Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, confirmed the digital nomad visa development at the Nusa Dua Convention late last week. “We will simplify the Immigration Visa program so … we can give them five to 10 years visa.”
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While the Minister did not confirm which qualifications and sectors would be needed for the visa, those who seek more options for longer-term stays in Bali welcome the news. Moreover, those who fulfill remote roles in tech and finance are likely first targets since these are the districts where Indonesia has heavily invested.
Indonesia currently offers the B211a visa for digital nomads and cultural visitors to reside in the country for up to six months at a time, but there has long been a demand for extended access. Now, with the development of the new visa, thousands of remote workers are eager to set roots in Indonesia.
During the speech, Minister Pandjaitan also confirmed that the new visa would be available to citizens over 60 regardless of working status. In addition, he explained that global citizens seeking to retire in another country have the potential to spend more in countries like Indonesia, spurring much-needed economic growth.
Last month, Indonesian President Joko Widodo predicted the number of foreign tourists entering the country would double in 2022 compared to the previous year, citing surges in other countries as signs of post-pandemic recovery. He further emphasized that the tourism sector must preserve local cultures to reach its G20 presidency goal: Recover Together, Recover Stronger.
The pandemic’s impact on remote work also triggered many countries to launch visas with a focus to attract long-term visitors working remotely. Currently, there are nearly 50 countries offering digital nomad visas for remote workers.