The fresh air, the blue sea, the sky forever. Lots of us daydream about never having to work again. Whether it be a lucky lottery ticket, a rich husband, or a Nigerian prince kind enough to share his fortune. But the chances of those opportunities coming forth are slim, so the next best thing is to work in Bali!
Freelancers and remote workers will soon be able to work tax-free in Indonesia, including the island of Bali, as the country’s tourism minister Sandiaga Uno announced the five-year ‘digital nomad visa’ earlier this week. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go find my suitcase.
Before you rush off to buy plane tickets and find a roommate to join you in your adventure, make sure to leave your thoughts on this in the comments below, upvote the story, and follow the author so that they can live out their dream of a life on the beach!
Freelancers and remote workers will soon be able to work tax-free in Indonesia, including the island of Bali, thanks to the five-year ‘digital nomad visa’
Image credits: uros velickovic (not the actual photo)
Grab your sunscreen and a margarita as we’re off to explore the many beaches, equatorial weather, and perpetual holiday mood whilst also powering our laptops with multiple battery banks. This isn’t a vacation, but rather a scenery change.
Indonesia’s tourism minister Sandiaga Uno announced the five-year ‘digital nomad visa,’ hoping that it will bring in up to 3.6 million overseas travelers and create one million jobs for Indonesians.
Image credits: The 3B's (not the actual photo)
The proposed remote working visa would mean that people can live tax-free, as long as their earnings come from outside of Indonesia and they don’t enter the local labor market. This will ensure that local residents aren’t pushed out of jobs and embrace longer-staying, higher-spending travelers.
Uno told the South China Morning Post that he wants Indonesia’s tourism to shift its 3 S’s from “sun, sea and sand” and instead focus on “serenity, spirituality and sustainability.” “This way we’re getting better quality and better impact on the local economy,” he explained.
Indonesia’s tourism minister Sandiaga Uno hopes that it will bring in up to 3.6 million overseas travelers and create one million jobs for Indonesians
Image credits: Sean Hamlin (not the actual photo)
The decision was based on research which showed Indonesia - and, more specifically, Bali - to be “top of mind” for 95% of remote workers that took part in the survey. It is likely that the digital nomad visa would have been proposed earlier, however, it had to be delayed due to the pandemic.
“Now with the pandemic handled and all the ministries getting involved and cooperating from the health side to the immigrations office, we believe that this is an opportune time to relaunch this idea,” Uno explained.
Indonesia has removed most travel restrictions, as Covid-19 cases stay low and booster doses are rolled out. Tourist arrivals jumped 500% to 111,000 in April, its highest monthly tally since the pandemic.
Image credits: Bryan Sereny (not the actual photo)
Earnings must come from outside Indonesia and travelers mustn’t enter the local labor market, so that local residents won’t be pushed out of jobs
Image credits: VasenkaPhotography (not the actual photo)
There are currently a variety of visas available to those wanting to visit Indonesia, including the Visa on Arrival (VoA), Tourist or Cultural Visa and the country’s Free Visa, but these only last between 30 and 180 days. Other countries such as Georgia, Croatia and Portugal also offer digital nomad visas and securing one often requires proof of funds.
Living tax-free isn’t always a guarantee if you’re granted a digital nomad visa. For example, Americans will still have to file taxes if they’re granted one, because the US taxes citizens based on citizenship itself, rather than their residence.
Image credits: Ya, saya inBaliTimur (not the actual photo)
From “sun, sea and sand” to “serenity, spirituality and sustainability,” Sandiaga Uno believes it’ll ensure a better impact on the local economy
Image credits: Aiko Konishi (not the actual photo)
But as glorious as the sights and sounds are, there are always shadows cast by the bright sunshine and a move as significant as this should be carefully considered on all sides. According to A Little Adrift, one should expect to spend around $720 to $2,600 per month as a single person living in Bali. Unless you’re looking to rent a 3-bedroom villa, they believe that it would be hard to top $2,000 on a generous budget living a moderate lifestyle.
Southern Cross Travel Insurance note the many risks and dangers to watch out for in Bali. Nature might be a tad more deadly than you’ve experienced before, with natural disasters, such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, being a frequent occurrence. You can thank the Pacific Ring of Fire for the wondrous Indonesian nature.
Image credits: Jannet Serhan (not the actual photo)
However, before you start packing up your suitcase and booking flights, you must familiarize yourself with potential dangers and safety measures
Image credits: Bryan Sereny (not the actual photo)
From elephants and monkeys to exotic birds, Indonesia is ripe with life, however, one must stay on guard. There are snakes in Bali, some of which are poisonous. Bites, both from snakes and monkeys, can happen easily if you’re not careful. Various insects, as well as the well-known mosquito, are known to carry diseases like malaria and dengue fever.
Even water itself could cause you damage, as they don’t have a proper water treatment system in Bali. Thus, avoid drinking tap water and ordering drinks with ice cubes. In addition to that, alcoholic beverages, such as Arah, have been known to be contaminated with methanol, causing severe illness, or even permanent blindness. Proceed with caution.
Image credits: Bryan Sereny (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Enrique Blasco (not the actual photo)
Lastly, the most dangerous of all tend to be members of our own species. Petty crime is common and corruption and scams do occur. Some police in Bali are known to be corrupt when it comes to extorting tourists.
Never get into unmarked cars and avoid walking alone at night. All this is not to deter you from visiting or moving to Indonesia; just be careful as this will allow you to have the best experience possible!
This may be a dream come true for many freelancers and adventure-seekers, and we can’t wait to see how it works out
Image credits: Alan Sung (not the actual photo)
Can’t wait to see all the influencers posting content from Bali in the upcoming months while I look on in envy and continue the daydream of life.
Let us know what you think of this and if you’ll be packing up and leaving for the adventure of a lifetime. Until we see each other again!
People have expressed their excitement, cracking jokes in the process. Let us know your thoughts and if you’ll be taking advantage of the visa!
