The Bali-based digital nomad dream will become that much more attainable at the end of this year when Indonesia launches its ‘Golden Visa’. The new visa is a residency-by-investment policy that’ll allow eligible foreigners to stay in the country five to 10 years.
The visa aims to attract “talented foreigners” who want to live in Indonesia and are willing to make a financial contribution to the country, said Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism and Creative Economies, Sandiaga Uno, in a press conference in May 2023 via The Bali Sun.
“We hope to increase not only investment, but employment,” Minister Uno said. The visa is part of Minister Uno’s mission to create 4.4 million new jobs in tourism and creative economies in Indonesia by 2024. It was originally set to launch in July this year, but due to policy adjustments and other administrative changes, has now been delayed to launch by the end of this year.
Back in May, Minister Uno also explained that the Golden Visa was aimed at talent from digital, health, research and technology sectors. Those on the Golden Visa will also be able to fast-track their citizenship application, as well as be treated to other benefits, including the right to own assets within the country.
“We want to make sure that the Golden Visa offer is attractive for foreign tourists to invest and stay longer in Indonesia,” Minister Uno said in another press conference in August 2023. “We hope for certainty [it to be launched] before the end of the third quarter.”
The requirements or price for the Golden Visa have yet to be shared, but it’s expected those applying will have to show a hefty amount in their savings and that the visa itself won’t be cheap. Based on other residency-by-investment visas in other countries, Indonesia’s “investment” requirement could either be an investment or a donation.
In 2022, Indonesia announced a Second Home Visa category, targeted at high earners who wish to establish a home base in Indonesia for five to 10 years. It remains to be seen how the Golden Visa will differ from this.
In July 2023, Balinese officials announced a task force that’ll crack down on badly behaved tourists and come into effect from December 31, 2023.
“We hope that with the formation of the Bali Becik Task Force, the level of violations of laws and norms by foreigners in Bali will decrease,” Director General of Immigration Silmy Karimhe said in a statement.
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