Rob.J
Hi guys,
I'm new to this forum, so apologies if this question has been posted before.
I am in the process of getting my SOSBUD visa with the view to staying for 12months (renewing once in Singapore). With this visa, is it possible to rent a property and have my name on the utility bills etc.?
Many thanks in advance,
Rob.
davita
Hi Rob and welcome to the forum.
I suggest your first priority, after you enter Indonesia, is to get a local bank account. Officially you are not supposed to open an account without a Kitas visa but I'm sure many members here can tell you it is available...just don't try the international banks. Probably best to open with the bank your sponsor uses or go with an Indonesian friend or someone who speaks Indonesian who can vouch for you.
Once you have an account ...of course with some funds...you can rent or lease or do anything you want. It will really depend on the relationship you establish with a landlord. Most annual leases require 12 months advance payment but this is not a law...just the way things are done.
Rob.J
Thanks davita, much appreciated.
Great to hear that I can open a local bank account. I'll get that done as a priority.
Regarding finding a long term rental; would you advise going through an agent or waiting until I'm in Bali and asking around?
Thanks mate,
Rob.
davita
Rob.J wroteThanks davita, much appreciated.
Great to hear that I can open a local bank account. I'll get that done as a priority.
Regarding finding a long term rental; would you advise going through an agent or waiting until I'm in Bali and asking around?
Thanks mate,
Rob.
Definitely the latter. Check out internet advertisers to get a prevue (Bali Advertiser is a start)...also Craigslist Indonesia, although that predominates in Jakarta.
There are notice boards on just about every Bali supermarket and restaurant walls to peruse and there are 'finders' on commisssion in Bali by the thousands ...it's in their culture to be % guys/gals...they make New York Jews look like amateurs...:highly_amused:
Rob.J
Haha! Noted. :)
Once again, thanks for the info and advice. Much appreciated.
davita
I live in Kerobokan, which my driver calls 'Kampung Bule', and around JL Umalas/Bumback there are many signs on poles/walls advertising villas for sale/rent.
It may be smart to identify which area of Bali you prefer so members can advise. All areas offer different styles of accomodation depending on your requirement. You can then use a process of elimination, as there are plenty available and bargaining is essential.
arsinibali
Hi,
I have a cute small hosue no pool for rent available at Kerobokan Kaja not far from Bumbak, Umalas, Canggu, maybe try one month while looking for property ( villa )you expect to rent for long term rental. Yes, to find them, can check at Bali Advertiser or online too, also yes on wall on the strategic street sometimes find interesting things.Best of lucky....
davita
Link to:
https://balipod.com/forum/threads/opening-bank-account-without-kitas.5275/ where one can read previous posts on this subject and get self-informed.
I was personally rejected by HSBC until I got a Kitas, even I was an HSBC Premier client on three continents. That's why I know the rule.... but this is Indonesia and sometimes rules are broken...wtf....they're nearly always broken. o_O
Rob.J
Good thinking davita, cheers.
I was looking into Kerobokan; it seems to be about halfway between Echo Beach and Seminyak, which would be ideal for me. The villas in that area that I've seen online look ideal! And they seem to be a bit cheaper than places in Seminyak and Canggu... is that because of close proximity to Hotel K?! :)
How do you find living there mate, if you don't mind me asking? Is it good for bars, warungs, shops (for essentials... like bottles of bintang!) etc.?
So; preferred areas would be Kerobokan, Seminyak, and Canngu. Ideal accommodation style would be a small villa (1 or 2 bed) with a small pool, furnished, 4400w capacity electricity... perhaps wifi included in the price to save me some hassle!
Any advice from anyone would be gratefully received.
Rob.
Normy
I am on sosbud with extensions. I recently opened an account in my own name with Permata, being introduced by an expat friend who is kitas and has an account at same branch.
davita
Seminyak and Pettitenget will be more expensive because of location to night life and beach....nothing to do with visiting the jail to see loved ones unless having access to proceeds from the crimes...:anonymous: Anyway, the 'K' Hilton is just off JL. Kerobokan.
Villas close to Jalan Umulas, Bumback and Semer are the locations most popular with expats...there are dozens of restaurants, warungs, bank Atm's, laundry, 711...you name it...it would take months to lunch at them all. Jl. Semer has a Bali Budha store, Cafe Mocha, and an English pub 'Plumbers Arms' all next door to each other...there is a Mexican resto, Japanese, a hot-dog/burger resto, 3 pizza delivery restos, a games palace, a Raja Meat for BBQ stuff and imported Aussie pies...I could go on.
However, you will need a car or motorbike to get around...or to go to the beach.
Canggu area is vast, and more remote, but closer to beaches and the well-known Canggu club and a fairly new shopping plaza (small).
Traffic from all these areas back to Seminyak/Legian can be a nightmare at times so be patient.
Rob.J
Thanks Normy; good to know it's possible. I'll see who my sponsor banks with... hopefully it's Purmata!
mugwump
I hate like hell to be the fly in the ointment, but when something is posted here that is contradictory to my experience it is difficult for me not to express myself. Having been in Bali w/o a kitas for 14 years and an in-and-outer for numerous years more before that I can testify that I have never been able to have a bank account in Indonesia under my name. Believe me it has been attempted at least 3 times in the last year with different banks and always refused. Despite the frequency of bs to contrary on this forum I can't let a new person be misinformed.
Having said that, since it has been noted that the new guy has used the word "mate" there may be an exception to my experience. IF you are from Australia or New Zealand and have a bank account that is also represented in Indonesia it (according to rumor) could be possible to open an account here. Best check it out with your countrymen.
Rob.J
Thanks for the info, davita. All of it very useful, and I'm sure it equates to a beer or 2 on me when we're neighbours!
arsinibali, thanks for the offer, very much appreciated. However, a good friend of mine is putting me up for a while until I get my own place, so I'm sorted on that score.
mugwump, cheers for letting me know. I'll try to open one at my sponsor's bank and see how I get on, but I appreciate it's not a foregone conclusion. Failing that, I assume I can still rent somewhere with cash and sort out the landlord in cash for the utilities? I'll need a few shoe boxes tho, seeing that the largest note is 100,000 IDR!
The new guy did indeed use the word 'mate'. However, my fellow countrymen would be from England, what with me coming from London and all. I should have used the word 'chum' or 'squire' to avoid any confusion!! :icon_e_biggrin:
davita
Rob.J wroteThanks for the info, davita. All of it very useful, and I'm sure it equates to a [COLOR="#FF0000"]beer or 2 on me [/COLOR]when we're neighbours!
Better hurry...soon no alcohol...see other threads posted today! Still coming to Bali?
kiteman
mugwump wroteI hate like hell to be the fly in the ointment, but when something is posted here that is contradictory to my experience it is difficult for me not to express myself. Having been in Bali w/o a kitas for 14 years and an in-and-outer for numerous years more before that I can testify that I have never been able to have a bank account in Indonesia under my name.
I agree 100% with your comments. It is NOT easy to get a local bank account, however, in time it is possible. I also tried taking an Indonesian friend to two banks and was politely knocked back (not having a KITAS). For a new arrival intending to stay long term it IS a problem. You can't just ask every person you meet if they can take you to their bank acting as a "sponsor" and help you open an account. This is something you can only ask of friends you have known for some time. I DO now have an account (without KITAS) but only because I now have two friends who have sizeable deposits in the same bank which I think probably had some effect. They also accompanied me to the bank. As for your SosBud sponsor....... mine lives in a kampong somewhere....... and I have no idea who she is as she was provided for a fee by my visa agent. I also have friends who have owned property in Bali for several years and still don't have a local account...... they just have a safe! Interestingly, my Australian bank is currently paying around 3% on Internet Savings accounts compared to Indonesia's fixed term (3 month) rate of 6%.
