Foreigners with a valid residence permit (KITAS) can apply for permanent residence in Bali (KITAP) for 5 years, provided that they have continuously legally resided in Indonesia with a residence permit for at least five years. Thus, KITAP represents the conversion of temporary status into a permanent residence permit.
After a two-time extension of the validity period of the KITAP, the permanent residence card holder can obtain Indonesian citizenship.
We figure out how to get permanent residence in Bali from scratch, what bureaucratic procedures applicants will have to go through and what the pros and cons of moving to Indonesia expats see in this article.
The content of the article
- Pros and cons of moving to Indonesia from Of Russia
- Why are expats from Are Russia and the world moving to Bali?
- How to get permanent residence in Bali for investments
- Documents for permanent residence in Bali
- Other ways to move to Bali for permanent residence
- Employment
- Training
- Marriage
- Own a business on the island
- Family reunion
- For pensioners
- For financially independent individuals (digital nomad visa)
- Is it possible to live in Bali without permanent residence?
- Required documents and the cost of moving to Bali
- The cost of moving to Bali
Pros and cons of moving to Indonesia from Of Russia
According to the Bali Government Tourism Office, from January to May, 68.5 thousand Russian tourists visited Bali alone, and according to the results of the whole last year, 144,104 travelers from Russia has chosen this region for recreation.
It is expected that the tourist flow from Russia’s exports to Indonesia will grow rapidly amid the launch of direct flights from Moscow to Denpasar from September 2024.
Why are expats from Are Russia and the world moving to Bali?
Indonesia took the third place in the ranking of the best destinations for expats from InterNations. 84% of expats (against the global figure of 68%) are satisfied with moving to Bali for permanent residence.
Accessibility against the background of home markets
86% of InterNations respondents claim that their disposable family income is sufficient for a comfortable life (compared to 70% in the world).
Almost two thirds of expats (64%) rate housing affordability positively, which is almost twice as much as the global average (34%). 61% of respondents noted the ease of finding housing in Bali (compared to 45% worldwide).
A better work-life balance
79% of expats (versus 60% worldwide) managed to find a comfortable work-life balance. Expats in Bali work an average of 38.8 hours per week, while the global figure is 42.5 hours.
Visiting like at home
85% of respondents feel welcome after moving to Bali — 22 percentage points higher than the global average. Nine out of ten respondents agree that locals are friendly to foreigners (compared to 61% worldwide).
Cons for expats
According to the same InterNations survey, the country is in the bottom ten for each item of the subcategory “Accessibility of the digital environment”:
- high—speed Internet – 49th place;
- cashless payment options — 45th place;
- online public services — 47th place;
- unlimited access to online services – 44th place.
The surveyed expats call the level of healthcare in the country a significant disadvantage (48th place). Less than two out of five expats (39%) are satisfied with its quality (versus 66% worldwide), and only 46% positively assess its accessibility (versus 68%).
How to get permanent residence in Bali for investments
One of the few and simple legalization options for foreign citizens in Indonesia is KITAS, a temporary residence permit for a period of 1 to 10 years.
Second Home KITAS is a new subtype of residence permit, introduced in 2022, which allows you to get a resident card for real estate investments in the amount of $ 1 million or more.
To apply for a residence permit, you will need to provide an extract of ownership and a passport with a validity period of at least 3 years.
Second Home KITAS are issued for up to 5 years. Upon completion of the investor’s residence permit, the owner of the property can immediately apply for permanent residence in Bali for investments for another 5 years with the right to extend.
Documents for permanent residence in Bali
A permanent residence permit is issued on the basis of an application submitted by a foreigner, a guarantor or a responsible person addressed to the head of the immigration department at the place of residence.
List of documents for permanent residence in Bali:
- the applicant’s valid passport;
- current KITAS;
- Integration Statement (Pernyataan Integrasi);
- confirmation of the fulfillment of investment obligations (statement of ownership of real estate).
KITAS to KITAP conversion takes place within a maximum of 5 business days from the date of application. According to the regulations, a physical permanent residence card can be obtained no later than 15 working days from the date of KITAP approval.
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Submit your application
Other ways to move to Bali for permanent residence
The permanent residence program in Indonesia is not limited only to investor KITAS — holders of any type of temporary residence permit can become participants, provided that they have lived in Indonesia on a residence permit for at least five years.
Employment
Initially, the KITAS worker is issued on the basis of a valid contract between a foreign employee and an Indonesian employer.
Requirements for an applicant for a working KITAS:
- a passport with a remaining validity period of at least six months;
- a letter of guarantee from an employer or sponsor;
- an employment contract or an offer from an employer;
- A work permit issued by the Ministry of Human Resources.
To convert a KITAS worker into a KITAP, a foreign employee must submit an application to the Office of Migration Affairs and attach:
- a valid passport with a remaining validity period of at least six months;
- application for integration signed by the applicant;
- a letter of guarantee from an employer or sponsor;
- documents confirming a permanent place of work in Indonesia.
Training
To obtain a student KITAS, you must confirm that you have completed your studies at one of the accredited universities in Indonesia. The university should help with the submission of documents for obtaining a study permit to the General Directorate of Higher Education in Indonesia.
The guarantor (representative of the university), acting as a guarantor for a foreign student, independently collects a package of documents and submits an application addressed to an authorized employee of the Main Directorate for Immigration Affairs.
The conversion of student KITAS to KITAP takes place upon completion of training. A graduate student will be able to qualify for a temporary residence permit for a permanent one if he has spent 5 years in Indonesia in total during his studies.
Marriage
The easiest way to get KITAS and then KITAP is to legally marry an Indonesian citizen. In this case, after two years of living together, the foreigner will be able to convert his temporary residence permit into a KITAP.
The application must be accompanied by:
- a passport with a validity period of at least 6 months;
- application from a spouse who is an Indonesian citizen;
- proof of funds for living in Indonesia (bank statement);
- a 3×4 color photo.
The application must also be accompanied by a marriage registration record with a translation into Indonesian if the marriage is registered outside Indonesia, or a marriage certificate if it is issued in Indonesia.
Own a business on the island
A residence permit is issued to large foreign investors and allows them to stay in the country for up to 2, 5 or 10 years, depending on the volume of investments.
The minimum authorized capital of a business to receive KITAS in Indonesia is worth 10 billion rupees, or 645 thousand dollars.
Read more about an investment residence permit in Bali in our article.
After 5 years of legal residence in Bali with an investment residence permit, the applicant can apply for KITAP, confirming the grounds for previous receipt of KITAS, that is, investing in a business or buying shares in a company.
Family reunion
Foreign citizens residing in Indonesia can obtain a family reunification visa with a limited period of stay for their minor children.
A parent or his sponsor can apply for a visa for a child by applying to The General Directorate of Immigration Affairs. The following documents must be attached to the application:
- a valid child’s passport with a validity period of at least 6 months;
- evidence of the availability of funds for living in Indonesia;
- an actual color photo of the child.
The Migration Service will also require the child’s birth certificate with translation into Indonesian, the parents’ marriage certificate (also with translation) and a valid KITAS or KITAP of the parents.
For pensioners
To receive a pension KITAS, you must meet the following requirements:
- age from 55 years old;
- availability of a long-term rental agreement in Indonesia;
- availability of documents confirming income at the level of $ 3,000 per month;
- a statement of intent to deposit funds in an account with the State Bank of Indonesia in the amount of at least 50,000 US dollars.
The pension visa is issued for 1 year with a possible annual extension of up to 5 years. Thus, at the end of the maximum period of the pension residence permit, the applicant will be able to apply for permanent residence in Indonesia.
For financially independent individuals (digital nomad visa)
In April 2024, the Indonesian government launched the Digital Nomad Visa program. According to it, foreign citizens can live in Indonesia and work remotely for one year with the right to extend.
The main requirement for the applicant is to confirm income at the level of 60 thousand dollars per year.
The holder of such a visa can enter Indonesia an unlimited number of times during its validity period.
The Digital Nomad visa entitles you to work in projects of foreign companies right on the territory of Indonesia. If the established requirements are met, it is possible to extend the visa to family members of the applicant, and after 5 years qualify the visa for permanent residence.
Is it possible to live in Bali without permanent residence?
A significant part of expats in Bali are legalized in Indonesia with a Single-Entry Visitor Visa type C (formerly B211A).
The visa is issued for 60 days and can be extended 2 times for 60 days up to a maximum stay of 180 days. After 6 months, the foreigner needs to get a visa again.
Documents for a Type C visa:
- a passport valid for at least 6 months after arrival in Indonesia;
- a bank statement with a minimum amount of USD 2,000 or equivalent;
- fresh color photo;
- a guarantee from an Indonesian citizen or an invitation from an Indonesian legal entity.
Required documents and the cost of moving to Bali
Before moving to Bali for a long time, it is recommended to collect a full set of possible documents for future application for a residence permit and permanent residence.
The list of documents frequently requested by the migration service:
- a valid passport with a validity period of at least 6 months;
- A letter of sponsorship or guarantee from a sponsor, which may be an individual (for example, a spouse or parent), an educational institution, or a company (for work-related KITAS);
- confirmation of the availability of sufficient financial resources to cover living expenses, a bank statement or a letter from the sponsor confirming financial support;
- 3×4 color photo;
- documents confirming the purpose of the stay (tickets, invitations, contracts and agreements) are often required for KITAS related to business or investments.
Depending on the type of KITAS:
- confirmation of enrollment in an Indonesian educational institution for an educational residence permit;
- a work contract or a letter of employment from a company for a KITAS worker;
- marriage certificate, children’s birth certificate for KITAS family reunification;
- proof of investment, certificate of ownership of shares, company registration documents or bank statements for investor KITAS.
The cost of moving to Bali
Since September 2024, Aeroflot has launched flights from Moscow to Denpasar. The cost of a one-way flight is about $ 600.
Getting a visa on arrival costs $ 31 + a tourist fee of $ 10. The cost of applying for other types of visas varies from $125 for a Single-Entry visa and up to $ 1,214 for an investor business visa.
When looking for rental housing, you should create a budget based on the average cost of $ 600-1500 per month.
We compare rental prices and the cost of living in different areas of Bali in a separate article.
Payment for utilities and electricity for a townhouse of 70 sq. m. meters can be about $245 and $100, respectively.
More articles about living and investing in Bali
How much does it cost to live in Bali per month in 2024?
Bali Property Tax in 2024
Visa to Indonesia in 2024
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