Indonesia pairs a rock-bottom cost of living with fast-improving digital-nomad and retirement visa routes. Bali remains the expat hub, but Jakarta (business), Yogyakarta (affordable retirement) and Lombok (emerging) each draw a different crowd, and the immigration system now has a dedicated remote-worker KITAS built for exactly this audience.
Updated: 3 September 2026 : Editorial Team, eVisa-Card.com
Indonesia at a Glance
| Capital | Jakarta |
| Currency | Rupiah (IDR) |
| Language | Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) |
| Time zone | WIB/WITA/WIT (UTC+7 to +9) |
| Monthly budget | ~$800-2,000 (indicative) |
Table of Contents
- Who Indonesia Suits Best
- Visa & Residency Routes
- Digital Nomads & Remote Work
- Working Locally
- Retirement
- Family & Dependants
- Healthcare
- Health Insurance
- Banking
- Tax Residency
- Housing: Renting & Buying
- Best Cities & Areas
- Cost of Living
- Transport & Driving Licence
- Schools & Education
- Phone & Internet
- Safety & Emergency Numbers
- Moving Checklist
- Pros & Cons
- FAQ
- Official Sources
Who Indonesia Suits Best
Remote workers and freelancers earning from abroad, drawn by Bali's coworking scene and the E33G KITAS built for them. Retirees seeking warmth and a low cost of living on a modest pension. Entrepreneurs opening a PT PMA to trade legally with local and export clients. Families relocating for a slower pace, provided they budget for international-school fees. Indonesia is a weaker fit for anyone who needs same-day access to Indonesian-sourced employment, since most local jobs remain reserved for Indonesian nationals.
Visa & Residency Routes
Main Routes for Foreigners (2026)
| Route | Who it's for | Threshold & duration |
|---|---|---|
| B1 e-VOA (Visit Visa) | Tourism, family visits, meetings | IDR 500,000; 30 days, one 30-day extension (60 days max) |
| E33G Second Home / Remote Worker | Digital nomads employed abroad | Income ≥ USD 60,000/year, bank balance ≥ USD 2,000; 1 year, renewable to 5 |
| E33F Retirement KITAS | Retirees with a pension/passive income | Income ≥ USD 3,000/month; 1 year, renewable up to 5 times via licensed agent |
| E33 Second Home Visa | High-net-worth residents, no sponsor needed | USD 130,000 bank deposit (5 yrs) or USD 1,000,000 property (10 yrs) |
| E28A Investor KITAS | Founders/shareholders of a PT PMA | Shareholding ≥ IDR 10 billion; 1 or 2 years, renewable |
| E23 Work KITAS | Skilled staff hired by an Indonesian entity | Company-sponsored (RPTKA work permit); 1-2 years, renewable |
Step-by-Step
- Pick the visa index that matches your situation (E33G, E33F, E33, E28A or E23).
- Apply online at evisa.imigrasi.go.id, upload documents and pay the visa fee.
- Receive the e-visa (valid 90 days to enter) and fly in.
- Register at a local Kantor Imigrasi for biometrics and the physical KITAS card.
- Pay the limited-stay and re-entry permit PNBP fees.
- Register your address (SKTT) with the local Dukcapil office.
- Enrol in BPJS Kesehatan once you pass six months of residence.
- Renew annually; most KITAS categories become eligible for KITAP (permanent stay) after 5 continuous years.
Related: Indonesia visa overview · visa requirements · e-VOA guide · visa fees · extensions · processing times.
Digital Nomads & Remote Work
The E33G "Second Home for Remote Workers" KITAS is Indonesia's purpose-built digital-nomad permit: no local sponsor, an initial one-year stay renewable to five, and multiple entries on the linked re-entry permit. It requires proof of employment or freelance income of at least USD 60,000/year from an employer or clients based outside Indonesia, plus a USD 2,000 bank balance; income from Indonesian clients disqualifies you. Skilled foreign professionals who become tax residents this way can also exclude foreign-sourced income from Indonesian tax for four years under PMK-18/2021.
Bali's coworking clusters in Canggu, Berawa and Ubud remain the default base, with Jakarta a distant second for those who need proximity to clients or flights.
Working Locally
Taking an Indonesian-payroll job requires an E23 work KITAS sponsored by the hiring company, which must first obtain an RPTKA foreign-manpower plan approved by the Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker). Many sectors reserved for Indonesian nationals under the government's investment negative list remain closed to foreign hires, so positions cluster in management, engineering, hospitality and education roles that need specific expertise unavailable locally. Freelancing for Indonesian clients on a tourist or E33G visa is not permitted; setting up a PT PMA and sponsoring your own E28A or E23 permit is the compliant route for founders who want to bill locally.
Retirement
The E33F retirement KITAS runs one year at a time, renewable up to five times, and needs sponsorship from a licensed retirement-visa agent plus proof of pension or passive income of at least USD 3,000/month and a USD 2,000 bank balance. After five consecutive renewals, holders become eligible to apply for KITAP permanent residency. Retirees who want a longer permit without an agent or an employment obligation often choose the E33 Second Home visa instead, trading the lower income bar for the larger deposit or property requirement.
Family & Dependants
Spouses and children of a KITAS holder can apply for a dependant residence permit sponsored by the primary holder, valid for the same period and renewed alongside it. Each dependant is registered separately at the Kantor Imigrasi and needs their own SKTT domicile registration and, once resident more than six months, BPJS Kesehatan enrolment. Children usually attend international or national-plus schools rather than the public system, since public schools primarily serve Indonesian citizens; check current admission rules with the Ministry of Education (Kemdikbud) or your chosen school before relying on this route.
Healthcare
Public Hospitals
Government RSUD hospitals are inexpensive and BPJS-linked, but quality, equipment and English-speaking staff vary widely by region, and Bali/Jakarta facilities outperform rural areas.
Private Hospitals
Most expats use private hospitals such as BIMC, Siloam or Bali International Hospital for faster care and English-speaking doctors; complex cases are often medevac'd to Singapore.
Emergency ambulance response outside major cities can be slow, so a private insurance plan with medevac cover is standard advice for anyone living outside Jakarta or South Bali.
Health Insurance
BPJS Kesehatan, the national health insurance body, is mandatory by law for anyone resident in Indonesia more than six months, KITAS and KITAP holders included; contributions are tiered by chosen hospital class, and unpaid dues can block a KITAS renewal. Because BPJS-linked public facilities have limits on choice and speed, most expats layer a private international policy (Cigna, Allianz Care, AXA) on top for access to private hospitals and emergency evacuation.
Banking
A local account needs a valid KITAS and an NPWP tax number; e-VOA/tourist-visa holders generally cannot open one. Major banks used by expats include BCA, Mandiri and CIMB Niaga, all with English-language mobile apps; expect to visit a branch in person for account opening and to show your KITAS, passport and a local address (SKTT).
Tax Residency
You become an Indonesian domestic tax subject once you spend more than 183 days in Indonesia within any 12-month period, or settle with intent to reside, per the Directorate General of Taxes (DJP). Residents then owe PPh on worldwide income and must hold an NPWP tax number; non-residents are taxed at a flat 20% on Indonesian-sourced income only.
| Taxable income (IDR/year) | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to 60,000,000 | 5% |
| 60,000,000 - 250,000,000 | 15% |
| 250,000,000 - 500,000,000 | 25% |
| 500,000,000 - 5,000,000,000 | 30% |
| Above 5,000,000,000 | 35% |
Skilled foreign workers who become new tax residents can exclude foreign-sourced income from Indonesian tax for their first four tax years under Ministry of Finance regulation PMK-18/2021, subject to conditions and excluding treaty-based claims.
Housing: Renting & Buying
Renting is the default for most expats: villas and apartments in Bali and Jakarta are widely advertised, often priced and paid annually. Buying is more restricted: Hak Milik freehold title is reserved for Indonesian citizens. Foreigners instead use Hak Pakai (right-of-use, available to KITAS/KITAP holders and extendable toward roughly 80 years), leasehold (Hak Sewa, typically 25-30 years with renewal options and the most common route for Bali villas), or a PT PMA company, which can hold land under Right to Build (HGB) and requires minimum paid-up capital of IDR 2.5 billion.
Best Cities & Areas for Expats
Coworking hubs, surf culture, the default base for E33G remote workers.
Quieter, wellness-oriented, popular with long-term retirees and families.
The business and finance hub, best for E23/E28A employees and founders.
Lower cost of living, strong healthcare access relative to price, popular for retirement.
Emerging, quieter alternative to Bali with a smaller but growing expat base.
Cost of Living
| Item | Bali (indicative) | Jakarta (indicative) |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bed apartment/villa rent | $350-900/mo | $300-800/mo |
| Local restaurant meal | $2-4 | $2-4 |
| Coworking membership | $100-200/mo | $100-180/mo |
| Scooter rental | $40-70/mo | N/A (car/ride-hail more common) |
Figures are indicative, editorial estimates, September 2026, cross-checked against household expenditure trends published by Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS); confirm current data at bps.go.id before budgeting.
Transport & Driving Licence
Scooters are the default transport in Bali; ride-hailing apps (Gojek, Grab) cover cities nationwide, and Jakarta adds a growing MRT/LRT network and toll roads for cars. An International Driving Permit alone does not satisfy Indonesian law for a resident: KITAS holders are expected to convert to a local SIM (SIM A for cars, SIM C for motorbikes) at a Satpas traffic-police office once resident. Driving without a valid local licence risks invalidating any insurance claim after an accident.
Schools & Education
Public schools primarily serve Indonesian citizens, so most expat families choose international or "national-plus" schools, concentrated in Jakarta, South Bali (Canggu/Sanur/Ubud) and a few other large cities; fees typically run from a few thousand to over USD 20,000 per year depending on curriculum and school. Confirm current admission and permit rules for foreign pupils with the Ministry of Education (Kemdikbud) or your chosen school before committing.
Phone & Internet
Prepaid SIM cards from Telkomsel, XL Axiata or Indosat Ooredoo are cheap and require passport registration at point of sale; eSIM options are increasingly available for arriving travellers. Home fibre internet is widely available in Bali and Jakarta from providers like IndiHome and Biznet, generally adequate for remote work outside rare outages.
Safety & Emergency Numbers
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| General emergency | 112 |
| Police | 110 |
| Ambulance | 118 / 119 |
| Fire | 113 |
Petty crime against tourists occurs in nightlife areas; the bigger practical risks are traffic and Indonesia's seismic and volcanic activity, so check earthquake and eruption advisories for your region and keep travel insurance current.
Moving Checklist
- Confirm the right visa index (E33G, E33F, E33, E28A or E23) and gather supporting documents.
- Apply for your e-visa at evisa.imigrasi.go.id before travel.
- Book flexible short-term housing for your first weeks.
- Register at the local Kantor Imigrasi and complete SKTT domicile registration.
- Get an NPWP tax number and open a local bank account.
- Enrol in BPJS Kesehatan once you cross six months of residence.
- Arrange private international health insurance with medevac cover.
- Convert your driving licence to a local SIM if you plan to drive.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Low cost of living relative to Western countries
- Purpose-built remote-worker KITAS with no local sponsor needed
- Warm climate and established expat infrastructure in Bali
- Four-year foreign-income tax exemption for new skilled residents
Cons
- No freehold property ownership for foreigners
- Healthcare quality varies sharply outside major cities
- Local-employment routes are narrow and paperwork-heavy
- Traffic, seismic risk and seasonal flooding in parts of the country
FAQ
How long can I stay in Indonesia on a visa on arrival?
The e-VOA (B1 visit visa) gives 30 days, extendable once online at evisa.imigrasi.go.id for another 30 days, 60 days total. After that you must exit and re-apply.
What income do I need for the E33G remote-worker KITAS?
At least USD 60,000 a year (about USD 5,000/month) earned from an employer or clients based outside Indonesia, plus a bank balance of USD 2,000, per the Directorate General of Immigration.
Can foreigners own property in Indonesia?
Not freehold (Hak Milik), which is reserved for Indonesian citizens. Foreign KITAS/KITAP holders can hold Hak Pakai (right-of-use, extendable toward 80 years); most Bali villas are sold on 25-30 year leasehold; a PT PMA company can hold land under Right to Build (HGB).
Is BPJS Kesehatan compulsory for expats?
Yes. Anyone resident in Indonesia more than six months, including KITAS holders, is required by law to enrol in BPJS Kesehatan, and unpaid contributions can block a KITAS renewal.
When do I become an Indonesian tax resident?
You are a domestic tax subject once you spend more than 183 days in Indonesia within any 12-month period, or you settle with intent to reside; worldwide income then becomes taxable under PPh.
What is the Second Home visa deposit?
The E33 Second Home visa requires a letter of commitment to deposit at least USD 130,000 in a state-owned Indonesian bank (5-year permit) or buy property worth at least USD 1,000,000 (10-year permit), with no sponsor and no age limit.
Do new foreign tax residents pay tax on foreign income?
Skilled foreign nationals who become domestic tax subjects can have foreign-sourced income excluded from Indonesian tax for four tax years under Ministry of Finance regulation PMK-18/2021, subject to conditions.
Official Sources
- Directorate General of Immigration - visa index E33G
- Directorate General of Immigration - visa index E33F
- Directorate General of Immigration - visa index E33 (Second Home)
- Directorate General of Immigration - visa index E28A (Investor)
- Official e-Visa portal (evisa.imigrasi.go.id)
- Directorate General of Taxes - domestic/foreign tax subject rules
- Directorate General of Taxes - PMK-18/2021 foreign income exemption
- Badan Pusat Statistik - Bali provincial statistics
About This Guide
Researched and maintained by the editorial team at eVisa-Card.com against the Directorate General of Immigration, Directorate General of Taxes, BPJS Kesehatan and Badan Pusat Statistik. Visa rules and thresholds change; always verify current requirements on the official portals before applying. Last verified: 3 September 2026.