KITAS vs. Nomad Visa: Which Long-Stay Permit Fits Your Plans in Bali?
Two of Indonesia's most popular long-stay options compared side-by-side: eligibility, tax exposure, cost, family inclusion and renewal pathways.
Since the Directorate General of Immigration launched the Remote Worker Visa (E33G) in April 2024, our inbox has filled with the same question every week: should I get the new Nomad Visa, or stick with a traditional KITAS?
The honest answer depends on three things, how you earn your money, whether you plan to incorporate in Indonesia, and how much exposure to Indonesian income tax you can accept.
The Remote Worker Visa (E33G) at a glance
The E33G grants a one-year stay (renewable once) to foreign nationals working remotely for a company established outside Indonesia. Applicants must show USD 60,000 in personal funds and a valid employment or service contract with a foreign entity. Imigrasi E33G page
Crucially, holders are not permitted to earn income from any Indonesian source, and the visa carries no path to Indonesian tax residence so long as they spend fewer than 183 days in-country per tax year.
The investor KITAS (E28A)
The investor KITAS is sponsored by your own PT PMA and granted on the basis of a minimum IDR 10 billion shareholding. It lasts two years, renewable, and confers the right to act as director, sign on company bank accounts and live in Indonesia full-time.
It also makes you an Indonesian tax resident, which is a feature, not a bug, for founders building a business onshore. Indonesia's top personal rate is 35%, but the corporate rate of 22% (with a 50% reduction on the first IDR 4.8 billion of turnover for qualifying SMEs) is competitive across the region.
Side-by-side comparison
Income source: Nomad Visa requires foreign-only income; KITAS expects local activity. Family: both allow dependants on derivative permits. Cost: roughly USD 1,500 for a Nomad Visa, USD 2,500–3,500 for a first-year investor KITAS. Renewals: Nomad Visa once, KITAS indefinitely and leading to KITAP permanent residency after five years.
Our rule of thumb: if you are running a service business with clients you bill in EUR or USD, the Nomad Visa is enough. If you plan to hire staff, lease a villa long-term, or invest in property, the KITAS pays for itself in optionality.
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