Moving to Bali

KaBIm

[quote=gilbert de jong]PS: maybe you can come for a holiday first on a touristvisa, and check your possibilities out when you are here. My humble opinion is that that would be the smartest thing to do.[/quote] I totally agree with the above comment. Coming here first, staying a few months to have a much better idea about what leaving in Indonesia and working in Indonesia really mean. However, if you can find a company that would employ you straight away, it is then another matter. But if you plan to invest yourself any money, better maybe to come first on a Visit Visa (be it a sosbud, business or tourist visa) and assess the situation by yourself, gaining a bit of "experience"... Concerning costs related to a working visa: An indonesian legal entity which would like to employ a foreigner has to comply with a stiff regulation. The company has to go through different steps that I won't detail here (if you look in the archives of another forum you have been posting in, you will find a step by step explanation) but be aware that it has a cost of USD 1200, payable up front by the company which would like to employ a foreigner. After paying this fee the company will get a work permit (IMTA) issued for the foreigner, valid for 1 year only (each year you need to renew the process), for a specific work AND work place. This work permit belongs to the company and NOT to the foreigner. However, if the company has a valid working permit for you, it can then sponsor you to get a residency permit named Izin Tinggal Terbatas (litterally, limited stay permit) which has a validity of 6 months to 2 years (most being given for 1 year, depending on the remaining length of validity of your passport AND the category of applicant -"foreign expert", investor, retired foreigner, husband/wife of WNI, former WNI seeking to regain Indo citizenship, student, researcher...etc). An ITAS has also a cost: 6 months ITAS: IDR 350.000 12 months ITAS: IDR 700.000 24 months ITAS: IDR 1.200.000 If an ITAS is given to you, you will have in the same time a resident card (KITAS, the "K" stands for Kartu/card and ITAS has already been translated above) which should be kept preciously (it should allow you to get cheap golf from what I heard :) :wink: -) Kantor Imigrasi will also remit you a blue book (Buku POA) that won't get you any discount, but where you should get any change in your address, civil status, work status...etc, amended, in the delay of 15 days after that any chang arised. If you managed to get to this point, you may feel that you have done a lot, but it's not all... You still need to comply with a couple of administrative stuff: - Get a SKLD from the main police resort of your Wilayah of residence (you have 30 days after the issuance of your KITAS to apply for it. Cost = free. However each POA (Pengawasan Orang Asing/ Supervision of foreigners) section which issue a SKLD get "racketted" of IDR 50.000 by MABES Polri in JKT... It's then wise to give this IDR 50K to smoothen the procedure. - Get a STM from the local police station if you are sheltered by a private party or if you rent/"own" a house/kos. You have 24 hours to do so, from the time you start to be sheltered. - Get a SKTT and SKPPS. Contact either your local Kantor Lurah or the Dinas Kependudukan dan Catatan Sipil of your place of residence. If you don't feel like handling all this yourself, "agents" can do it for you. Fees are however different than the above. Make them list all the documents they will take care of. If you go for this solution, be [b][u]very careful[/u][/b] in choosing your "agent". Many have only a partial knowledge of the law, not to say most, and quite a few don't have any clue of what they are doing. So far, I have never seen [u]any[/u] "agent" whose website was free from numerous errors/outdated infos. If any agent, reading these lines, feel offended and wish to challenge my point, I would be very glad to justify it. :)

JohnnyCool

Dear [i]Borut[/i] [quote]Is there a complicated procedure to get working visa in Bali?[/quote] [i]KaBim[/i] and [i]gilbert[/i]have both given you their ideas. It should now be clear to you that "getting a work visa" here is far from simple. It's [b]not[/b] impossible, but definitely requires time, effort, money unless you have employment lined up with an existing company. If money is not an issue, you [i]could[/i] consider starting your own "foreign company" and employ yourself. If this is a possibility for you, (meaning you have lots of money), you will still need to either do some more "research" yourself, or deal with "agents" who specialize in these kinds of matters. (There are many, some good and others simply criminals.) I don't know if you've ever been to Bali or why you're seriously considering moving here. If you haven't been here before, you would be very wise to come here in person and look around for yourself. Get a "feel" for the place. Learn as much as you can from the experiences of others. Six months here would give you a better idea of what you could do. Anything else, IMHO, would be financial suicide. I wish you the best of luck! I also hope that I don't hear about you later as just another foreign casualty. :D

borutdoles

Hello everyone of you, Thank you for so prompt and detailed answers, you are very good familiar with Bali reality. Do you all live there? I will just give some comments on your detailed information. As I am serious about coming to Bali, I have been trying from all perspectives. First, to get a job at any of the companies there by applying on different jobsites. Are there many MNC or their branches? What is most business about in Bali? Second, you warned me of too hasty money investing, that won't happen. I agree with you that for any own business start, I should come to Bali first. I intend to do that and then get information on the spot, are there any special newspapers, magazines? Or special agencies which both give advice on how to start a new business and which deal with selling/buying established businesses? I see idea of going alone or maybe better going halves into an established business very good, do you think so? There could be also third option, if I could work on a remote basis for current or any other company, me staying in Bali. For example, I am working now as a translator in India and possible upon agreement I could do that job from Bali...would be the easiest way, wouldn't be? The reason for my shifting to Bali is simple, I am in serious relation with a Balinese girl and both she and me want to settle in in Bali. I have been to all South-East Asian countries, only in Jakarta as far Indonesia is concerned. Bali is heaven on earth, isn't it? May I ask you, if you are familiar with it otherwise will post another thread, about marriage procedure and in what extent a marriage to an Indonesian woman changes my situation regarding visas, work, benefits etc. Also, how does Balinese marriage look like? What papers are needed? Is there some commitment about dawry to be given? Thanks again for your news and sharing with me useful information. Enjoy in Bali or wherever you are. Borut

KaBIm

Hi Borut,

Do you all live there?

I don't. I live in a "remote" part of the archipelago, and love it very much :D

There could be also third option, if I could work on a remote basis for current or any other company, me staying in Bali. For example, I am working now as a translator in India and possible upon agreement I could do that job from Bali...would be the easiest way, wouldn't be?

It would be obviously a good starting solution, since it will allow you to keep a monthly income while investigating business opportunities in Bali. However, depending on the type of visa you have, I would suggest you to remain discret about it, especially when you deal with immigration. :wink:

in what extent a marriage to an Indonesian woman changes my situation regarding visas, work, benefits etc.

Since 2006 and the new indonesian citizenship law, indonesian women married to a foreigner can sponsor him for residency. In other terms, getting legally married to a WNI allow you to stay for a period of 1 year (extendable) in Indonesia with a KITAS (Kartu Ijin Tinggal terbatas). However, this type of residency permit, sponsored by an indonesian spouse, DOES NOT allow you to work in Indonesia. After a period of 5 full years sponsored by an Indonesian spouse, one is entitled to request the Indonesian citizenship. If the Indonesian citizenship is not granted one will get an automatic right to a KITAP (Permanent Residency Permit, valid for 5 years - still with no right to work if sponsored by an Indonesian spouse). However, note that after a period of 2 full years in Indonesia on a KITAS (temporary stay permit) with the same sponsor, one is already entitled to apply for a conversion of his KITAS in a KITAP. Though the conversion of a KITAS to a KITAP after two years is granted on quite subjective ground (participation of the applicant to the national development and human rights factors :) ), being married and wanting to reunify with your wife put you in a good position to get the KITAP this way, if you don't want to bother applying for the Indonesian Citizenship. A work permit is only granted if you are sponsored by an Indonesian legal entity such as a CV, PT, PMDN or PMA. The company will first have to submit a foreign employment plan to Depnakertrans, pay the relevant fees paid and get an IMTA (work permit) delivered. You will find much more articles about how to get a KITAS/KITAP for foreign spouse processed and a step by the step procedure for conversion of a Visa Kunjungan in a KITAS for foreign spouse if you check in the archives of this link: http://www.livinginindonesiaforum.org/f ... y.php?f=39 Wish you the best :)

spicyayam

Having income from overseas is a good way to live, especially if it is in US dollars at expat rates. Of course as KaBIm says you need to be discreet, even to other expats and Indonesians. Employers are always going to favor local employees unless you have some special skill.

gilbert de jong

[quote=spicyayam]Having income from overseas is a good way to live, especially if it is in US dollars at expat rates.[/quote] Euro's would be even better :wink: ,hihihi. friendly greetings.....Gilbert.

spicyayam

Yes, good point. Most of the companies I deal with are in the US. Maybe I need to explore European markets.

mike newman

Hi my wife and I, both british she 59, me 55. We living on Koh Samui Thailand at the moment, but are thinking seriously of moving in the next yeras to a new home. We are considering, chiangmai or Bali. We would like some advice from anybody who can help with this decision please. Regards Mike

Nakal

Hello Mike, What kind of advice are you looking for? I suggest you first start digging through this forum do some serious reading. There is loads of info on here. Regards, Nakal.

milan

Hmm...I don't know if your wife would appreciate you writing her age... :) Joking apart, I've lived in Pattaya too and being an Indonesian, I love Thailand. But it all depends on what are your requirements or things that you like doing/looking for.

tmitch87

Hi, I am moving to Bali in the next couple of weeks and looking for a long term rental. Either a 1 or 2 bedroom place with a small living area would be great. Preferably I would like to be situated in Legian / seminyak areas as it is close to work. If you have something available that wouldnt blow a singles budget I look forward to hearing from you. start work as a project architect for a major hotel resort group in August... Would like to have something by then... Tyler Mitchell

samsiam

Not the first, not the last. New to this forum, not to forums or Bali completely, spent 3 months there last year and we decided to move. We being a family of 4 What can you tell me?

joji gulapetis

samsiam wroteNot the first, not the last. New to this forum, not to forums or Bali completely, spent 3 months there last year and we decided to move. We being a family of What can you tell me?

read through all the relevant threads here, then come back and ask again with more specific questions. now you are just wasting time. :barbershop_quartet_:barbershop_quartet_:barbershop_quartet_ :topsy_turvy:

samsiam

joji gulapetis wroteread through all the relevant threads here, then come back and ask again with more specific questions. now you are just wasting time. :barbershop_quartet_:barbershop_quartet_:barbershop_quartet_ :topsy_turvy:

Such hostility. Thought you were supposed to chill out in Bali ?

spicyayam

Welcome to the forum! [QUOTE][COLOR=#333333]What can you tell me?[/COLOR][/QUOTE] Maybe you could ask something more specific. What kind of information do you need, visas, schools etc?

joji gulapetis

samsiam wroteSuch hostility. Thought you were supposed to chill out in Bali ?

no hostility samsiam, just being realistic. if you are serious about the move, you would surely read all that has already been written about moving to bali. hostility? lucky it wasn't the beast from the east who answered your question. :hopelessness: :topsy_turvy:

Smoke

joji gulapetis wrote hostility? lucky it wasn't the beast from the east who answered your question. :hopelessness: :topsy_turvy:

wait a bit, it may come soon lol

bakung

joji gulapetis wroteno hostility samsiam, just being realistic. if you are serious about the move, you would surely read all that has already been written about moving to bali. hostility?[COLOR="#FF0000"] lucky it wasn't the beast from the east who answered your question.[/COLOR] :hopelessness: :topsy_turvy:

Great stuff on a Monday morning, just what the doc ordered.

samsiam

spicyayam wroteWelcome to the forum! Maybe you could ask something more specific. What kind of information do you need, visas, schools etc?

Its on the way....this was just a little light hearted opener.

samsiam

Firstly...whom is the beast...as I am new on here, nice to know what to look for. Secondly, is this forum more or less active than any other Bali forums ? Which is the most active and reliable for getting the information you want and then repaying the favour down the line obviously......some forums are quite dormant and others ok, but not so good in certain areas, such as Bali info. Cheers.

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