Are you planning a trip to Bali? Whether you’re visiting the country for business or leisure, you must be aware of the Bali tourist tax and how to factor it into your preparations.
In this guide, we will clarify what the tax is and why you should pay it before entering the country, as well as elaborate on possible exemptions from the payment.
Understanding Bali Tourist Tax
Bali charges every foreign visitor a tourist levy of IDR 150,000, which is about USD 9. You pay it per person, and it is separate from your visa fee. The money goes to the Bali provincial government rather than to national immigration.
The levy comes from Bali Provincial Regulation No. 6 of 2023, and Governor Regulation 36 of 2023 sets out how it is collected. It has applied since February 2024.
For the first two years, only around a third of visitors actually paid, so the province has since stepped up enforcement. Officers now check for proof of payment at popular tourist sites, and Governor Wayan Koster has said visitors without it can be refused entry to those sites.
What the Bali tourist tax pays for
The levy funds cultural preservation, environmental protection, and tourism infrastructure. Bali introduced it because visitor numbers put pressure on temples, waste management, and public spaces, and the province wanted a dedicated source of funding for them.
It only applies in Bali. If you travel to Jakarta, Lombok, or anywhere else in Indonesia, you do not pay it, and paying it in Bali does not cover you elsewhere.
Who has to pay the Bali tourist tax
All foreign visitors entering Bali for tourism pay the levy, and it is charged per person rather than per booking.
Children and infants pay it too. Neither the regulation nor its implementing rules set a minimum age, so a family of four should budget IDR 600,000.
Indonesian citizens do not pay. Several categories of foreign permit holders are also exempt, which we cover below.
Keep in mind that the levy is separate from your visa fee. If you arrive on a visa on arrival, you pay that fee to immigration and the levy to the province. Paying one does not cover the other.
How to pay the Bali tourist tax
Any international visitor planning to enter Bali must pay the tourist tax before entering the country or when they arrive. The levy can be paid online via the official Love Bali portal. The process takes a few minutes:
- Open the portal, select Pay Tourist Levy, and choose your currency.
- Enter your details exactly as they appear in your passport.
- Pay by credit card, bank transfer, or QRIS.
- Save the QR code voucher that arrives by email and keep it on your phone.
It is advisable to pay the tourist tax in advance, since the airport counters at Ngurah Rai get busy when several flights land together. There is no deadline, so a few days before your trip is fine.
If the portal will not load or your payment fails, turn off your VPN completely and try again, because Indonesian government servers often block foreign VPN traffic. And if your confirmation email does not arrive, check your spam folder before paying a second time.
Who is exempt from the Bali tourist tax
Exemptions depend on your visa or permit rather than your reason for travelling. The following categories do not pay:
- KITAS and KITAP holders, including remote worker and investor permits
- Diplomatic and official visa holders
- Student visa holders
- Family unification visa holders
- Golden visa holders
- Transport crew
- Holders of other non-tourism visa categories
To claim the exemption, apply through the same Love Bali portal. The form asks for your personal details, nationality, arrival date, exemption category, and the purpose of your stay.
Keep your KITAS or visa with you while you are on the island. If officers check for proof of payment at a temple or a beach, showing your permit settles it.
Note that being exempt from the levy says nothing about your tax position in Indonesia. The levy is a provincial tourism charge, while income tax residency depends on how long you stay and where your income comes from. They are separate rules under separate authorities.
What happens if you do not pay
Currently there's no fine. While a penalty of around ten times the levy was proposed in 2024, it never became law. National immigration also cannot refuse you entry to Indonesia over an unpaid provincial charge.
You will still be checked, though.
Satpol PP, the provincial civil service police, run spot checks at busy sites such as Uluwatu, Tanah Lot, Besakih, and Tegallalang, as well as around the airport and the Nusa Penida crossings. If you cannot show a voucher, you pay the IDR 150,000 on the spot by QRIS, and under the governor's tourism circular you can be turned away from the site.
The province has also announced changes that have not taken effect yet. Governor Koster has proposed raising the levy to between IDR 250,000 and IDR 500,000, and the province wants to link levy records to immigration data. Until either happens, the current rate and process apply.
Planning a longer stay in Bali
If you are coming to Bali to work, invest, or run a business, the levy matters far less than holding the right permit. Your activities have to match the visa you hold, and Bali's enforcement units have been checking this alongside the levy in areas like Canggu, Seminyak, and Ubud.
Emerhub's team in Bali handles visas and stay permits, from a visa on arrival for a short trip to a KITAS for work, remote work, or investment. We can also check whether your permit exempts you from the levy, and handle it for you.
Tell our Bali team what you plan to do on the island and how long you intend to stay, and we will tell you which permit is suitable for your planned activities.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Bali tourist tax in 2026?
IDR 150,000 per person, around USD 9. The rate has not changed since February 2024, although the provincial government has proposed an increase.
Do I pay the levy every time I enter Bali?
The levy is charged per visit rather than annually, so a separate trip means a separate payment. If you plan to leave the island and return within the same trip, check the current guidance on the Love Bali portal before you travel.
Do children pay the Bali tourist tax?
Yes. The regulation sets no minimum age, so children and infants on foreign passports each pay IDR 150,000.
Is the tourist levy the same as the visa on arrival fee?
No. They are separate charges paid to separate authorities. The visa on arrival fee goes to immigration, and the levy goes to the Bali provincial government. Most tourists pay both.