Lots of Australians ask us about retiring in Bali. And we get why. It’s only a few hours away, and plenty of people have already been here on holiday or to catch up with family. Retiring here is another story, though. Staying a few months is one thing, but living in Bali for good takes a lot more planning.
If you plan to spend your retirement in Indonesia, the first matter to address is your visa. You can’t just arrive on a tourist visa and expect to keep extending it forever.
How the Bali Retirement Visa Works
If you’re an Australian planning to retire in Bali, sorting out your visa is one of the most important things to get right. It takes some planning and care with the details, but with good advice, getting your residency approved can be fairly straightforward.
Which Visa Is Right for You?
Indonesia offers visa options for retirement purposes to eligible foreign nationals. The right visa category depends on your purpose for permanent residence in Indonesia. One retirement option is the E33E visa. It’s for foreigners aged 55 or older who want to live in Indonesia long term. You don’t need a sponsor, whether a person or a company, as long as you meet the Immigration Guarantee requirement.
With this visa, you can:
- Conduct tourism-related activities
- Purchase goods, visit family or friends, and work.
- Pursue education or other activities by reporting these activities to the immigration office that issued the residence permit.
- You can bring your family to live in Indonesia as long as you comply with immigration laws and regulations.
- Enter and exit Indonesian territory while your residence permit remains valid, without the need to apply for a new visa.
Duration of Stay
The Limited Stay Visa for foreign nationals aged 55 (fifty-five) or older allows for a stay in Indonesia for a maximum of 5 (five) years. This residence permit may be extended, provided that the total duration of residence in Indonesia does not exceed 10 (ten) years; it may also be converted into a different type of residence permit.
You will be given an initial residence permit with a maximum validity period of 5 years and can be extended provided that the total Residence Permit in the Indonesian Territory is no more than 10 (ten) years. Extension applications can be submitted online.
Cost for a Limited Stay Visa
The cost of processing a limited stay visa varies depending on the visa agency you authorize to process it. The processing fee starts at IDR 14,000,000 for a 5-year stay.
What About Healthcare and Insurance?
Before you begin the visa application process, you should address your healthcare needs—ideally before you move, rather than after you arrive. Do not assume that Medicare will cover the costs of routine medical care or hospital bills during your stay in Indonesia. Research the rules that apply to your specific situation and carefully examine the actual coverage provided by any private insurance policy you may have.
Consider where you will go for routine check-ups, what steps you will take in an emergency, and whether your insurance policy includes age limits, exclusions, or restrictions regarding pre-existing medical conditions. These details can have a significant impact on your retirement plans.
Can You Rent a Villa or Purchase Property?
Many Australians begin their time in Bali by renting a place before deciding where they would like to settle down. This approach can be a wise way to get to know different areas and experience what daily life is truly like outside of the holiday season.
It is important to remember that property agreements and immigration permits are two different things. Renting a villa does not grant you permission to live in Indonesia long-term, and a retirement visa does not automatically entitle you to own any property you wish. If you need a more complete explanation, eVisa Bali, as one of the trusted visa agents and business consultants in Bali, will be happy to guide you with clear information.
Requirements for Obtaining a Retirement Visa
Spending your retirement in Bali may be part of your plans, but it requires more preparation than simply booking a flight and finding a place to stay. Below are the documents and information that must be prepared and processed when applying for a retirement visa before entering Indonesia:
Visa Application
The initial information and documents required are as follows:
- A valid national passport with an expiry date of at least 6 months remaining;
- Proof of immigration guarantee;
- Personal bank statements for the last 3 months, showing a minimum balance of USD $2,000 (two thousand US Dollars) or an equivalent amount (must include the account holder’s name, the statement period, and the account balance);
- A recent color photograph (taken within the last year)
- A curriculum vitae (resume)
- Travel history and an itinerary
- Other documents explaining the purpose of the foreigner’s visit.
Specific Requirements
- An immigration guarantee, including a written commitment to maintain funds in a personal account at a state-owned bank, with a minimum balance of US$50,000 or its equivalent.
- For the Immigration Guarantee, you sign a Statement of Commitment agreeing to deposit at least USD 50,000 (or the equivalent) into your own account at an Indonesian state-owned bank.
- Additional documentation, proof of income, such as a pension or other regular payments, showing at least USD 3,000 per month.
Other Provisions
- The visa is valid for 90 days from the date it’s issued. If you don’t use it to enter Indonesia within that time, you’ll need to apply for a new one.
- Please note that a valid visa doesn’t automatically mean you can stay for that whole period. Your visa will show how long you’re allowed to remain in Indonesia.
- A Limited Stay Permit and a Re-entry Permit will be issued automatically once you are granted entry by an officer at an Immigration Checkpoint.
- Foreign nationals are prohibited from staying in Indonesia beyond the authorised period of stay, engaging in work activities that are not in accordance with the granted stay permit, or conducting the sale of goods or services, unless such activities are required as part of their authorised employment.
- The value of the Immigration Guarantee must be maintained at no less than the amount stated in the commitment declaration submitted at the time of the visa application, for as long as the stay permit remains valid.
Final Thoughts
Choose a visa agent with real experience handling retirement visas for Australians. A good agent should be registered with Indonesian immigration, have positive reviews from other Australian expats, be upfront about their fees, and help with renewals down the track. Be wary of any agent who promises unusually fast processing or guarantees approval.
Retiring in Bali is about more than paperwork. It’s a chance to slow down, try new things, and meet new people. Once you’ve settled in, take your time getting to know the island. And if you ever need help along the way, the Hovi Care team is only a phone call away.
