Indonesia Offers a Flexible Visa to Attract ‘Digital Nomads’

The tourism business on the island of Bali applauds Indonesia’s efforts to entice more so-called “digital nomads” to its tropical coastlines by giving a more flexible visas.

A growing number of international travelers and long-term visitors to Asia are digital nomads who work remotely while seeing the region.

In an Instagram post, Indonesia’s tourism minister Sandiaga Uno announced that digital nomads could enter the country with a social-cultural visa and work for up to six months.

He predicted that an increase in the number of international visitors interested in staying in Indonesia will have a “direct and immediate effect” on the country’s economic recovery.

The Bali Tourist Board is supportive of the concept, despite the fact that working while on this type of visa was previously prohibited. Indonesia has not yet specified how it could tax digital nomads.

Board chairman Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana said, “We have to grasp this chance.”

To that end, I propose that the government issue a directive on the matter. “For instance, tourists working from Bali must pay a specific amount of tax to the Indonesian government,” he gave as an example.

When contacted by Reuters, the Indonesian Immigration Department did not provide a response to the question.

As the island of Bali recovers from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourist organization predicts that the number of international visitors will rise to six million by 2025.

From January to August of this year, over 3,000 digital nomads, largely from Russia, the United Kingdom, and Germany, entered Indonesia, with the bulk settling in Bali.

President Joko Widodo has recently criticized immigration officers for making it hard for foreigners to enter the country, especially investors and tourists.

Additionally, other countries in the region are looking to capitalize on the virtual work market. Boracay in the Philippines is now providing “workation” packages. Last week, Malaysia adopted legislation that will allow qualified digital nomads to stay for a year.