Your Guide to Bali
Indonesia’s Second Home Visa gives foreigners the right to live in the country for 5 or 10 years without needing a local employer or company sponsor. Launched in 2022, it’s now issued under the visa index E33, and it has become one of the main long-stay routes for people who want to base themselves in … Read more
You order a coffee in Canggu, scan the QR code to pay, and the cashier adds Rp1,000 — or 3% — “for QRIS”. Or you hand over your card and get told there’s a 3% fee. In Indonesia, that isn’t allowed. And since 1 October 2026, QRIS is free for merchants on most small payments, … Read more
Every year from around June to October, the sky over Bali fills with kites. Not small ones: village teams fly kites up to ten metres long with tails that can stream out for a hundred metres or more, launched from the beaches and rice fields to the sound of gamelan. Kite season coincides with the … Read more
Every key Bali statistic in one place – tourist arrivals, population, hotel rooms, occupancy, the economy – each figure cited to BPS or the Bali Provincial Government with its publication date.
Digital Nomad Bali is a popular destination for digital nomads. The nice climate, relative low cost of life, decent internet speeds and the ever friendly Balinese people are a great place to get things done. Learn more about the new 5 and 10 year “Indonesia Second Home Visa” Read more … If you are looking … Read more
Bringing your own phone to Indonesia? Since 2020, phones bought overseas need their IMEI registered with Indonesian Customs before they’ll work with a local SIM card long-term — and depending on the phone’s value, there may be import tax to pay. This guide covers whether you need to register at all, how to do it, … Read more
Wise (formerly TransferWise) is one of the cheapest and fastest ways to send money to Bali from abroad. The fees are always shown upfront with no hidden markup, and transfers are quick — Wise reports that most arrive within a day, and a large share land in under a minute. As well as sending to … Read more
Bali has some of the toughest waste laws in Indonesia — and they’ve tightened sharply in recent years as the island’s main landfill has run out of space. This guide covers the rules that affect residents, villa owners, and visitors: the ban on burning rubbish, the single-use plastic bans, and the newer requirement to sort … Read more
An SKCK (Surat Keterangan Catatan Kepolisian) is Indonesia’s police clearance certificate — an official document from the Indonesian National Police (POLRI) confirming you have no criminal record during your time in Indonesia. Foreigners most often need one for a KITAP application, a visa or residency process abroad, or an employer’s background check. The good news … Read more
Once you’ve held a Spouse KITAS for long enough, you can convert it to a KITAP — Indonesia’s permanent stay permit. It’s the natural next step for a foreigner married to an Indonesian citizen, and it’s a big upgrade: a KITAP is valid for five years at a time instead of the one-year KITAS cycle. … Read more