Thread: Retirement Visa details

I copied the following text from the "VISA Indonesia" site:
A personal Guarantee Letter, stating: To live in the provided and agreed accommodation in Indonesia (Bali in particular) with proof of receipt or through renting proof of rental agreement. The mentioned accomodation must be located at an authorized tourist area and in accordance with the prevailing regulations.

My questions are:
What is meant by "provided and agreed accommodation"? It sounds like somebody else is choosing the accommodation and providing it to me if I agree. Rather than me choosing my own accommodation.

What is an "authorized tourist area"? Are there clear specifics?

What are the "prevailing regulations"?

Hi Bert,
Thanks for the reply. It sounds a bit like the way we deal with complex rules and regulations here. "iIt's easier to get forgivness then permission." We don't trouble the administrators with difficult questions. We do the best we can and then plead ignorance when we screw up. A little crying usually helps. Is that how it works in Bali?

Rog

Bert, I like that idea. I'm not averse to spending a few bucks to make my life a little simpler.

Jimbo, I’m not in a hurry. I’m guessing two years before a permanent move to Bali. I’ll be watching closely the changes to the Visa regs. Will they become more or less restrictive? Much to learn. I searched this site and Google for details to no avail. I suspect you’re right. The details will change a lot in two years.

Rog, what’s missing in this string is a little bit of a “reality check.” The retirement visa means just that...retired. It doesn’t mean “retired” (but with a little activity towards business), it means retired. Surely, you could write your autobiography, but as the current retirement visa stands, it does not allow for any productive activity...gratis or not.

Rest assured, as long as I live on Bali, I will never hold a retirement visa. That’s just me as I love my “work” which is not work at all. For others, who truly want to “retire” reading the books they missed, seeing movies they never had time to see, and just “chilling out” in paradise Bali, that is GREAT. I only say this because I have known many who have said they are “retired” which in the end only meant seeking goals in their lives that they put “on hold” for too long. That is not "retirement" nor does it comply with the expectations under the retirement visa.

Hi Rog

Regarding Retirement Visas in this country, you are probably right to say:

The details will change a lot in two years.

Some current hoo-ha in the Indonesian press is suggesting that measures are afoot to make it "easier" for certain foreigners to attain Indonesian "citizenship" (not that I, for one, understands why anybody would want to in the first place). Unless, of course, business people have long-term plans/forecasting in mind. From my reading of the new proposals, they don't seem to deviate much (if at all) from what's already in place. One area that seems to be getting some attention (don't hold your breath) concerns the possibility of Indonesian women to sponsor their non-Indonesian spouses. And there's talk of mixed-marriage children being able to hold dual-passports (something like that).

"Retirement visas" here are of two basic types (as far as I can tell):

[1] Foreigners wishing to retire here (in the normal sense) and
[2] Foreigners married to Indonesians wishing to retire here

As you've probably gathered by now, it's next to impossible to get clear-cut, accurate information about either (or anything, for that matter), in this country. Government websites are about useful as tits on a bull. And don't always believe what visa "agents" tell you (even the "good" ones), without doing your homework first. It's hard to do "homework" when one can't get basic, reliable information. Good luck.

Two years down the line from here should see some "changes". I am loathe to predict whether they'll be "good", "more good" or more stupid.

I'm also sorry you had to read Roy's reply to you, which didn't seem to address anything of importance to you...at least you know how he feels about "retirement". Ain't that great?

:D

I'm also sorry you had to read Roy's reply to you, which didn't seem to address anything of importance to you...at least you know how he feels about "retirement". Ain't that great?

Hey Phil! I can't wait for our next drink at Nuris. :P