Indonesia launched the E33G Remote Worker KITAS in April 2024, replacing the ad-hoc B211A extensions that nomads had been using for years. The new program is a proper one-year limited-stay permit for foreign remote workers, renewable up to five years, with a $60,000 annual income threshold and access to one of the most established nomad hubs in Southeast Asia — Bali, specifically Canggu and Ubud.
The trade-off compared to Thailand's DTV: higher income bar ($5,000/mo vs no income floor), local sponsor requirement, and narrower path (no sub-categories like Thailand's soft-power option). The advantages: faster processing than most EU options, genuinely low cost of living in Bali outside premium areas, and Indonesia's tax treatment that can exempt foreign income for nomad KITAS holders.
At a glance
- Minimum income: $60,000 annual ($5,000/month)
- Duration: 1 year, renewable annually up to 5 years total
- Processing time: 10–15 business days online
- Application fee: ~$150 (single); varies by processing tier
- Family allowed: Yes — spouse, unmarried partner, dependent children
- Path to PR / citizenship: None directly via E33G
- Tax residency trigger: 183 days in Indonesia
- Local sponsor required: Yes — typically a registered Indonesian visa agent
- Hub cities: Canggu, Ubud, Seminyak (all on Bali); Jakarta secondary
Why Indonesia over Thailand for Asian base?
The practical comparison is with Thailand's DTV. Where Indonesia wins:
- Bali's nomad community is the most established in Asia (since ~2015), with deeper infrastructure than Chiang Mai or Bangkok in some categories (specialty cafes, coworking density, wellness scene).
- Family-friendlier lifestyle infrastructure (international schools, pediatric care).
- Tropical/beach access without the monsoon severity of peninsular Thailand.
Where Thailand wins: lower income floor (no income requirement, $14k savings alternative), simpler online application (no local sponsor), longer visa term (5 years multi-entry vs 1 year renewable).