Getting a Work Visa in Bali

If you want to live and work in Bali, getting a work visa is necessary. Apart from allowing you to work in Bali legally, it also grants you residency status. Being a legal resident of Bali lets foreigners enter Bali even when there are travel restrictions.

What are the requirements to get a work visa in Bali? Can you bring your family with you? We discuss these and other important information about work visas in Bali.

Requirements for Getting a Work Visa in Bali

There are two kinds of stay permits for people who wish to work or do business in Bali:

• Investor visa. Shareholders who have at least IDR 1 billion (approx. USD 70,000) worth of shares in a company registered in Indonesia qualify for this stay permit. If you hold a director or commissioner role in the company, you can also work when you have this permit.
• Working visa. This is the stay permit for people who will be working for a company in Indonesia.

To apply for either of these visas, you must prepare the following:

• ID photo. The photo must have a red background and you must be wearing formal attire.
• Insurance policy. This can either be health or life insurance, issued from any country. Yearly travel insurance is acceptable if the policy includes Southeast Asia.
• Latest bank statement. It must show your name and you must have a balance of at least USD 1,500. The bank must be outside of Indonesia.
• Address in Bali. You must have an address in Bali. If you are staying at a private house, you must present a copy of your lease agreement.
• Color copy of your passport. You must submit a color scan of each page of your passport. Your passport must also be valid for at least 20 months.
• Indonesian Embassy abroad. Indonesian authorities will send your temporary stay permit to an Indonesia embassy abroad. This is also known as telex approval. It is a temporary stay permit before getting your work visa.
• Indonesian phone number.
• Marital status.

In addition to the things listed above, applicants seeking to obtain a working visa must also submit the following document. These are not necessary if you are applying for an investor visa or if you are a director or commissioner of the sponsoring company.

• University diploma. Your degree must be relevant to your job in Indonesia. This is not required for directors or commissioners.
• Reference letter from the previous company. It must reflect that you have five years of work experience.

In addition to the above, you must also have an Indonesian guarantor. Your guarantor must prepare the following:

• A photo of the guarantor. The photo must have a red background.
• A copy of their ID card.
• A copy of their tax card.

Finally, you must also submit all of your sponsoring company’s legal documents.

Process for Applying for a Work Visa in Bali

Below you will find the process of applying for a working visa or investor visa.

Emerhub can help you live and work in Bali. Apply for a work permit in Bali through Emerhub. Our consultants have extensive experience in handling visa application and renewal.

Renewing Work Visa in Bali

The length of validity of a work permit in Bali, as well as the option to renew, depends on your job title. The work permit for company directors and commissioners is valid for 1 year and renewable.

The Ministry of Manpower decides the length of validity as well as the option to renew for other positions. Sometimes, applicants receive a 6-month, non-renewable work permit.

To renew your work visa in Bali, you must also have:

• Tax card registration (Nomor Pokok Wajib Pajak)
• Health and social security registration (Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial)

Other Benefits of Getting a Work Visa in Bali

Many people use tourist visas, single-entry social visas, or multiple-entry business visas to live in Bali. However, these visas do not grant residency to the holder. When you have a work visa in Bali, you are a legal resident of Bali.

Being a resident of Bali allows you to do the following:

• Entry to Indonesia even with travel restrictions. When there are travel restrictions in place, only citizens and legal residents can enter Indonesia.
• Enter lease agreements. Residents of Bali can enter long-term lease agreements.
• Acquire a residential property. Holders of valid stay permits can obtain the right to use (Hak Milik) land certificate and get legal rights to a property in Bali.
• Open a bank account. Most commercial banks require foreigners to present a stay permit when opening a bank account. 

Setting Up a Business to Get a Work Visa in Bali

As mentioned earlier, the investor visa is open to foreigners with IDR 1 billion worth of shares in a company in Indonesia.

It’s important to note that in Indonesia if any part of the company is foreign-owned, it is a foreign company. A foreign company has a minimum capital requirement of IDR 2.5 billion (approx. USD 150,000).

The allowed percentage of foreign ownership depends on the classification (KBLI) of your business. Most industries allow 100% foreign ownership. Emerhub’s consultants can advise you on the business classification best suited for your activities.

To open a business in Bali you must meet the following requirements:

• Shareholders. All businesses in Indonesia must have at least two shareholders.
• Business address. You must have a valid business address in Bali. In addition to that, the building must have a building permit allowing commercial activities.
• Local licenses. Some businesses require additional local licenses.

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Stay Permits for Family Members

If you wish to bring your family with you, they can apply for dependent stay permits. This permit is only for your spouse and children under 18 years old. Holders of a dependent stay permit cannot work in Indonesia.

For your spouse to apply for a dependent stay permit, they must prepare the following:

• Passport. Your spouse must submit a copy of their passport.
• Marriage certificate. The marriage certificate must be in English.

To apply for a dependent stay permit for your children under 18 years of age, you will need the following documents:

• Passport. You will need to submit a copy of each child’s passport.
• Birth certificate. Your children’s birth certificates must be in English.

Your parents cannot apply for a dependent stay permit. However, if they are over 55 years old, they can apply for a retirement visa instead. Foreigners applying for a retirement visa must have a monthly pension of USD 1,500 or at least USD 18,000 in a bank account.

Learn more about work visas in Bali in our Frequently Asked Questions About Work Visas in Bali post.

Emerhub’s consultants are ready to help you with your visa application and renewal in Bali. Get in touch with us by filling out the form below or sending an email to bali@emerhub.com.