The beautiful Indonesian island of Bali will now be offering a new tax-free five-year visa for work-from-home digital nomads.
Work from home – in Bali?
Expected to launch soon, the new digital nomad visa from Bali will allow remote workers a chance to live the island life for five years. The launch of this new long-stay permit was done so in a bid to lure tourists back to the country, after tourism took a nose-dive due to COVID-19.
Being called the Digital Nomad Visa, this new entry stamp will let remote workers make Bali their home base – all while paying no tax in the country, as long as they don’t earn their income within Indonesia.
‘Serenity, Spirituality and Sustainability’
According to Bloomberg, Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno said that ecological tourism, sporting events and the new five-year visa for remote workers could bring around 3.6 million international visitors back to the island paradise now that borders have reopened.
“In the past, the three S was: sun, sea and sand. We’re moving it to serenity, spirituality and sustainability. This way we’re getting better quality and better impact to the local economy,” Uno said.
The country had reportedly wished to initiate the special visa for remote workers since 2021, but with the rise in COVID-19 infections last year, the plan was put on hold.
“Now with the pandemic handled and all the ministries getting involved and cooperating from the health side to the immigrations office, we believe that this is an opportune time to relaunch this idea,” Uno stated.
Further details are still to be provided, such as a specific launch date, as well as whether a minimum income or travel insurance will be mandatory. Considering the fact that all other countries offering Digital Nomad Visas have at least a financial requirement in place, Indonesia will likely follow suit.
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