How long can you stay in Bali as a tourist? (2026)

The answer depends on which document you enter on, and the options are easy to confuse. Here is the ladder, from a two-week holiday to living here.

Rung 1: visa on arrival, 30 days

Citizens of a long list of countries can buy a Visa on Arrival at Denpasar airport for 500,000 IDR, roughly 35 dollars, or apply for the identical e-VOA online before flying. It gives 30 days from the entry stamp, and the entry day counts as day one. Apply for the e-VOA only through the official Indonesian immigration website. Full procedure in the visa on arrival guide.

Rung 2: one extension, 60 days total

The VOA can be extended once, for another 30 days, either online through the e-VOA account or through an agent or an immigration office in person. Start the process seven to ten days before your 30 days run out, because processing takes time. After that single extension the VOA is finished, as explained in the extension guide.

Rung 3: the single-entry visit visa, up to around 180 days

For longer stays most people use the single-entry visit visa, still widely called the B211A although Indonesia has renumbered its visa index. It is applied for before travel, usually through a sponsor or a licensed agent, typically grants 60 days on arrival and can be extended in stages up to roughly 180 days in total. It costs considerably more than a VOA and the exact terms, fees and extension count change from year to year, so confirm current rules with the official immigration service or a reputable agent rather than with a forum post. Background in our visa overview.

Rung 4: a KITAS, for living here

A KITAS is a limited stay permit, issued for a year or more against a specific reason: employment with an Indonesian sponsor, investment, marriage to an Indonesian citizen, retirement from a qualifying age, study, or the newer remote-worker category for people employed by companies outside Indonesia. Each has its own documentation and income conditions. If you plan to be here for a year or more, this is the route, and it is worth paying a licensed agency to handle it. See the remote work visa options.

What about visa runs?

Flying out for a few days and returning on a fresh VOA is common and legal in itself, but repeated back-to-back tourist entries attract attention at passport control, and officers can refuse entry at their discretion. It is a tactic, not a strategy. If Bali is becoming your home, move up the ladder properly.

The thing that actually goes wrong

Not the rules, the arithmetic. People count 30 days as a calendar month, miss the extension window and tip into overstay, which costs around 1,000,000 IDR per day and escalates from there. Count from the stamp, set a phone reminder on day 20, and read what happens if you overstay.

Practical points at the border

• A passport valid at least six months from entry.
• An onward ticket is formally required and occasionally checked.
• An address in Indonesia, so keep your accommodation confirmation to hand.
• The customs declaration is completed online, with QR codes posted throughout the arrivals hall.
• A tourist levy of around 150,000 IDR per person, payable online or on arrival.
• Transport from the airport, which is covered in the getting around guide.

One date to watch if you are arriving or leaving in March: Nyepi closes the airport for 24 hours, and the date moves each year, as the March notes explain.

Matching your housing to your visa

A 60-day stay is a different housing decision from a 14-day holiday: you want a monthly rate, metered utilities you understand, and the ability to extend. Platforms charge 15 to 25 percent commission and rarely offer real monthly pricing. Renting direct from the owner gives you the owner's rate, a written agreement and the flexibility to extend when your visa does. See monthly options in the rentals catalogue, or ask in the FAQ.