Long-stay visas and villas in Bali for Australians

Short answer: Indonesia now has clear, online visas for remote workers and retirees, so living in Bali long term is very doable. The two things Australians most often get wrong are working on the wrong visa and treating a villa lease like a freehold purchase.

The short version

The E33G remote worker visa gives a one-year stay for people employed by a company outside Indonesia earning at least US$60,000 a year. Government fees total IDR 7 million [1].
The E33E retiree visa is for people aged 55 and over: up to five years at a time and ten in total, with US$50,000 held in an Indonesian state-owned bank [2].
Visit visas like the C1 and D1 suit long holidays and frequent trips, not living and working [4][5].
After three consecutive years on certain limited stay permits, some holders can apply to switch to a permanent stay permit [7].
Villa leases and property deals in Bali often end in disputes. Get independent legal advice before you hand over money [8].

The long-stay options side by side

All of these are applied for online through the government e-Visa portal [9]. Fees are Indonesian government charges (PNBP) listed by the Directorate General of Immigration; agents, translations and bank charges are extra.

Visa	Who it suits	Stay	Key requirements	Government fees
E33G remote worker	Employees of overseas companies	1 year, extendable	US$60,000+ yearly income, foreign employment contract [1]	IDR 7 million [1]
E33E second home, retiree	People aged 55+	Up to 5 years, max 10 in total	US$50,000 in a state-owned bank, US$3,000+ monthly income [2]	IDR 13 million [2]
E33F retiree, one year	Retirees wanting a shorter commitment	1 year, extendable	Sponsor required, US$3,000+ monthly income or pension [3]	IDR 7 million [3]
D1 multiple-entry visit	Frequent visitors	Up to 60 days per entry, max 180 with extensions	US$2,000 in recent bank statements [5]	IDR 3 million (1 yr), 5 million (2 yrs), 10 million (5 yrs) [5]
C1 single-entry visit	A long trial stay	60 days, extendable to 180	US$2,000 in recent bank statements [4]	IDR 1 million [4]

At the Reserve Bank's rate of about IDR 12,700 to the dollar in November 2026, IDR 7 million is roughly A$550 and IDR 13 million roughly A$1,020 [10].

The E33G remote worker visa, in detail

This is the visa most working-age Australians in Bali should look at first, if their job allows it.

What you need

An account on the e-Visa portal [9].
A passport valid for at least six months beyond the stay you need [1].
Bank statements for the last three months showing at least US$2,000 [1].
Bank records showing salary or income of at least US$60,000 a year [1].
An employment agreement with a company established outside Indonesia [1].
A recent colour photo, a CV and an itinerary [1].

No Indonesian sponsor is needed [1].

What it costs

The IDR 7 million total is made up of IDR 500,000 for the visa, IDR 2 million for verification, IDR 3 million for the limited stay permit and IDR 1.5 million for the re-entry permit [1]. Processing takes about five working days after payment, and the visa must be used within 90 days of issue [1].

What you can and can't do

You can live in Indonesia and work for your overseas employer, and you can travel and visit friends while your re-entry permit is valid [1]. You must not work in a way that doesn't match your permit, and you must not sell goods or services unless it's necessary for your job [1]. Freelancers juggling local Bali clients should get advice before relying on this visa.

Retiring to Bali: E33E or E33F

E33E: the five-year option

If you're 55 or over, the E33E gives the longest stretch in one go. Your first stay permit can run for up to five years and can be extended, but your total stay can't exceed ten years [2]. You must commit to keeping at least US$50,000 in your own account at an Indonesian state-owned bank and report it to immigration within 90 days of arrival, plus show income or an allowance of at least US$3,000 a month [2]. No sponsor is needed, and government fees total IDR 13 million, non-refundable if refused [2].

E33F: the one-year option

The E33F is a one-year retiree visa that also asks for proof of income or pension of at least US$3,000 a month [3]. Unlike the E33E, it requires a sponsor who provides a sponsorship letter through the e-Visa system [3]. The immigration page doesn't state an age requirement, so confirm eligibility before you apply [3].

What about the Work and Holiday visa?

Indonesia lists a Work and Holiday visa specifically for Australians, code E35A [6]. At the time of writing, its official page says the details aren't yet available [6]. If you're interested, contact an Indonesian embassy or consulate in Australia for the current rules rather than relying on old blog posts.

The road to permanent stay

Most long-stay visas lead to a limited stay permit (ITAS, the document people still call a KITAS). According to Indonesian immigration, workers, investors, clergy and elderly tourists can apply to switch to a permanent stay permit (ITAP) after at least three consecutive years on their ITAS [7]. Foreign spouses of Indonesian citizens can apply once the marriage has lasted at least two years [7]. Applications need documents such as a letter of domicile and a signed integration statement [7].

Villas: renting, long leases and "buying"

Renting is simple. Long leases aren't.

For most people, the right answer is to rent. Our renting in Bali guide covers monthly and yearly rentals.

Some Australians go further and take a long-term lease over land or a villa, often for decades, sometimes building on it. This is where the money and the risk get serious. Indonesian property law is strict, and freehold title is generally reserved for Indonesian citizens, so foreigners hold more limited rights. Smartraveller's advice is direct: property laws are strict, legal disputes over buying or leasing land, villas and houses are common, including in Bali, and you should get legal advice before acquiring property [8].

A due-diligence checklist for a long lease

Hire your own lawyer. Not the seller's, not the agent's friend.
Use a licensed notary. Long leases and land deals should be prepared and registered properly.
Check the land certificate. Confirm who holds title and that the person leasing to you has the right to do so.
Check zoning and permits. Rice-field land, green zones and tourism permits all affect what can legally be built or rented out.
Read the end-of-lease terms. Who owns the building when the lease ends? Is there an extension option, and at what price?
Never use a nominee. Putting land in a local friend's name to get around ownership rules is how many expat horror stories begin.
Pay through traceable channels. And keep every receipt.

Renting it out

Running a villa as holiday accommodation is a business. Doing it while on a visitor or remote worker visa can put you in breach of your permit conditions [1]. If income is the plan, get legal and tax advice in both countries first.

Staying legal year to year

Don't overstay. Overstaying can lead to fines, detention, deportation or re-entry bans [8].
Keep your re-entry permit valid. It's what lets you come and go on your stay permit [1].
Register where you live. If you stay in a private residence rather than a hotel, you must register on arrival [8].
Keep your passport safe. Never hand it over as a guarantee, and replace damaged passports early; Indonesia is strict about damage [8].
Watch your work. You can't work in Indonesia without the appropriate visa, and immigration in Bali does deport people who do [8].

Swapping stories with Australians who've done the E33G or E33E paperwork recently is gold. Join Cooee Indonesia, our Facebook group for Australians in Indonesia, and ask what tripped them up.

Living in Bali as an Australian: long-stay visas, villa leases and staying legal