Bali Promises Strict Action Against Foreigners Working On Tourist Visas

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Bali is renewing its commitment to cracking down on foreigners working on tourist visas. The updates come after an Indian national was arrested at Bali Airport, suspected of breaking the conditions of his visa and working as a tour guide and tourist driver in the province. 

Tensions are running high in the tourism sector with tour guides and specifically local taxi and tourism drivers who are increasingly frustrated with both online taxi drivers and foreigners who they feel are sizing the local workforce out of the market. 

On Monday, 13th January, the Acting Governor of Bali, Sang Made Mahendra Jaya, told reporters, “Of course, those who violate, I ask action must be taken. Don’t let it slide.”

His comments come after an Indian national, known by his initials VV, was arrested at Bali Airport on Monday, 8th January, on suspicion of working illegally. 

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Speaking to reporters, the Acting Head of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, Anak Agung Bagus Narayana, confirmed that VV was arrested following a public complaint issued at Bali Airport, which was followed up by the airport’s Intelligence and Immigration Enforcement Team. 

Narayana expired, “VV was then secured by officers at the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office for further questioning because he was suspected of misusing his residence permit.”

He added, “We routinely conduct immigration surveillance patrols on foreigners, especially in strategic areas. This is to ensure that foreigners in the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office’s work area are carrying out activities in accordance with their residence permits.”

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Foreigners in Bali should know that it is illegal to carry out any kind of income-generating work in Bali, or Indonesian more broadly, while on a tourist, socio-cultural, pre-investment, or retirement visa. This includes any kind of income-generating work where the funds are paid to an international bank account.

For example, in the past, foreigners have been caught offering photography and guiding services, yoga classes, retreats, and workshops and have taken payment into their bank accounts abroad while staying in Indonesia on a non-work, non-business visa. This is illegal. 

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To keep tourists safe from fake tour guides, whether foreigner or local, the Head of the Bali Tourism Office, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, has reiterated that all tour guides must have a valid Bali Tour Guide ID card and have attended the relevant education and training courses. Tourists are always invited to request to see their tour guide’s ID card before booking or at the start of their tour or day trip. 

Pemayuan explained to reporters, “It is indeed not allowed; according to the rules, foreigners are not allowed to be guides, only those who have an ID card are allowed, of course there is a process, and they must also participate in training from there they have to submit (an application) through the online single submission forum at the DMPPSP.”

He noted, “We have always been monitoring the assessments with the Satpol PP (civil service police), and we check it according to the regulations. The foreigner who previously became a guide really was a guide who met at tourist attractions, he was already an Indonesian citizen, so he was allowed.” 

Pemayun was referring to an Italian-born tour guide who was investigated who legitimately took Indonesian citizenship and operated a tour guide company with his Indoeniana wife.

There has been no further update on the case regarding VV, the tour guide arrested at Bali Airport.

The crackdown on tourists breaking the conditions of their visa has been an ongoing process that really hit the headlines post-pandemic. With more and more long-stay tourists in Bali, including digital nomads who call the island home for extended periods of time, it is becoming more apparent that foreigners are using tourism visas to essentially live on the island.

However, in the eyes of immigration law, it is very clear that no one on a tourist, socio-cultural, or pre-investment visa can conduct incoming generating work activities at any point during their stay.