A top-ten expat destination in 2025, a remote worker permit and a second home visa, a lower cost level for a single person and a lifestyle built around nature and community: and what to plan for, visa terms, scooters and land ownership.
In brief
Indonesia came eighth in the InterNations Expat Insider 2025 ranking (the 2026 position was not found). Two routes support a longer stay: the E33G remote worker permit, launched in April 2024, and the Second Home Visa, which one guide describes as IDR 2 billion (about USD 130,000) in a state bank or USD 1 million of property. One cost source puts a single person in Denpasar at about USD 1,100 a month (March 2026). Bali charges foreign visitors a levy of IDR 150,000, in force since 14 February 2024. Plan early for the visa terms, which sources describe differently, and for land: foreigners use leasehold and Hak Pakai, not freehold. It suits remote workers, creatives and entrepreneurs. Facts as of November 2026.
What moving to Indonesia gives you
Bali is easy to love, and the practical reasons are worth listing next to the lifestyle ones.
- A strong expat reputation. Indonesia was eighth in the InterNations Expat Insider 2025 (the latest position we could confirm), which tells you that people who live there tend to rate the experience well. The survey is self-reported, so use it as a mood indicator.
- A lower cost level for a single person. getwherenext.com, citing BPS and World Bank data in March 2026, puts Denpasar near USD 1,100 a month for one person. Costs in the busiest tourist areas run higher, so test the area you actually want.
- A route for remote workers. The E33G remote worker KITAS has been operating since April 2024 and is aimed at people paid by an employer or clients outside Indonesia, with dependants able to be included according to one guide.
- A route for people with capital. The Second Home Visa is described in one guide as valid for five to ten years, with about IDR 2 billion (roughly USD 130,000) in a state bank or USD 1 million of property.
- Nature and community in one place. Rice terraces, surf, wellness and a large, established community of long-term residents; our piece on Bali ten years later describes how long-stayers settle.
- A choice of areas. Canggu, Uluwatu, Ubud and Sanur each offer a different pace; see our guide to where to base yourself and buy in Bali.
What to prepare for
These are tasks with solutions, not reasons to stay away.
- Visa terms that sources describe differently. For the E33G, sources report an income requirement anywhere from about USD 5,000 a month to USD 60,000 a year, a duration of one year that is either renewable up to five years or not renewable, and very different fee totals. Solution: ask the immigration office (imigrasi.go.id) or a licensed agent for the current written terms before you pay anything, and note that one source says the permit does not count toward permanent residence.
- The Bali tourist levy. Foreign visitors pay IDR 150,000, in force since 14 February 2024. Reports say compliance had reached 43 percent by August 2026, so expect checks. Solution: pay through the official channel before you travel.
- Scooters and licences. Renting a scooter is part of daily life, and enforcement has stepped up in 2026. Solution: follow the licence rules in our first 30 days checklist before you ride.
- Land ownership. Foreigners cannot hold freehold land. Solution: understand leasehold, Hak Pakai and PT PMA before any deposit; our explainer and the Thailand versus Bali comparison cover them.
- Traffic, rainy season and waste. These are widely discussed in the local press, but we did not find official statistics and give no numbers. Solution: visit in the wet season before you commit and choose the area with the commute and the quiet you need.
- Health cover. Solution: arrange insurance before you arrive and follow the health insurance guide; we did not verify hospital quality in this piece.
Who it suits, and who may prefer another country
It suits remote workers paid from outside Indonesia (the E33G route), creatives and wellness professionals, entrepreneurs who enjoy a community-driven place, and retirees who like warm weather (see the retirement guide).
Others may be happier elsewhere. Families who want to know exactly which school their child will attend should test that in advance (see our schools article). People who want to own their land outright, or who need an easy path to permanent residence, may find a European country a better fit. That is about fit, not a verdict.
Your first 90 days
- Weeks 1 to 2: arrive with the right visa and insurance. Notify your address through the local procedure and settle into a short rental rather than a long lease.
- Weeks 3 to 6: test two areas. Spend a week or two in each, ride the roads at rush hour and check the internet speed.
- Weeks 7 to 12: decide. Confirm the E33G or Second Home Visa terms in writing, compare the cost against your budget, and only then look at property.
How a property purchase fits
Rent for the first season, then compare leasehold terms. See what each budget buys in Indonesia for USD 70,000 to 350,000, the best areas and our guide to renting out a home you also use.
Where to go next
Start with the decision guide, compare countries with the self-test and test your plan with the trial year. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
FAQ
Is Bali a good place to move to in 2026? For many remote workers and creatives, yes: Indonesia ranked eighth in the InterNations Expat Insider 2025 and has dedicated permits for remote workers. Whether it fits you depends on your income source, family and how you handle traffic and the wet season; a trial stay answers that.
Which visa lets me live and work remotely in Bali? The E33G remote worker KITAS, launched in April 2024, is aimed at people paid from outside Indonesia. Sources disagree on the income requirement, duration and fees, so confirm the current terms in writing with immigration or a licensed agent.
What is the Second Home Visa? One guide describes it as a five-to-ten-year visa for people with capital, requiring about IDR 2 billion (roughly USD 130,000) in a state bank or USD 1 million of property. It is not tied to a job, and the terms should be confirmed with immigration.
Can a foreigner own a house in Bali? Not freehold land. Foreigners use leasehold, Hak Pakai or a PT PMA company, each with its own rules and risks; read the explainer before paying a deposit.
How much does it cost to live in Bali? One March 2026 source puts a single person in Denpasar near USD 1,100 a month, based on BPS and World Bank data. Costs in popular tourist areas are higher, so build your own budget during a trial stay.