Big win for Aussies living in Bali

Aussies who plan on staying in Bali long-term will now be able to do so with ease and without fuss after officials made a big announcement.

The digital nomad life in Bali has become more appealing over the years with the island a thriving hub for those seeking a balance between work and adventure.

Now, those Aussies who plan on staying in the hotspot long-term can benefit from a new transitional visa, also known as a bridging visa.

It allows foreigners to extend their trip another 60 days with ease and without fuss.

However, the visa, which falls under the new Transitional Residence Permit policy, is only applicable to foreigners who already reside in the country.

Aussies and tourists alike residing in Bali can now apply for a transitional visa, also known as a bridging visa.

Indonesia’s director general of immigration, Silmy Karim, said it will help make the transition from one visa to another easier – without having to leave the country.

It basically acts as a ‘bridge’ between an old residence permit and a new residence permit.

Those who have Visit Stay Permits, Limited Stay Permits and Permanent Stay Permits that cannot be extended, can now obtain the new residence permit without needing to leave the county.

“In this way, it is possible for foreign citizens holding a Visit Stay Permit to submit it via visa.immigration.go.id to obtain a Limited Stay Permit without having to leave Indonesian territory,” Mr Karim said in a statement, as reported by The Bali Sun.

According to officials, the new visa will make it easier for foreigners residing in Indonesia long term to transition from one visa to another without having to leave the country.

“With a Transitional Stay Permit, foreigners can save time, energy, and accommodation costs that would otherwise be incurred if foreigners had to leave Indonesian territory in order to submit an application and wait for approval for a new visa.”

It’s a big win for long-stay foreigners across Indonesia, particularly in the hotspot of Bali where in 2023 alone, 5.2 million people visited the popular island.

Data from the Bali Province Tourism Office, revealed that the five countries with the most amount of visitors to Bali are Australia with 1,201,652 people in 2023, followed by India with 394,428 people. In third is China with 253,255 tourists heading to Bali.

According to The Bali Sun, Mr Karim said he hopes the new policy will support more efficient and comfortable stays for foreigners while in Indonesia, as well as increase international trust in Indonesian immigration procedures.

Previously, those who had a Transitional Stay Permit would cop fines for overstaying their visit.

However, this wont be the case if their Transitional Stay Permit application is approved after the validity period of the previous stay permit expires.

It’s also the case if they have made the application at least three days before the original visa expires, according to The Bali Sun.

Tourists who overstay their visas can face fines of up to IDR 1,000,000 per day ($100), deportation and detainment.

To apply and for more information on the Transitional Residence Permit visit the immigration website.