Thread: typical retirement visa costs question

has anybody of Australian nationality taken out a retirement visa recently, how was the experience, do you recommend any notary in particular,what did it cost?
thanks in anticipation. :?

Welcome to the forum angin panas!

You can see a link to PT. BALI IDE Business & Visa Consultancy, "VISA Indonesia" at the top of the page. They will be able to tell you how much it will cost and about the process.

Hopefully another forum member with recent experience will be able to add something.

The retirement visa has a number of requirements (many of which seem to be flexible) - I'm in the process of planning for one seven months from now which I would suggest for anyone who wants a retirement visa. There are many different agencies that can do the paperwork - you can take your pick depending on recommendations. Bali IDE is one of the agencies, I have a few others listed on my cyberbali.com website in the retirement section. You might want to take a look there. Best of luck.

I've got 7 months, two weeks and two days, Jimbo. The money just isn't worth the irritation anymore. On the last vacation, I thought that I was having a stroke (just dehydration from fasting and overexerting myself), but as I lay on the floor convulsing, I was thinking, I'm not going like a few of my friends who died in the classroom. I'd rather be on a budget and get a little enjoyment out of life before I shuffle off the planet. Keep on strokin' .

We have used http://www.bali-expat-business.com/ the name of the lady is Yani. We had everything organised before we came into Bali. Sponsor and retirement Visa in our Passport.
Hope you will enjoy Bali as much as we do.

Hi, and welcome, angin panas

I looked at the requirements for a retirement visa when it was first introduced some years ago. Quite frankly, they were draconian, to say the least. After a while, the Indonesian government modified them so that you don't have to be a "millionaire" anymore to get one. Mind you, it's still difficult to find clear, concise and non-conflicting information (that's kind of a norm in this country).

I have been on it for two years now and am about to get my third extension. From memory, it took about a month from my initial application, after which I flew to Singapore where a visa agent finalised everything in a matter of hours (the same day). The visa itself cost me Rp 6,500,000 (approximately AUD860 in today's money).

Interestingly enough, I did not have to provide any financial details, take out health insurance, employ a national and all the other stuff that's often cited by agents. I'm still unsure if that was because my wife is Indonesian (if so, it doesn't make any better sense to me.)

I initiated my visa myself, employing the services of an official in the local Immigration Office. Everything went smoothly. One thing that baffled me for a while was noticing in the paperwork that I had a "sponsor" - a travel agency in Kuta. I have since discovered that there is only a small number of agents endorsed by the government and officially permitted to conduct these transactions. Even the government Immigration officer had to use one (again, beats me, but that's how it is).

Hassles? None, so far. However, if I need to leave the country, I have to apply for an exit permit first (about Rp 500,000). And of course, pay the dreaded Rp 1,000,000 fiskal at the airport.

I'm not sure what drbruce has been told by PT IDE. I do know that different agencies charge different prices, so shopping around can be useful, if you have the time and energy.

...The retirement visa has a number of requirements (many of which seem to be flexible)...

That's certainly true.

I hope my experiences help you. Best of luck.
:D

Hi Phil,

I don't use Bali IDE anymore. I did use them for many years when they were a small mom and pop agency just starting up and they were great. I found the service less satisfactory as they grew larger. When it came time to get the kids' their indonesian citizenship, we did it ourselves with the help of Roy and Ari. As for the retirement visa, I'm using a fellow in Singaraja who does visa and immigration stuff for less than Bali IDE with excellent results. And yes, the requirements about income, health insurance, etc, seem to be flexible as I know folks who have had the retirement visa for a few years and don't have those things. And yes, shopping around is helpful which is why I started on looking for an agent early this year.

I don't use Bali IDE anymore. I did use them for many years when they were a small mom and pop agency just starting up and they were great. I found the service less satisfactory as they grew larger.

Something that many companies suffer from. Thanks for the information drbruce. Maybe Bali IDE will read your comments and pull their socks up!

And yes, shopping around is helpful which is why I started on looking for an agent early this year.

Good advice.