Sun, sea, surf and serenity are only a few of the things associated with Bali, Indonesia's touristic haven and coveted second-home destination.
While hordes of expatriates and digital nomads have relocated to the province, long-term visa processes can often be convoluted and difficult to navigate.
Now, Indonesia is aiming to simplify its immigration policies in a bid to promote foreign investment and attract more entrepreneurial and business-minded people to the country.
This includes a golden visa initiative, which was announced during the G20 Bali summit last year and is due to launch before the end of the year.
What is the new programme?
Indonesia's new residency-by-investment visa has been created to attract international talent in sectors including health, research and technology. It is part of a goal to generate 4.4 million new jobs in the country's creative industries by next year, and was created with Bali in mind.
The programme will be available to applicants with a five or 10-year validity and offer a range of benefits, including the right to own property in Bali.
Other benefits reportedly include multiple entries into Indonesia, faster and easier processes for visas, plus a fast track for citizenship applications, if that is also of interest in future.
“The golden visa grants a residence permit for an extended period of five to 10 years,” said Silmy Karim, director general of immigration.
“Once they arrive in Indonesia, golden visa holders no longer need to apply for permits.”
The full terms of the programme are still being finalised.
When will it be available?
When it was first announced last year, the visa was set to launch by June, but it was delayed due to administrative issues.
Sandiaga Uno, Indonesia's Minister for Tourism and Creative Economies, recently confirmed it will be rolled out to select individuals by the end of the third quarter.
How much will it cost?
The five-year visa requires individual investors to set up a company worth $2.5 million, while a $5 million investment is required for the 10-year visa.
Meanwhile, corporate investors are required to invest $25 million to get five-year visas for directors and commissioners. They need to invest double ($50 million) to gain a 10-year visa.
Different provisions apply to individual foreign investors who do not want to establish a company in the Southeast Asian country. The requirements range from $350,000 to $700,000 in funds that can be used to purchase Indonesian government bonds.
The financial commitment is similar to Indonesia's second-home visa, which was launched in December.
This permit, which also has a validity of five to 10 years, requires applicants to have proof of income and a bank statement with at least two billion Indonesian rupiah (approximately $130,537) in savings. It is aimed at retirees and investors looking to buy property in the country “who plan to stay and make a positive contribution to the Indonesian economy”, according to the immigration ministry.
More affordable long-stay options
The best visa for digital nomads living in Bali, who are making their income from outside the country, is still the B211a sociocultural visa, which allows people who conduct remote work to stay for six months, according to Uno. Although, Indonesia is also working on a five-year “digital nomad” visa targeted at those working remotely for offshore companies.
A visa on arrival for travellers is also available, costing 500,000 Indonesian rupiah ($32) and valid for 30 days. It can also be extended once for an extra 30 days.
Bali enforces stricter tourism rules
Since reopening to tourists last March, Bali has seen an influx of international tourists, particularly from Australia, India and Russia. By July, the province had already surpassed its targets for the year, according to tourism ministry statistics.
The target was set at 4.5 million international visitors, but between January and the end of May, a total of 4.25 million had set foot on the island.
They have been undeterred by the stricter tourism rules that have been introduced by governor Wayan Koster due to unruly behaviour from some visitors, which has included public nudity, and more than 100 people have reportedly been deported already this year.
The new policies include a requirement for travellers to hold official licenses in order to drive scooters; there will be penalties for anyone staying at unofficial or unregistered accommodation. Perhaps more significantly, there is a ban on mountain hiking and volcano visits.
The plan also includes giving travellers arriving in Bali a guidebook of dos and don'ts that advises them, among other things, to avoid swearing in public, touching holy trees, scaling religious buildings and interrupting traditional ceremonies, and ensuring they dress modestly in temples.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
