Search “Bali digital nomad visa” and you’ll find two programs described as if they’re interchangeable: the Second Home Visa and the E33G Remote Worker Visa. They’re not the same thing, they have wildly different requirements, and picking the wrong one wastes months. Here’s the actual difference.
E33G Remote Worker Visa: The One Most Nomads Want
- Official name
- E33G Visa Rumah Kedua Pekerja Jarak Jauh
- Best for
- Remote employees & freelancers with foreign clients
- Income requirement
- ~$60,000/year
- Government fee
- ~Rp 7,000,000 (~$430)
- Duration
- 1 year per grant, see renewal note below
- Processing time
- 2–4 weeks for offshore VITAS approval
- Local work allowed
- No, foreign clients/employer only
Launched April 1, 2024, the E33G (“Visa Rumah Kedua Pekerja Jarak Jauh”) is Indonesia’s genuine answer to the digital nomad visa trend: built specifically so remote workers can legally live in Bali (or anywhere in Indonesia) while working for clients or an employer based outside the country.
E33G Requirements
- Employment contract showing a minimum salary around $5,000/month (~$60,000/year) from a company registered outside Indonesia
- A maintained bank balance of at least $2,000: this is a separate requirement from the income proof, not an either/or
- Employment contract or freelance client agreements showing the income is foreign-sourced
- Valid passport and standard visa application documents
- Health/travel insurance covering your stay
E33G Application Steps
- Gather proof of remote income (contracts, invoices, or employer letter) meeting the ~$5,000/month threshold, plus proof of the $2,000 bank balance.
- Submit your application through Indonesia’s official immigration portal (evisa.imigrasi.go.id) or through a licensed immigration agent.
- Pay the government fee (~Rp 7,000,000).
- Wait for VITAS approval, typically 2–4 weeks for offshore applications.
- Enter Indonesia and, if you want the physical KITAS card (rather than just the e-Visa), complete the KITAS conversion: a separate step requiring an in-person biometric appointment, typically taking about 14 business days.
Second Home Visa: Not Really a Nomad Visa
- Official name
- Second Home Visa
- Best for
- Retirees, investors, high-net-worth long-stayers
- Financial requirement
- ~$130,000 in savings or property
- Duration
- 5–10 years
- Local work allowed
- No, cannot work or earn income within Indonesia
The Second Home Visa launched in late 2022 with a much longer validity period (5–10 years) but a steep proof-of-funds requirement, around $130,000 in savings or Indonesian property. It was never really designed around the working-nomad use case, and most digital nomads find the E33G a far more practical fit. Second Home holders can work remotely for foreign employers in practice, but the visa itself doesn’t explicitly grant a work permit, and it does not allow any income-generating activity inside Indonesia.
Which One Should You Apply For?
- Working remotely with a foreign employer/clients and want the straightforward path → E33G Remote Worker Visa
- Have $130k+ in savings, want a much longer visa, and don’t mind the bigger upfront capital → Second Home Visa
- Just testing out Bali for under 6 months → a standard tourist visa or B211A is simpler than either
Taxes for Both Visa Types
Indonesian tax residency is based on physical presence, not visa type: non-residents staying under 183 days in a 12-month period pay no Indonesian income tax on foreign income. Stay longer than that and you become a tax resident, generally taxed at a flat 20% rate on Indonesian-sourced income (foreign remote income treatment can vary; this is genuinely a consult-an-accountant situation once you’re planning to stay past 183 days).
Can I work for Indonesian clients on either visa?
No. Both the E33G and Second Home Visa are built around foreign-sourced income: taking on Indonesian clients or local employment isn’t permitted under either.
Is the E33G only for Bali?
No: despite the Bali-heavy marketing, the E33G is a national Indonesian visa and applies wherever in Indonesia you choose to base yourself.
Can I switch from a Second Home Visa to an E33G later, or vice versa?
Visa category changes are handled case-by-case through Indonesian immigration and typically require a fresh application rather than a simple conversion, budget time for a full reapplication if you switch.
Does the E33G automatically renew each year?
No: in practice, you file a completely new application when your current E33G approaches expiry, rather than a simple renewal. There’s no limit on how many times you can do this if you keep meeting the income and bank-balance requirements.
Do I need the physical KITAS card, or is the e-Visa enough?
This depends on your plans: the e-Visa/VITAS grants entry and stay, but converting to a physical KITAS card (a separate in-person, biometric process taking about 14 business days) is often needed for things like opening local bank accounts or longer administrative processes.
Official Resources
Related Destinations for Indonesia E33G / Second Home
Bali remains the main draw, but other spots in Indonesia are growing:
- Canggu / Ubud (Bali): Classic nomad hubs with coworking, waves, and community (~$1,200–1,800/mo).
- Other islands for quieter or cheaper long stays once on the visa.
City & Planning Links
More Value for Nomads
Visa choice in Indonesia ties directly into tax residency and banking setup. Use these resources for the full picture.
Essential Cross-Links