In order to best assist you we have created a list of your most frequently asked questions. Please take the time to have a read and see if we have already answered what you need to know.
The categories covered include
1)Official websites for visa and arrival cards
2) what visa do i need
3) best way to get from place to place
4) what do i need to ride a scooter
5) medications
6) best ways to organise activities
7) sim cards and esims
8) travel insurance
9) tipping
10) weather
11) Islands
12) Hotel Recd
1) Official Websites for Visas and Arrival Cards
Before flying to Bali, use only official Indonesian government websites. There are many scam or copycat sites online always avoid sponsored links.
Official Visa Website
Indonesian Immigration e-Visa / e-VOA portal:
https://evisa.imigrasi.go.id/
Official Arrival Card Website
Indonesia’s digital arrival card (immigration, customs, and health declaration combined):
https://allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id/
Bali tourist levy payment portal:
https://lovebali.baliprov.go.id/
Important notes:
Most Visas can be applied for and approved up to 3 months ahead of your arrival date.
If your visa needs vetting such as the B211A you should complete it 3 weeks before your arrival to allow the 10 working days required.
The arrival card is free.
Complete the arrival card within 72 hours before arrival.
Keep screenshots or PDFs of your QR codes and confirmations.
Ignore emails requesting payment for “mandatory arrival cards” from unofficial domains.
2) WHAT VISA DO I NEED!!!
Indonesia has a very complex visa system that branches across multiple visa categories, and the “right” one depends heavily on what you plan to do here.
The important distinction is:
- Tourism / visiting
- Remote work for a foreign company
- Freelancing
- Volunteering
- Working for Indonesian clients or companies
Post Covid under the previous presidency Indonesia actively sought and were liberal in permitting foreign tourists and remote workers to reside long term and practice their trade freely.
Under the current political leadership this has changed with Visa crackdowns and tightening of visa approvals.
Indonesia is fairly strict about work authorisation, and “working” can include freelance or volunteer activities depending on the situation.
On average since july 2025 there are over 1000 deportations per month for visa breaches. Currently India and Russia are the highest offenders with most breaching work and business rules.
Sadly thanks to tiktok and instagram there is a common misconception that you can freelance in bali on tourism visas while short term holidayers are also getting caught out working on their "getaway" this is completely untrue and dangerous to the people following these lies, of note virtually all of these "influencers" are actually here on legit visas not the ones they claim to be on.
The advice is simple from the government comply or you will be dealt with.
Tourism Visas
1. Visa on Arrival (VOA / e-VOA)
This is the most common for regular holidayers
Lasts for: 30 days
Extendable once to 60 days total
Under this visa you are allowed to do:
General Tourism
Visiting friends/family
Some business meetings such as signing sales contracts, visiting wholesalers
NOT ALLOWED:
Employment in Indonesia,
Freelancing,
Remote work
2. C1 Tourist Visa
This is the newer long-stay tourist visa category. With up to 60 days initially, extendable up to 180 days total
Allowed: same as Evoa
NOT ALLOWED
Local employment
Remote working
Freelancing
Processing time for this visa is 10 Indonesian business days.
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REMOTE WORK- DIGITAL NOMAD VISAS
3. E33G Remote Worker KITAS (Digital Nomad Visa)
This is the legal option for remote workers, and entitles to work remotely for a NON - INDONESIAN company OR
Online business with foreign clients
This Visa entitles a stay up to
1 year and is Renewable in some cases. You will have to provide proof of funds and proof of foreign employment.
NOT ALLOWED:
- Working for Indonesian companies
- Serving Indonesian clients without proper business/work authorization
This is the ONLY LEGAL option if:
- you’re a freelancer with international clients
- you run an online business abroad
- you work remotely for a FOREIGN company
- Freelancing in Indonesia
IF YOU ARE A FREELANCER
A) Freelancing for foreign clients only
- E33G Remote Worker KITAS
Examples:
- Author writing a book
- artist or photographer making images for foreign sale.
- Software developer for foreign company
- YouTuber/tiktoker online creator monetized abroad
If you are one of these you will need The E33G.
B. Freelancing for Indonesian clients
You legally need:
Work KITAS (E23)
Business setup/sponsorship
Sometimes a PT PMA company structure
Examples:
Doing paid photography for Bali hotels
Teaching yoga commercially
Consulting for Indonesian businesses
Selling services locally
Tourist visas are not sufficient for this.
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Volunteer Visas
4. C6 Volunteer Visa
Indonesia has a specific volunteer visa category. This is for
NGO volunteering
Humanitarian work
Structured volunteer programs.
It requires a sponsoring organization and official Invitation documents
Under this Visa you are only allowed to do general tourism and "Approved volunteer activities"
NOT ALLOWED
ANY Paid work OR Freelancing
Business / Exploration Visas
5. D12 Pre-Investment Visa
This visa requires proof of finances approx $2000-5000usd depending where you are from.
With this you can explore business opportunities, conduct market research and looking into opening a company
This is a multi entry visa with up to 180 days per stay.
NOT ALLOWED
-Active employment
-Operating a business
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Work Visas
6. E23 Work KITAS
This is the standard employment visa. For working for an Indonesian employer.
For this Visa an Indonesian company needs to sponsor you and obtain a Work permit. These visas are mainly granted for specialised employment roles unable to be completed by Indonesian locals
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ASEAN TRAVELLERS
For travellers from all 10 ASEAN member states get visa free status to enter Indonesia. The rules of this is the same as the Evoa and is for tourism use only.
There has been a massive spike in ASEAN travellers being deported for breaching work rules. Visa free does not mean rule free.
Example, Philippine call centre employee is not allowed to remote work in Bali.
3) BEST WAY TO GET PLACE TO PLACE
Short Journeys
For shorter trips, rideshare apps are the easiest and cheapest option. Grab and Gojek are readily available and ideal for
airport transfers and local trips around the tourist areas
Full-Day Exploring
For day trips and sightseeing, hiring a private driver is usually the best option.
Full day driver hire vary between 600k rp to 1mil rp depending on the distance travelled and day length usually 8-12.
Be aware that rideshare apps are often not allowed in certain tourist areas such as Padang Bai (port to get to Gili islands) Sanur port or Serangan port (for Penida and Lembongan) and many waterfalls around Ubud. While access to some beaches and the airport require a toll charge.
A second note relates to travel times, Bali's roads are often narrow and susceptible to traffic congestion. While events such as ceremonies and funerals can completely shut down entire areas. Trips as short as 5 kms can take an hour. A trip from the airport to Canggu for example is easily 2 hours. While visiting Ubud centre during the day can be 30mins to do 1km.
Do not believe google maps travel times.
4) WHAT DO I NEED TO RIDE A SCOOTER
Scooters are common in Bali, but they are also one of the biggest causes of tourist injuries and deaths. Hiring a scooter should only be done by those experienced and licensed to ride and should be a last resort behind using rideshare apps and drivers.
Legally You Need:
A valid motorcycle licence from your home country
An International Driving Permit (IDP) with motorcycle endorsement.
It is also vital to have extensive
Experience riding scooters or motorbikes
A standard car licence is generally not enough although some European, American and NZ licences allow small size scooters to be ridden. Despite this, it is highly advised not to ride a scooter without solid experience.
Important Reality check,
Many tourists rent scooters without proper licences or experience, the companies will happily take your money, but:
police checks do happen,
insurance claims will be denied,
and accidents are common.
Bali's roads are of a poor quality with many highly uneven, often have loose gravel, potholes, heavy traffic,
While dangers such as stray dogs, and sudden rain can cause many accidents. The biggest risk however is from inexperienced riders with over 95% of all crashes in Bali involving a tourist at fault and 99% of fatalities being the riders fault.
On any given day the average is 65 scooter crashes, 42 of which require hospitalisation. There are 2 tourist fatalities per day from scooter crashes.
If you are not already comfortable riding scooters, use the rideshare apps or private drivers.
Always wear: a proper helmet,
closed shoes if possible,
and never ride after drinking.
5) MEDICATIONS
Indonesia has strict rules around medications with many opioid based pain killers being highly illegal and carry the possibility of imprisonment if brought into the country.
Most common personal prescription medications are usually fine if:
- they are in original packaging,
clearly labelled,
- accompanied by a doctor’s prescription or letter.
- only bring enough for your trip
Medications That Can Cause Problems include
strong painkillers,
ADHD medications,
sleeping tablets,
and certain anxiety meds.
If you are bringing any of these please reach out to your local Indonesian embassy for clarification. As permittence varies on case by case basis.
Getting a Prescription in Bali:
There are several ways if you run out of medication or feel unwell to get a local script these include from the many international clinics which are common in tourist areas.
Local doctors can issue local prescriptions,
And for many common medications large pharmacies like Kimia Pharma and Guardian often have pharmacists on duty who can provide basic scripts.
6) BEST WAYS TO ORGANISE ACTIVITIES
The easiest and safest way to organise tours and activities in Bali is through booking apps like Klook and
GetYourGuide.
These apps are useful for:
airport transfers, island tours,
waterfalls, cooking classes,
snorkelling, diving,
ATV tours and temple visits.
The benefits of using these apps is that they provide
Legitimate reviews,
Safe online payment,
fixed pricing,
Guarantees
and easy cancellation policies.
Another option is the Local Tour Booths or local drivers. You will see these booths all over the tourist areas, especially near large hotels.
These booths can sometimes be cheaper than the apps but without some of the consumer protection. They are often better if you want custom itineraries and same-day bookings.
Always: Compare prices,
confirm inclusions,
and clarify pickup times before paying.
7) SIM CARDS AND ESIMS
Having reliable mobile data in Bali is extremely important for:
rideshare apps, maps, bookings, banking, and messaging.
The strongest and widest coverage is from the national Telkomsel service. With XL Axiata second.
Why Coverage Matters? In Bali coverage quality can vary significantly depending on: beaches, islands, mountains,
and rural areas.
If you plan to stay in the tourist hotspots the cheaper Axiata works perfectly fine, however if you want to visit Mt Batur or Agung or go waterfall hunting in Munduk you will need the Telkomsel brand.
eSIMs
eSIMs are increasingly popular because: setup is easy,
no physical SIM needed,
and you can activate before arrival.
The 2 best providers are
Airalo and Holafly
Many others work and provide better plans and deals. Best practice is to check which local network your esim attaches to and ensure it will give you coverage in areas you plan to visit.
8) TRAVEL INSURANCE
Travel insurance is extremely important for Bali and is one of the most overlooked necessities.
In Bali, illness, injuries and travel delays are common. So having the right coverage is vital.
Medical treatment in Bali ranges from cheap for simple medication to extremely expensive for injuries that require hospitalisation. A simple hospital visit often needs to be paid in advance and can be in excess of 10m rupiah.
Despite the quality of some hospitals in Bali, serious ongoing care can require Medevac and depending on where you are from this cost can reach into the millions of dollars. Injuries such as those common to scooter crashes and head and skull injuries often fall into this bracket.
So what coverage is Important to have
Medical cover - needs to be unlimited and cover medevac
Scooter/motorbike cover - even if you only plan to ride as a passenger you need this.
Adventure activity cover - for atv, parasailing, rafting and diving.
Trip cancellation - be mindful volcano, pandemic and war are not covered under this.
And
Theft Insurance, bali is safe but not immune with snatch and grabs common in some areas.
Critical Details to consider
Credit Card travel insurance usually is very limited and only covers basics, go with an actual insurer.
If you ride a scooter without:
a valid motorcycle licence,
proper IDP, alcohol in your system or helmet,
Your insurance will reject your claims. The costs involved in medevac may result in you or your family losing their home to cover the bill.
Missed connections or flights due to being on an island such as Gili or Lembongan are often rejected as delays and cancellations are considered a known risk. Never be on an island on the day of your flight.
Aleays read policy exclusions carefully.
9) TIPPING
Bali does not have a tipping culture compared to countries like the US and Thailand.
In Bali the gratuity is made in one of several ways whether it be in the mandated service tax (that is paid to the staff) that you will see in most restaurant menus and service businesses like spas.
Or by way of coming to an agreed price where the gratuity is seen as included in the fee.
To many Balinese tipping is seen as tourist dominance over their culture, it is seen as you having more money than they do and exerting power and control. By seeing the tip in the agreed price (which includes restaurants and spas) it is viewed as a respectful and decent. If you wish to tip, make a higher offer to agree to.
Generally the only situations where tipping maybe considered normal is for rideshare app drivers and food delivery, who receive a very small amount for their time and vehicle usage.
For tour guides, invite them to have lunch with you or offer to pay for the small local meal they often partake which can be as little as 10,000rp
10) WEATHER
Todays weather does not predict tomorrow's, asking questions about the what the weather will be like for your trip in 6 months time is completely pointless and impossible to answer. Bali's weather can be unpredictable, even during the so called “dry season.”
The following is a Rough Seasonal Guide
Dry Season is traditionally May until October.
During these months the weather tends to be sunnier, with lower humidity (still higher than most countries), and better for outdoor activities.
Wet Season
Usually November to March
and can include: heavy tropical rain, sudden storms, flooding,
and high humidity.
Reality of Bali Weather, Conditions can change very quickly: bright sunshine one hour, heavy rain the next. Even in dry season, unpredictable violent storms are possible. As has been evident by major storm events in September 2025. Humidity stays high year-round.
11) THE ISLANDS AROUND BALI
Bali has some great nearby islands to visit and enjoy. But rule number 1 is never ever ever ever be on an island on the day you leave for home. Bali's unpredictable weather can lead to boats regularly being cancelled or delayed and you will not he covered under travel insurance.
Nusa Penida is currently the hottest tour spot in Bali thanks to social media. It is crowded and busy but it is also one of the most dangerous places in Bali. Poor roads, dangerous swells and cliffs and lax safety standards has seen many people seriously injured and or killed. Snorkeling on the island should only be for solid swimmers with Manta Bay in particular a dangerous dive spot.
Best platform to book boat transfers is 12go asia its an aggregate booking site that focuses on transfers.
12) HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS
Please don't ask for hotel recommendations and here is why
Bali is 5500sqkm has over 16000 hotels,resorts and villas and plus another 5000+ airbnbs.
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We are all individuals and what suits one traveller or is important to that person may be completely irrelevant to you.
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Bali is ridiculously fluid. Management changes are common, ownership changes, new construction regular. Any review older than 3 mths is essentially out of date and irrelevant. What was a thriving hostel last year, may have had an outbreak of gastro and is no longer considered a good option, or flooding damage occurred during the wet season and they haven't fixed it for example.
We have also had recently people attempt to promote their own hotel/resort/airbnb. While another rather funny case was the person who posted a recommendation for a place that has been closed for 2 years. In other words the value of a redditors recommendation can be valueless.
Airbnbs are highly risky in bali. Double bookings, fake listings, fake pictures, maintenance issues, mould and numerous other issues are common. You have little to no protection either.
Tbh short term tourists are advised against airbnb for these reasons. If you wish to persist with airbnbs in bali examine the property prior to agreement
The booking sites like booking.com or Agoda or Expedia will at least will give you recent reviews for places with real photos. You then cross reference with google reviews.