the only incredible destination in Indonesia. Other lesser-known but just as spectacular islands include Lombok, Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, and Borneo.
