Foreigners can work in Bali or even in Indonesia with the proper visa and working permit. There are 3 types of visa companies, and individuals can use to work.
General Rules
Foreign nationals can work in Indonesia if they obtain a working permit (IMTA) from the Ministry of Manpower, and immigration grants the foreigner with a working visa. Expats working in Bali or Lombok can work exclusively for the sponsor company.
Your visa process made easy with ILA
Indonesia has so many visas to choose from, each with its own requirements, regulations, and duration. With more constantly being issued by the government, it can be hard to keep track and choose one that is right for you.
With the help of ILA, you can be sure that you’ll get the best visa for your needs as quickly and efficiently as possible without having to worry about any missing documents.
Whether you’re looking for an Investor KITAS, Working KITAS, Second Home Visa, Spouse KITAS, Multiple Entry Business Visa or Remote Worker Visa, we can help make the process efficient and smooth.
Schedule a free consultation today or learn more about the different visa options.
Working KITAS
A working visa allows foreigners to work in Bali for a specific position, exclusively within the role and for the company that sponsors them. Some positions and companies, however, are not open to foreign workers.
For example, a foreigner cannot apply for a position as a boxing coach under a work permit in Bali if the company operates in the Food and Beverage sector.
Indeed, some applications are rejected by the manpower due to the application for the wrong job position. Business owners with a PT PMA need to check their KBLI before applying to a job position for an employee to ensure they can be hired under this job title.
The process to obtain a work permit takes 14 working days to 2 months.
- The sponsor company needs to apply for an RPTKA (work placement) and assistwitho an interview
- Apply and get the working permit (IMTA)
- Apply for a visa (working visa)
- Get the KITAS once the foreigner enters the country with a working visa
Once the employee has their working permit and KITAS, then the foreigner can start to work. It is important for the company to contribute to BPJS each month to make sure they can renew their working permit every year. The validity of a working permit is a maximum of 1 year and must be renewed at least one month before the expiry date.
Also read: Should You Use a Nominee For Your Company in Indonesia?
Visa Trial Work in Bali
Foreign workers can obtain only a fixed-term contract due to the limitation of the working permit to 1 year.
In the event a company wishes to test a worker, the company can use a work trial visa, which may eventually lead to obtaining a work permit in Indonesia for eligible candidates. This visa is valid for 60 days and can be extended 2 times. During this period, the company can apply for a working permit.
Working as director in a PT PMA
The director of a PT PMA needs to apply for a working permit to be able to direct the company. As a director,r the foreigner can only direct the company and the employees. The director cannot exercise work, for example, as marketing director or any other position in the company. For example, the director of a yoga company cannot, in any case, work as a yoga teacher.
The investor KITAS allows the director to supervise its investment but not to direct the employees of the company in any form in Indonesian territory.
Remote worker KITAS
Bali is a place that welcomes thousands of digital nomads and even remote workers every year. Indonesia offers a remote worker visa, allowing foreign workers to work remotely from Indonesia exclusively for their employer located outside the country, including Bali.
The remote worker KITAS doesn’t allow foreigners to work for another company located in Indonesia or perform activities that generate income inside Indonesian territory.
Also read: Remote worker visa (Digital Nomad) for Bali
Working as a freelance in Indonesia
It is important to remember that there is no freelance visa in Bali. Foreigners can work exclusively for the company which sponsors the visa. A lot of expats think they can work as a freelancer as a DJ, a sports coach in several places or at a sports centre.
A person with a working KITAS is an employee of the company sponsoring the visa. The company has to pay the contribution with the salary, including income tax and social security BPJS.
If the foreign worker wants to perform a service for another company, then the sponsor needs to invoice the company and pay the KITAS holder directly. Basically, the employee provides a service on behalf of the sponsor company. The client is not the client of the freelancer but of the sponsor company.
