Tropical Writer

Retirement Visa in Bali

Excerpt from my eBook, The Practicalities of Moving to Bali

Bali is becoming one of Asia’s favorite places for foreigners who are looking to retire somewhere where life is somewhat simpler (and cheaper) than in the West. Potential expats in Bali have a variety of options; the retirement visa is just one of them, and it is becoming the vehicle of choice for those of us who want to retire and do not plan on working.

The Retirement Visa is becoming quite popular despite having some requirements that are stricter than neighboring countries.

These are the current requirements for a Retirement Visa:

•    Being 55 years of age or older.
•    Be in good health
•    Have no intention of working in Indonesia
•    Having an income of at least USD 1,500 per month. This needs to be documented.
•    Having health and life insurance.
•    Renting ($500 a month or more) in an approved tourist area.
•    Being sponsored by an authorized company.
•    Having documented proof that you employ at least one Indonesian citizen.
•    Having personal liability insurance.

If you can meet the requirements listed above, you will need the following documentation in order to file for the Retirement Visa.
•    A copy of your passport and travel documents
•    Health Insurance
•    Life Insurance
•    Proof of holding a pension or bank deposit
•    Curriculum Vitae
•    A Personal Guarantee letter that states where you will live with proof of a rental agreement and lease. The housing that you select must be in an authorized tourist area.
•    Employment letter stating that you are employing at least one Indonesian citizen and in what capacity.
•    Photographs – 10 4×6, 4 3×4, 4 2×3 all with a red background.

After providing this documentation, you will be approved (hopefully) for your visa and will receive a KITAS (Limited Stay Permit Card) that will be good for one year. This can be renewed yearly for up to five years after which time you can apply for a KITAP (Permanent Stay Permit). You will need to leave the country if you are already inside Indonesia and apply at one of the Indonesian Embassies located worldwide. The various embassies have differing reputations on the ease, or lack thereof, of getting your application approved. Most expats go through Singapore and often use an agent there to take their documentation to the Embassy. This can usually be completed in one day – they pick up your documentation at your hotel in the morning and return it in the late afternoon. This can be a stressful experience as I can attest. Try to relax and enjoy your day in Singapore if you are going through this embassy.

Once you obtain your paperwork from your agent, you fly back to Bali and present it to the immigration officers at the airport. They will examine it and stamp your passport. You then need to turn in everything that you have to your agent in Bali, or take it to the Immigration Department if you are doing all of this by yourself.

If you wish to leave Indonesia for a trip while you are on a KITAS, you will need to apply for an exit and re-entry permit. You will need to pay a small fee for this (around Rp. 200,000 if you use an agent).

If you want to leave the country permanently, you will need an EPO (Exit Permit Only). Only do this if you want to give up your KITAS, as using an EPO will require you to being the whole process all over again if you want another KITAS.

After five renewals, you may apply for an unlimited stay permit (KITAP).

If you hold a KITAS, you can ship a container of household goods from your home country to Bali, although the costs of getting your goods through customs can be high depending on your luck and skill. I’ve been in the customs area and watched foreigners squirm as the custom’s officer tried to get as much money as possible from them. Make sure you have a friend with good connections with you when you collect your goods.

So how much does life in paradise cost? Well, that all depends (like a lot of things in Indonesia) on how you go about obtaining your visa. There have been a proliferation of agents in recent years who can smooth the way for you, and their costs vary although generally they are roughly similar. Plan on paying somewhere around $700 a year for your visa. The initial one will be a bit more costly because of the trip to Singapore and the use of an agent there to file your paperwork for you. However, once you get your first visa, you will not have to leave the country again. Sound simple? I’m in the process of obtaining mine right now and so far, so good. So if you want to retire in Asia, Bali may be the place for you.