Indonesia is the closest place there is to heaven on Earth. Through incredible biodiversity, warm climate, turquoise beaches and greenery, it is one of the most amazing places to visit. Together with its jewel Bali, the whole country was closed to tourists during Covid. But now, it is slowly opening up, allowing tourists to visit after almost two years of restrictions.
Entry regulations
From October 2021, the country is open for tourists from 19 countries: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Italy, France, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Hungary and Norway. The country is planning to offer opportunities also to countries like the US, Russia, UK, Switzerland, Israel, Netherlands, and Germany, as they are very valuable for the Indonesian tourism industry.
For now, the possibility to visit is exclusively for those who have at least one vaccine. Approved vaccines are Pfizer, Moderna, Sinovac, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. Those who intend to visit Bali should first stay in a hotel quarantine in Jakarta. The predicted costs for a hotel stay are between $700 and $1700. Fully vaccinated citizens need to stay 3 days in quarantine, while the ones with one vaccine should stay 5 days.
The Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, is discussing the possibility to revoke the quarantine policy for Bali in order to bring tourism back on track. Adipati, who is Balinese by origin, talks about how a PCR test is required for any visit to the country. For him, who lives in Labuan Bajo, going to Bali and receiving a visit from his family is not complicated, as the only requirement is testing and filling an eHAC (a mandatory Indonesian health declaration). The eHAC card can be obtained through the PeduliLindungi app. Adipati explains how although the price of a PCR test was lowered, it is not cheap for some people. Luckily, now there is the option to do an Antigen test as well. Upon arrival, expats are supposed to provide:
- Certificate of having received a full vaccination at least 14 days ago
- PCR negative test
- A booking for a quarantine upon your arrival in Jakarta
- The Lindungi App installed on your phone
The current opportunities for expats
But not only tourists were affected. The digital nomads in Indonesia were also caught in a specific situation. For a long time, Bali has been a hotspot for digital nomads due to its affordable life, friendly people, and incredible environment. For now, it is possible to visit Bali on a Business Visa, but there is still no specific visa for digital nomads, a situation that puts many in a grey area. Luckily, the government is planning to provide the possibility of 5-year visas for those with foreign-sourced income.
The options for expats are, therefore, still limited, with options for loosening. The current visas that are available now are based on:
- Emergency and urgent work
- Business meetings
- Purchases of goods
- Movie making
- Medical aid and food supply
- Government meetings
- Transportation and equipment in the area
- The marine industry
- Tasks related to the Indonesian Presidency
For limited visa the activities needed are:
- Expertise in a specific area
- Building od ships
- Supervising quality of goods
- Inspection and auditing
- Machine repair
- Construction
In addition, there are visa possibilities for those who don't have work relation to the country but:
- Are making an investment for a period of 1 or 2 years
- Are reconnecting with their families
While the tourism sector is lowered significantly, Bali is opening slowly and, therefore, there are some available options for working expats such as:
- programmers, bloggers and designers
- Diving instructors
- Yoga instructors
- Musicians
- Language teachers
- Hotel management
Expat opportunities in Asia
Other countries from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which are very attractive tourist destinations, are planning to minimize their quarantine rules. For example, Thailand has reduced the quarantine for tourists to 1 night until they get their PCR result. Due to the loosening of the rules, Thailand is attracting more expats than Indonesia at the moment.
The current entry rules for Malaysia require that all passengers must provide a PCR test done a maximum of three days prior to the travel. In addition, there is a 7 day-quarantine for the fully vaccinated and 10 days for the unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.
The Philippines have specific entry requirements dividing countries to green-yellow and red countries. The citizens arriving from green countries need to wait for PCR results upon entry, in which time they should be quarantined. The yellow countries mean staying in quarantine for up to 10 days. People from red countries need to stay 14 days in quarantine.
Singapore is still very restricted. Travellers are divided into categories based on the country they come from. Visitors from countries like Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Switzerland and the Republic of Korea are allowed to enter the country if they are fully vaccinated must be vaccinated (with the exception of 12-year-old children).
What to do besides living in Bali
We talk about miracles, but we forget that miracles are seen every day on our planet. An example of this is Indonesia, and Bali is one of the locations that offer miracles for every person that visits it. Luckily, as restrictions are loosening, this island will again invite digital nomads who seek a life connected to the natural beauties that it offers.
Frilanita, from Sumatra, is a proud Indonesian who tells about the beauties of this fantastic place, encouraging everyone to go to discover as it offers incredible beauty and breathtaking sightseeings, and she suggests some breathtaking locations. If you are planning to move to Indonesia as a digital nomad, you are going to have a long list of places. However, you definitely should not miss out on these:
Bromo Volcano is one of the most attractive destinations in East Java. Bromo is an active volcano that can be visited (with caution and information) from the nearby village Cemoro Lawang. The first step when exploring Bromo is to visit the breathtaking sunrise, in addition, to the “Sea of Sand”, and finally to hike to the volcano's crater.
Raja Ampat (meaning Four Kings) is located in the northwest and is an absolute dream for those who love diving. With its incredibly diverse marine life offering the richest biodiversity in the world, crystal water, and dream-like beaches, it is a picturesque location that you will never want to leave. One of the main attractions there is Piyanemo, a small group of islands offering a great view.
Lake Toba in Sumatra is a lake formed in a place of emptying of the magma of a volcano. Toba is the largest lake in Indonesia and the largest volcanic lake in the world, and a part of UNESCO's Global Geoparks. Visiting Toba, you can rent a motorcycle to go around and visit Sipiso-piso, the highest waterfall in Indonesia.
Oetune Beach is famous for its clean long shore, impressive dunes and water so clean that it is said that there is a “mirror on the beach”. It is a perfect place for photographers and explorers. Located 2-3 hours from Kupang by car, it offers fantastic scenery. It is a place mostly visited by locals and is usually not full or touristic.
Komodo Island is the home place to the Komodo dragon, the largest lizard in the world. Belonging to the UNESCO World Heritage, it is also a fantastic place for divers. The best time to visit the island is between April and October. There you can visit the incredible Pink Beach, notable for its sunny shore with red-coloured sand.
