How to Move to Bali in 2026: Visas, Housing and Money — Step by Step

Moving to Bali comes down to three practical questions: which visa to live on, where to live, and how to bring in money. Here's the step-by-step, without rose-tinted glasses. 1. Visa: what you can legally live on A tourist visa (e-VOA or the B1 visa) lasts up to 60 days with an extension. Fine for "trying it out", but not for living and not for working. For a long stay you need a KITAS — a residence permit. The main options: — Remote Worker KITAS (E33G) — for remote workers, in effect since April 2024. Issued for one year, then renewed by reapplying. Requirements: you work for a company outside Indonesia, earn from USD 60,000 a year, and hold a balance of at least USD 2,000. Working for Indonesian companies or being paid in rupiah is not allowed. Official fees are about USD 315. — Investor KITAS — if you set up a PMA company (for a business or to rent out property). Process and timelines — in a separate article on KITAS and PMA. — Second Home Visa — requires a deposit of around USD 150,000 (IDR 2 billion) in an Indonesian account. Aimed at the well-off and at retirement. Details — a separate article. — Retirement KITAS — for those aged 55+. Note: a KITAS lets you open a local bank account, get a driver's license, and rent property long-term legally. 2. Housing: rent first, decide on buying later At the start almost everyone rents — and that's sensible: a year or two to figure out which area is yours. A long-term lease of a villa or apartment starts from a few hundred dollars a month depending on the area and season (on rental seasonality — a separate article). If you get to buying: a foreigner cannot obtain Hak Milik (full freehold); the legal routes are leasehold, Hak Pakai (with a KITAS) or a PMA. How much a villa costs by area, and whether a foreigner can buy at all — we cover in separate articles. 3. Money and banking With a KITAS you open a local account in rupiah. Bringing money in is the main practical hurdle in 2026: plan in advance how you'll fund your living costs, and for a large transaction (buying property) agree the payment route with your notary and bank. 4. Daily life: what to sort out in advance — Healthcare on Bali is private — you need insurance (on choosing a policy — a separate article). — Driving: international licenses are accepted only to a limited extent; with a KITAS you get a local one. — Schools: there are international schools on the island, but they are expensive. — Transport and connectivity: a scooter or car, a local SIM. 5. What matters by nationality There are no entry or residence restrictions based on citizenship — the visa is processed the same way for any foreigner. The real friction is money transfers and, occasionally, paperwork (apostille, certified translations). How to actually start: 1. Come on a tourist visa, live for 1–2 months, choose an area. 2. In parallel, prepare documents for the KITAS type you need. 3. Rent housing long-term. 4. If you decide to stay — apply for a KITAS, and only then think about buying. The key idea: moving to Bali isn't "buy a villa and move" — it's a sequence: tourism → get to know the island → visa and rental → and only then, if you want, a purchase. That way it's cheaper and mistake-free. Sources: visa rules and the E33G / Second Home Visa conditions — Indonesia's Directorate General of Immigration (imigrasi.go.id), official regulations 2024–2025.