Digital nomad visa to be introduced in Indonesia

According to a recent survey, 95% of “workationers” are eyeing up the Indonesian island of Bali. With the new digital nomad visa, they will be able to stay for up to five years

Indonesia is the latest country to jump on the digital nomad visa bandwagon. Sandiago Uno, the country’s Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy, announced earlier this month that plans to introduce a digital nomad visa for foreign professionals will be enacted. As a tourist hotspot in Southeast Asia, it is thought that the island of Bali will be the area that will see the biggest influx of individuals making use of the new scheme.

What is a digital nomad visa?

The practice of working from anywhere is the world is now more popular than ever — Shutterstock

According to visaguide.world, 26 countries and territories already issue digital nomad visas. While the exact definition of ‘digital nomad’ varies from place to place, the general principle is that they are either self-employed or employed by a company based in one country, while working remotely in another country. The practice gained significant appeal in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, when many professionals were forced away from their offices and had to work at home, fueling the realization that they could, in fact, work from anywhere in the world.

Currently, there are a handful of visa types available to foreign nationals wishing to work remotely in Indonesia, however, their periods of validity only stretch to anywhere between 30 and 180 days. Meanwhile, the new digital nomad visa will be valid for five years with a tax exemption, on the condition that no income is earned in the country.

Bali bounces back

Wanting to spend a long time in #Bali? No need to worry about your work and just pack your bag! There are a lot of cool co-working spaces on the island! Click the link below to find them all out! https://t.co/HmRJP1zd4s#WonderfulIndonesia #ItstimeforBali pic.twitter.com/aieCLXIWX4

— Wonderful Indonesia (@wonderfulid) June 19, 2022

The idea to implement a digital nomad visa scheme in Indonesia surfaced at the beginning of 2021, but had to be deferred as borders were effectively closed to foreign nationals after a nationwide surge in Covid-19 cases. 18 months later, Mr. Uno said in an interview with Bloomberg that he expects 3.6 million visitors to return to the archipelago — partially thanks to the digital nomad visa — and that some one million local jobs will be created in turn.

Mr. Uno also explained how the new initiative plays a part in a looser plan to rebrand the country: “In the past, the three S[s were]: sun, sea and sand. We’re moving it to serenity, spirituality and sustainability. This way we’re getting [a] better quality and better impact [on] the local economy.” Indonesia, particularly Bali, is steadily solidifying its reputation as a destination for spiritual retreats and ecotourism.

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