Indonesia (Bali)

01The country in 30 seconds

Bali means ocean, surfing, rice terraces, and volcanoes just a couple hours away. It has one of the oldest and biggest remote-work communities anywhere: coworking spaces, cafes with plugs at every table, community events every week.

For years people just lived on tourist visas and worked quietly. Since April 2024 there's an official remote worker visa, the E33G. Since early 2026, immigration started actively checking tourist visas for exactly this, and hundreds of people have already been deported.

Russians don't get visa-free entry, but there's no special restriction either. Indonesia-Russia relations are good right now.

Facts checked as of September 2026. Visa rules change fast, so check official sources before you book a flight.

02Who it's for

Bali fits you if lifestyle matters more to you than saving every dollar.

• You like surfing, beaches, and warm ocean water all year round
• You're fine working from a coworking space or cafe, not just from home
• You want a settled community around you, not a solo experience
• You earn $5,000/month or more, which makes the legal visa realistic

If your income is below that, the only real long-stay option is the tourist route, and that route is now actively policed.

03Entry & visa

Visa on Arrival (VOA) gives you 30 days, extendable once for 30 more (60 days total). It costs about $32–35 and you get it at the border or online in advance. Tourism only, no work allowed on it.

B211A visit visa is what many remote workers used before. It lets you stay up to roughly 180 days with extensions, but since April 2026 immigration is specifically targeting people who work while on it.

For legal remote work, apply for the E33G before you fly, or through an agent once you're already in Bali.

Russian-issued bank cards usually can't pay the VOA fee online because of card-network restrictions, so plan to pay cash at the airport instead.

04Residency & legalization

The E33G ("Remote Worker Second Home Visa") has existed since April 1, 2024, issued by Indonesia's immigration authority.

Requirements:

• Foreign-sourced income of at least $5,000/month, which you need to prove
• A personal bank balance of at least $2,000, shown over the last 3 months
• Issued for 1 year, multiple entry

Sources disagree on what happens after year one. Some describe it as non-extendable, meaning you file a fresh application to continue. Others mention staying on this status up to 5 years. There's no single clear answer, so check with an immigration agent before you apply.

05Work & taxes

The E33G is a long-stay visa, not a work permit for an Indonesian employer. You keep working for your own company or clients abroad, the same as before.

Important nuance: the 183-day rule isn't the only trigger for Indonesian tax residency. You're also a tax resident if you hold a KITAS/KITAP valid for more than 183 days — and the E33G is issued for a full year, so technically you become a tax resident from the date the visa is issued, even if you've barely set foot in the country. That's a real risk of owing Indonesian tax on your worldwide income. In practice many remote workers still pay tax wherever their business or employer is already registered (via tax-treaty credits), but this is genuinely case-by-case — talk to a tax advisor about your specific setup rather than assuming one rule fits everyone.

06Banks, cards & money

Mir cards barely work in Indonesia. Indonesia is listed as one of the countries starting to accept Mir, but in practice this isn't reliable in Bali yet.

Regular Visa or Mastercard cards from non-sanctioned banks work fine at ATMs and payment terminals.

Opening a local bank account on a tourist visa is close to impossible. Banks usually ask for a KITAS (long-term residence permit), which means you already need the E33G or a similar visa first.

07Renting a place

Housing is the biggest expense here. A studio or one-bedroom villa in Canggu or Ubud runs $500–900+/month, depending on the area and season. Rents have jumped recently, with Canggu prices up roughly 18% year over year, and landlords now often asking for a two-month deposit.

Long-term rentals usually need a 1–2 month deposit upfront, sometimes a full year paid in advance.

Scams are common: fake villa listings on Instagram and Facebook collect deposits for properties that don't actually exist or aren't available.

08SIM card & internet

A local SIM card is cheap. Telkomsel has the best coverage overall, especially outside Canggu and Seminyak, and it's the one to get if you'll travel to Gili Islands, Nusa Penida, or north Bali. A tourist SIM costs around $6–7, with a 10–20GB/30-day data package for another $5–6.

Tourist eSIMs start around $5 for 1GB. Unlimited-data eSIM plans from providers like Holafly start around $19 for a week.

Home Wi-Fi in villas is often included in rent or costs $20–30/month separately. Speeds in most villas and coworking spaces are fine for video calls.

09Healthcare & insurance

Indonesia's public insurance (BPJS Kesehatan) costs just a few dollars a month, but it isn't built for foreigners and won't cover serious cases well.

Proper international insurance (SafetyWing, Genki, Cigna, and similar) runs roughly $50–150+/month depending on coverage level and your age.

Private clinics and hospitals in Bali handle standard cases well, but serious problems often mean evacuation to Singapore or Jakarta, which is very expensive without insurance.

10Transport

Renting a scooter is the most common way to get around: about $60–100/month plus gas. You should carry an international driving permit, since police checks on the road are common.

Gojek and Grab (ride-hailing and delivery apps) work in most areas, though pickups can be tricky right at the airport and in some tourist centers due to local restrictions.

For longer trips between areas, like Canggu to Ubud to Uluwatu, a rented car with a driver is cheaper and safer than driving yourself.

11Safety & important laws

Bali is generally safe for everyday life, but there are serious local risks worth knowing about.

Drug laws in Indonesia are extremely strict, with long prison sentences and even the death penalty possible for larger quantities. Don't risk it, even with "light" substances.

Scooter accidents are the most common cause of injury and death among tourists and expats. Helmets are required, and traffic can be chaotic, especially in Canggu and Kuta.

12How much money you need per month

Total: Total: roughly $1,500–2,500/month for one person, not counting visa costs or flights

13Step-by-step moving plan

1. Check whether you can prove $5,000/month in foreign income, since that decides which visa path is realistic for you
2. Gather documents for the E33G: income proof, a 3-month bank statement, and your passport
3. Apply for the VOA or E33G before you fly if possible, it's simpler that way
4. Bring a card from a non-sanctioned bank, or one you've confirmed works in Indonesia
5. Buy a local SIM at the airport or a coworking space right after landing
6. Book housing for just 2–4 weeks at first through a trusted platform, and never wire a deposit to a personal account without a signed contract
7. Get international health insurance before you fly or right after you arrive
8. Find a coworking space or community in Canggu or Ubud to settle in faster
9. Apply for the E33G if you haven't already, so you're not working illegally on a tourist visa

14Useful links & Telegram

• Emerhub — E33G Remote Worker Visa guide
• Bali Business Consulting — E33G KITAS guide
• Online Visa Indonesia — visa info for Russian citizens
• Indonesia Directorate General of Immigration
• Numbeo — Cost of Living in Bali