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
- Official government fee: ≈ IDR 8.5 million (~US$525) single applicant — the IDR 7,000,000 limited-stay-permit PNBP plus ITAS card and re-entry permit; sponsor/agent fees are extra (see cost breakdown below)
- 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
What does the Indonesia remote worker visa actually cost in 2026?
Most "digital nomad Indonesia" write-ups quote a single ~$150 figure, which only covers one line item. The E33G is a real KITAS, so the real outlay is the government PNBP (Penerimaan Negara Bukan Pajak — non-tax state revenue) fee schedule plus the ITAS card, the re-entry permit, and your sponsor's service fee. Here is the actual breakdown a single applicant pays, with official line items separated from agent costs:
| Cost component | Typical amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Limited-stay permit (KITAS) PNBP — 1 year | IDR 7,000,000 (~US$430) | Directorate General of Immigration |
| ITAS issuance + multiple re-entry permit (MERP) | ≈ IDR 1,500,000 (~US$95) | Immigration (on arrival/activation) |
| Telex/visa approval & biometrics | included above / nominal | Immigration |
| Official government subtotal | ≈ IDR 8.5M (~US$525) | — |
| Sponsor / visa-agent full service | US$500–900 | Registered Indonesian sponsor |
| Realistic all-in (single, year 1) | ≈ US$1,000–1,450 | — |
Two things competitors rarely flag: the IDR 7,000,000 PNBP is the single largest line and is non-negotiable (it is set by Indonesia's immigration fee regulation, not the agent), and each renewal repeats most of these fees annually for up to five years — so the E33G is closer to US$1,000+/year than a one-off cost. Figures are the published PNBP schedule converted at mid-2026 rates (~IDR 16,200/US$); the rupiah line items are fixed, the dollar equivalents drift with FX. Source: Indonesian Directorate General of Immigration PNBP fee schedule. Retrieved 2026-05-31.
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). For the full side-by-side on income floor, tax residency, processing time, and cost of living, see our Thailand vs Indonesia comparison.
Before locking in either base, the cost-of-living comparator lays Bali against Chiang Mai or Bangkok at the same monthly budget tier, and the eligibility checker confirms whether your foreign salary clears Indonesia's $5,000/month bar after family-size adjustments. Both live in our nomad visa planning toolkit.
How Indonesia compares to the bases nomads weigh against it
Thailand is the obvious Asian rival, but the E33G also competes with very different programs depending on what matters most. For full side-by-side breakdowns: Malaysia vs Indonesia (Malaysia's DE Rantau pass at a lower income floor versus Bali's deeper nomad infrastructure), Portugal vs Indonesia (Portugal's EU citizenship-track D8 versus a renew-to-five-years KITAS with no residency path), and Mexico vs Indonesia (a Western-hemisphere, time-zone-friendly base versus a Southeast-Asian one with a higher income bar).