Visa Options for Britons Moving to Indonesia (2026)
Here's the good news up front: Indonesia gives you options that most of Asia doesn't. UK citizens can enter on a Visa on Arrival (about £25, 30 days, extendable to 60) for a look around, but that isn't residence. To live here you take a limited-stay permit (KITAS/ITAS), and there are several: the E33G Remote Worker KITAS for digital nomads, a retirement KITAS for older applicants, the deposit-backed Second Home Visa, the investor Golden Visa, and an Investor / Work KITAS if you set up or join an Indonesian company.
- Remote Worker KITAS (E33G) launched. Since April 2024 Indonesia has a true Bali digital-nomad visa: US$60,000/yr (~£47,000) foreign income + US$2,000 (~£1,600) bank balance, valid 1 year, fee Rp 7,000,000 (~£340).
- Golden Visa expanded. Individual investors get 5 years for US$350,000 or 10 years for US$700,000 in government bonds or listed shares; a January 2026 track for the new capital, Nusantara (IKN), was lowered to US$5M / US$10M for qualifying firms.
- Second Home Visa runs on a deposit, not income. Park ~Rp 2 billion (~US$125,000 / £97,000) in an Indonesian state bank (or hold a US$1M property) for a 5- or 10-year stay, no age limit.
- Bali Tourist Levy. Since February 2024 every visitor to Bali pays a Rp 150,000 (~£7) levy — pay it online via the official Love Bali site.
- Tighter property enforcement (2025). New rules crack down hard on illegal nominee land arrangements — foreigners still can't own freehold (see Housing).
| Route | Best For | Key Requirement (2026) | Leads to PR? | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remote Worker KITAS (E33G) Nomads | Remote employees & freelancers | US$60,000/yr (~£47k) foreign income + US$2,000 bank; foreign employer | Pathway | 1 yr |
| Retirement / Silver Hair KITAS (E33E/F) Retirees 60+ | Pension-income retirees | ~US$3,000/mo (~£2,360) pension (+ US$50k deposit for 5-yr Silver Hair) | Yes | 1 or 5 yr |
| Second Home Visa (E33) Self-funded | Long-stayers with capital | ~Rp 2 billion (~£97k) state-bank deposit or US$1M property; no age | Yes | 5 or 10 yr |
| Golden Visa (E28) Investors | Investors & entrepreneurs | US$350k (5 yr) / US$700k (10 yr) in bonds/shares | Yes | 5 or 10 yr |
| Investor / Work KITAS (E23/E28) Business | Company owners & local hires | Set up a PT PMA company, or a local job + work permit (RPTKA) | Yes | 1–2 yr |
| Visa on Arrival / e-VOA Short stay | Tourism, scouting | Rp 500,000 (~£25); no work or residence | No | 30 (+30) days |
Requirements verified July 2026 against the Directorate General of Immigration (imigrasi.go.id) and its e-Visa portal (evisa.imigrasi.go.id). The income and deposit thresholds are set in US dollars or rupiah by Indonesian Immigration; sterling figures are approximate and convert at ~Rp 20,700/£1 (≈ US$1.27/£1, mid-2026) and move with the exchange rate. Confirm current figures with Indonesian Immigration or a licensed visa agent before applying.
Most of Asia forces a choice. Japan and Singapore have no retirement and no digital-nomad visa; Thailand and Malaysia do retirement well but their nomad options are newer. Indonesia has both, plus a deposit route and a golden visa — so whether you're a remote worker, a retiree, or an investor, there's a lane for you. The trade-off is the tax and property fine print below, not the visa itself.
1. E33G Remote Worker KITAS — the Bali digital-nomad visa
For most Britons working online, this is the route. Launched in April 2024, the E33G Remote Worker KITAS lets you live in Indonesia while working for an employer or clients registered outside Indonesia. You show an employment/services contract, foreign income of at least US$60,000 a year (about £47,000), and a bank balance of at least US$2,000 (~£1,600) over the last three months. It's valid for a one-year stay (enter within 90 days of issue), the official fee is Rp 7,000,000 (~£340), and it can lead toward longer-term status. The one firm rule: no income from any Indonesian company or client while you hold it.
2. Retirement & Silver Hair KITAS — for pensioners 60+
Indonesia has two retirement lanes, both for older applicants (generally 60 and over), and the income bar has risen to about US$3,000 a month (about £2,360) in pension income (up from the roughly US$1,500 of the older retirement KITAS). Your UK State Pension and private or workplace pensions count toward it. The Silver Hair Visa (E33E) is valid 5 years, needs that income plus a US$50,000 deposit in an Indonesian state-owned bank, and requires no local sponsor. The standard retirement KITAS (E33F) is a 1-year, renewable permit that needs the income plus a local sponsor. Both require health insurance and somewhere to live. One thing to plan for: your UK State Pension is frozen here (see Taxes), so leave a margin above the bar. Retirees who'd rather not meet the monthly-income test often choose the Second Home Visa instead.
3. Second Home Visa — a deposit, not an income
The Second Home Visa (index E33) is built for self-funded long-stayers with no age requirement and no monthly-income test — often the neatest fit for a British early-retiree with savings but no US$3,000/mo pension yet. Instead you place about Rp 2 billion (~US$125,000 / £97,000) in an account in your own name at an Indonesian state-owned bank (Mandiri, BNI, BRI, or BTN) — or hold an Indonesian property worth at least US$1 million — for a 5- or 10-year stay. The deposit stays your money and earns interest; you just keep the balance up while you hold the visa. You're typically approved first and then have 90 days to place the deposit.
4. Golden Visa & Investor KITAS — for investors and founders
If you're investing, the Golden Visa (E28 series) gives 5 years for US$350,000 or 10 years for US$700,000 placed in Indonesian government bonds, listed shares, or mutual funds — no company setup required. Setting up and running an Indonesian company (a PT PMA) as a director carries higher thresholds (from US$2.5M for 5 years), and there are corporate tiers (US$25M / US$50M). If you'd rather run a business or take a local job, the Investor / Work KITAS route ties your stay to a PT PMA you own or an employer who sponsors your work permit (RPTKA).
Remote income → E33G Remote Worker KITAS. Retired 60+ → Retirement / Silver Hair KITAS. A big deposit but no steady income → Second Home Visa. Investing US$350k+ → Golden Visa. Running a company → PT PMA + Investor KITAS. Build your personalized document list with our visa checklist generator.
Cost of Living in Indonesia & Bali for Britons (2026)
This is where Indonesia shines. Bali is genuinely affordable by UK standards — a big part of why it's a nomad and retiree magnet. Most Britons live comfortably on about £1,200–1,900 a month, roughly half the cost of a similar life in the UK, and a leaner budget in the £700–1,200 range is doable. The honest caveat: it's not as cheap as it was — rents in Canggu and Seminyak have jumped 10–15% in two years. Figures below compare Bali with UK benchmarks (in £; you pay in rupiah).
| Expense (monthly) | UK average | London | Bali |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR villa/apt — Canggu / central | £1,300 | £2,200 | £550–950 |
| 1BR — Ubud / quieter areas | £1,050 | £1,700 | £320–550 |
| Groceries (1 person) | £300 | £380 | £160–280 |
| Meal — warung / mid-range cafe | £12–20 | £18–30 | £1.50–3 / £6–12 |
| Utilities + fast internet | £220 | £250 | £80–140 |
| Transport (scooter / Grab, monthly) | £65 | £180 | £40–70 |
| Comfortable single budget | ~£2,300 | ~£3,200+ | ~£1,200–1,900 |
Estimates for mid-2026 in pounds (you pay in rupiah, ~Rp 20,700/£1). Canggu, Seminyak, and Uluwatu cost more; Ubud, Sanur, and non-Bali cities (Yogyakarta, Bandung) less. A month-to-month lease adds ~30% over an annual one. Compare a UK city on our cost of living calculator.
A furnished one-bedroom villa with a pool in Canggu runs about Rp 12–18 million/month (~£580–870) on an annual lease; Ubud is cheaper for the same space. Warung meals cost £1.50–3, a co-working hot-desk is £60–150/month, and fibre internet (50–100 Mbps) is standard in the main hubs. A retiree on the full UK State Pension (about £960/month in 2026) plus a modest workplace pension can live comfortably in Ubud or Sanur — but remember that State Pension won't rise here (see Taxes), so plan for the long term. The luxuries that add up are Western groceries, imported alcohol, and international schools.
Since February 2024, every foreign visitor to Bali pays a one-time Rp 150,000 (~£7) Tourist Levy. Pay it online before you fly via the official Love Bali website or app to skip the airport queue. It's small, but it's mandatory and separate from your visa fee.
Banking in Indonesia as a Briton
Indonesia's banks — BCA, Mandiri, BNI, and BRI — have modern apps, and everyday payments increasingly run on the national QRIS QR-code system. The practical catch: to open a local account you generally need your KITAS (and often a foreigner tax ID, an NPWP), so most newcomers bridge with Wise until residency is sorted.
Before your KITAS, you'll rely on your UK cards and Wise (which converts pounds to rupiah at the real mid-market rate). Once your KITAS is issued — and usually a KITAP or NPWP for some banks — you can open a BCA, Mandiri, BNI, or BRI account for local rent and QRIS payments. Keep your UK accounts open for your pension, UK cards, and HMRC; tell your bank and pension provider you're moving, as some restrict accounts with a non-UK address.
Recommended Sequence
- Before departure — open Wise to move your initial funds to rupiah cheaply and hold multiple currencies.
- Keep your UK accounts open for your State/private pension, UK cards, and HMRC — many retirees keep the pension paid into a UK account and move across what they need.
- On arrival — get your KITAS and NPWP, then open a BCA / Mandiri / BNI / BRI account.
- Set up QRIS for everyday payments, and use Wise to avoid bank FX mark-ups on transfers.
Unlike Americans, UK citizens have no equivalent of the US FBAR or FATCA personal filing — there's no annual return of your foreign accounts to HMRC. Indonesian banks still exchange account data automatically under the OECD's Common Reporting Standard (CRS), which is routine. The bigger money question for you is where your pension lands and whether bringing it into Indonesia triggers Indonesian tax once you're resident (see Taxes).
UK & Indonesian Taxes for Britons
Taxes are the part of an Indonesia move most people underestimate, so read this closely — and the good news is your position is far simpler than an American's. The UK taxes on residence, not citizenship: once you leave and become non-resident under the Statutory Residence Test, HMRC generally stops taxing your non-UK income, with no lifelong worldwide filing and no FBAR. Indonesia, though, taxes residents on worldwide income: you become an Indonesian tax resident once you're present more than 183 days in any 12-month period (they need not be consecutive) with intent to reside.
Cross 183 days and Indonesia can tax your global income on a progressive scale: 5% up to Rp 60 million, 15% to Rp 250 million, 25% to Rp 500 million, 30% to Rp 5 billion, and 35% above that. A tax-free allowance (PTKP) of Rp 54 million applies, plus more for a spouse and up to three dependents. Register for an NPWP (tax ID) within a month of becoming taxable, or face a 20% higher withholding rate.
Indonesia's Job Creation (Omnibus) Law added a carve-out: a foreigner with certain recognized expertise who becomes a tax resident can be taxed only on Indonesian-sourced income for their first four years — leaving foreign salary, dividends, and rent exempt. It's a genuine benefit, but it's aimed at skilled workers in listed professions, and whether an ordinary remote worker or retiree qualifies is a grey area. Don't assume it applies — confirm your position with an Indonesian tax advisor.
Indonesia is a “frozen pension” country — it has no reciprocal social-security agreement with the UK, so the DWP pays your State Pension but never increases it. It's locked at the weekly rate you were on when you moved (or first claimed abroad) and won't rise with the annual triple lock — unlike in the EU, the USA, or the Philippines, where it does keep rising. Over a 20–30-year retirement, inflation can roughly halve its real value, so build that into your budget. You can protect future entitlement by filling gaps with voluntary National Insurance: voluntary Class 2 for periods abroad ended on 6 April 2026, and Class 3 now costs £18.40/week (£956.80/year) in 2026/27.
The UK and Indonesia have a double-taxation agreement (signed 1993, in force 1994) so you aren't taxed twice on the same income. Under it, UK government and civil-service pensions (NHS, Civil Service, armed forces, police, teachers, local authority) stay taxable only in the UK. Your UK State Pension and private, company or personal pensions become taxable in Indonesia once you're an Indonesian tax resident — the treaty then credits any UK tax already paid. Because the UK taxes on residence, once HMRC treats you as non-resident it generally stops taxing your non-UK income — so there's no US-style self-employment or worldwide-citizenship tax to worry about.
Your UK & Indonesian Tax Position
| Item | How it's treated | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UK non-residence | Once non-resident, non-UK income is generally outside UK tax | Tell HMRC with form P85; split-year treatment often applies in your departure year. |
| UK State Pension | Paid but frozen; taxable in Indonesia once resident | No annual uprating in Indonesia (no reciprocal agreement). |
| Private / workplace pensions | Taxable in Indonesia if you're Indonesian-resident | Treaty credits UK tax paid; government/civil-service pensions stay UK-taxed. |
| ISAs | Lose their shelter — not tax-free in Indonesia | You can't subscribe new money once non-UK-resident; Indonesian tax may apply to gains/income. |
| Indonesian income tax | 5%–35% on worldwide income once resident (183+ days) | PTKP allowance ~Rp 54m; a 4-year exemption may apply to some skilled workers. |
| Voluntary NI (Class 3) | £18.40/week (2026/27) to keep building the State Pension | Voluntary Class 2 for periods abroad ended 6 Apr 2026. |
Informational only — confirm your situation with a UK–Indonesia cross-border adviser. The 183-day residency test, the 5–35% rates, the PTKP allowance, and the 4-year expertise exemption are from Indonesia's Directorate General of Taxes (pajak.go.id) and PwC's Indonesia tax summary; UK non-residence, the frozen State Pension, and voluntary NI are from gov.uk; the UK–Indonesia double-taxation agreement is published by HMRC.
Healthcare in Indonesia for Britons
Everyday and routine care in Bali is good and cheap, with expat-friendly clinics, but complex or serious cases are often referred out — typically to Singapore or Jakarta. So the standard playbook is a mandatory local BPJS enrolment plus strong private/international insurance with medical evacuation. Two things to know: your NHS cover ends when you emigrate, and there is no UK–Indonesia reciprocal healthcare agreement (the FCDO confirms this) — there's no S1 or GHIC route as there is in the EU, so private cover isn't optional.
Foreigners who live in Indonesia for six months or more on a KITAS/KITAP must enrol in BPJS Kesehatan, the national health-insurance scheme — and keeping up with BPJS payments is now tied to renewing your KITAS. BPJS is affordable but comes with a referral system and public-hospital queues, so most expats add private or international insurance for direct specialist access, premium hospital rooms, and — importantly in Bali — medical evacuation.
How It Works in Practice
- Expat-friendly private hospitals — BIMC (Kuta & Nusa Dua) and Siloam handle most day-to-day care with English-speaking staff.
- Complex care is referred out — for major surgery or specialist treatment, patients are often sent to Singapore or Jakarta, which is why evacuation cover matters.
- Enrol in BPJS once you hold your KITAS 6+ months, and carry private/international insurance on top — both are required for many visas anyway.
- Pharmacies (Apotek, Guardian, Kimia Farma) are everywhere — bring a supply of any specialist UK prescriptions and a copy of the prescription (your NHS prescriptions won't be dispensed once you've left).
Finding Housing in Indonesia as a Briton
Nearly everyone rents at first — a furnished villa or apartment on an annual lease — and for good reason: foreigners can't own land the way locals do, and buying is a legal maze best entered only after you understand the title system.
Indonesia's 1960 Basic Agrarian Law reserves freehold title (Hak Milik) for Indonesian citizens only, and that hasn't changed. Foreigners use legal alternatives instead (below). Crucially, the popular "nominee" workaround — putting the title in an Indonesian's name on your behalf — is illegal, and under the 2025 property rules it's increasingly prosecuted: courts can void the arrangement and leave the foreign buyer with no legal recourse. Don't do it.
- Leasehold (Hak Sewa) — a long-term lease, typically 25–30 years, open to any foreigner (no residency needed). How most villa deals are done.
- Hak Pakai (Right to Use) — a registered title, valid up to 80 years through renewals — the closest thing to ownership, but it requires a residence permit (KITAS/KITAP).
- PT PMA (foreign-owned company) — your company holds an HGB (Right to Build) title; used for villas run as rentals or for business.
Renting — how it works
- Annual leases are the norm — landlords often want 6–12 months up front; month-to-month costs roughly 30% more.
- Furnished is standard — most Bali villas and apartments come furnished, often with a pool and sometimes a cleaner.
- Find places via Facebook groups, local agents, and portals; a lot of the best long-term deals never hit the big sites.
- Get a written contract — you'll want the address for your KITAS reporting and bank account.
Where Britons settle
- Canggu / Berawa — the nomad epicenter: cafes, co-working, surf; pricier and busier every year.
- Ubud — rice-terrace calm, wellness and yoga scene, cheaper rents; slower pace, inland.
- Seminyak / Uluwatu — beach clubs and upscale villas (Seminyak) or clifftop surf (Uluwatu).
- Sanur — quieter, flatter, family- and retiree-friendly, good hospitals nearby.
- Jakarta & Yogyakarta — for work-based moves or lower costs away from Bali's tourist premium.
Your Indonesia Relocation Timeline
Indonesia's paperwork is usually handled through the online e-Visa portal and a licensed local visa agent, which most people use. The longest poles are assembling your financial proof (income statements or the Second Home / Golden deposit) and, for the deposit-based routes, placing the funds. Set your target arrival month to see when to start each step.
-
1Month −4: Choose Your Route & Confirm the Financial TestMonth −4
Decide between the E33G Remote Worker KITAS (foreign income), a retirement KITAS (pension), the Second Home Visa (deposit), or the Golden Visa (investment). Then line up the money proof — income statements, or the funds for a deposit/investment. This is the longest-lead step; start it first. Use the route finder above.
-
2Month −3: ACRO Police Certificate & Document LegalisationMonth −3
Gather your passport, photos, income/deposit proof, health insurance, and (for a retirement KITAS) a sponsor. Order an ACRO Police Certificate — the longest-lead document, so start it first. Indonesia is a Hague Apostille Convention member, so your UK documents just need an FCDO apostille (no separate embassy attestation, unlike Thailand). A licensed visa agent usually assembles the file.
-
3Month −2: Apply Online → e-Visa ApprovalMonth −2
Your application is filed on the immigration e-Visa portal (evisa.imigrasi.go.id). You receive an approved e-Visa; for the Second Home and Golden visas you typically confirm the deposit or investment within 90 days of approval.
-
4Month −1: UK & Indonesia Tax PlanningMonth −1
Map your taxes. Tell HMRC you're leaving with form P85 and check your Statutory Residence Test status — once non-resident, the UK stops taxing your non-UK income (no FBAR). Staying 183+ days makes you an Indonesian tax resident (worldwide income, 5–35%). Under the UK–Indonesia treaty, government pensions stay UK-taxed while State/private pensions become Indonesian-taxable. Note your State Pension is frozen here. Confirm with a cross-border adviser.
-
5Month −1: Arrange Housing & Health InsuranceMonth −1
Line up an initial villa or apartment (a Canggu/Ubud 1BR runs ~£400–950/mo on an annual lease) via local agents and Facebook groups. Buy private/international health insurance with evacuation cover — your NHS cover ends and there's no reciprocal agreement — and remember BPJS enrolment becomes mandatory once you hold a KITAS 6+ months.
-
6Month 0: Enter Indonesia & Convert to KITASMonth 0
Enter on your approved e-Visa within 90 days of issue, complete biometrics, and have your KITAS/ITAS issued. You'll receive a residence-permit card and be registered with immigration — your agent usually walks you through it.
-
7Month +1: Tax ID, BPJS, Bank & SIMMonth +1
Get a foreigner NPWP (tax ID), enrol in BPJS Kesehatan, and open a BCA / Mandiri / BNI / BRI account with your KITAS. If you'll drive, start converting your UK licence to an Indonesian SIM — you have about three months (and Indonesia drives on the left, like home).
-
8Month +36 onward: Consider KITAP (Permanent Stay)Long term
After holding a KITAS continuously for 3–5 years (or 2 years if married to an Indonesian) you can apply for a KITAP, the 5-year renewable permanent-stay permit — where most long-term Britons settle, since citizenship would mean renouncing your British passport.
Documents Needed for an Indonesian KITAS
The exact list depends on your route, but these 9 items cover a standard E33G Remote Worker KITAS application from a UK citizen (retirement, Second Home, and Golden visas swap the income item for pension proof, a deposit, or an investment). Tick items off as you gather them — your progress is saved in your browser.
Personal Documents
Financial (Your Route)
Health & Sponsorship
Application & Arrival
Requirements verified July 2026 against the Directorate General of Immigration (imigrasi.go.id) and its e-Visa portal. Always confirm the exact document list for your visa type with Indonesian Immigration or a licensed visa agent before applying.
After You Arrive: First Steps in Indonesia
Your e-Visa gets you in; the early weeks are about collecting your KITAS card, getting a tax ID (NPWP), enrolling in BPJS, and setting up banking. A licensed agent usually shepherds you through the immigration steps. Don't forget to tell HMRC you've left the UK (form P85) if you haven't already.
After entering on your e-Visa and completing biometrics, your KITAS/ITAS is issued as a residence-permit card. Register for a foreigner NPWP (tax ID) — you'll need it for banking and, if you become a tax resident, for filing — and enrol in BPJS Kesehatan, which is mandatory once you've held a KITAS for six months and is tied to renewing it.
Good news for Britons: Indonesia drives on the left, just like the UK, so no adjustment. You can drive on your UK licence with an International Driving Permit for up to about three months. After that you must get an Indonesian licence (SIM A for a car, SIM C for a scooter) — KITAS holders can often convert on a fast track, though Indonesia isn't on the UK's designated-country list so there's no test-free swap either way. Driving on a foreign licence alone beyond the initial period is illegal (fines Rp 1–5 million). In Bali, most people just rent a scooter or use Gojek/Grab.
First Month — Step by Step
- Collect your KITAS card and complete any immigration reporting — do this first.
- Get a foreigner NPWP (tax ID) — needed for banking and tax filing.
- Enrol in BPJS Kesehatan and keep your private/international insurance on top.
- Open an Indonesian bank account (BCA / Mandiri / BNI / BRI) and set up QRIS payments.
- Convert your UK driving licence to an Indonesian SIM within ~3 months if you'll drive.
Residency & Citizenship Path
| Stage | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| KITAS (limited stay) | A qualifying visa (remote / retire / second-home / golden / work) | Typically 1–2 years (5–10 for Second Home / Golden), renewable — where most Britons stay. |
| KITAP (permanent stay) | 3–5 continuous years on a KITAS (2 yr if married to an Indonesian) | Valid 5 years, renewable; the practical long-term status for foreigners. |
| Citizenship | 5 consecutive (or 10 cumulative) years + language + renounce prior nationality | Indonesia does not allow dual citizenship — you'd give up your British passport, so few naturalise. |
Because Indonesia doesn't allow dual citizenship, naturalising means renouncing your British passport — a step almost no Briton takes. So the typical long-term path is KITAS → KITAP, and then renewing the KITAP indefinitely. As a UK non-resident you generally escape UK tax on your foreign income — but remember your State Pension stays frozen here the whole time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, and Indonesia is unusually flexible about it. UK citizens get a Visa on Arrival (about £25) for a 30-day tourist stay, extendable once to 60 days — but that isn't residence. To live here you take a KITAS: the E33G Remote Worker KITAS for digital nomads earning at least US$60,000 (about £47,000)/yr from a foreign employer, a retirement KITAS for older applicants with pension income, the Second Home Visa backed by a roughly Rp 2 billion (~US$125,000 / £97,000) deposit, the Golden Visa from US$350,000, or an Investor/Work KITAS. Unlike Japan, Singapore, or Vietnam, Indonesia has both a digital-nomad visa and retirement visas.
It depends entirely on the route. The E33G Remote Worker KITAS needs at least US$60,000 (about £47,000)/yr in foreign income plus a US$2,000 (about £1,600) bank balance. A retirement KITAS expects roughly US$3,000 (about £2,360)/mo in pension (the 5-year Silver Hair version also wants a US$50,000 state-bank deposit). The Second Home Visa is backed by a roughly Rp 2 billion (~US$125,000 / £97,000) deposit or a US$1M property. The Golden Visa starts at US$350,000 invested for five years. Day to day, Bali is cheap: most Britons live comfortably on about £1,200–1,900/mo, roughly half the cost of a similar life in the UK.
Yes. Indonesia launched the E33G Remote Worker KITAS in April 2024 — the closest thing to a true Bali digital-nomad visa. UK citizens qualify by showing an employment or services contract with a company registered outside Indonesia, foreign income of at least US$60,000 (about £47,000)/yr, and a bank balance of at least US$2,000 over the last three months. It's valid for a one-year stay (enter within 90 days of issue), the official fee is Rp 7,000,000 (~£340), and it lets you live in Indonesia while working for your overseas employer or clients. The one hard rule: no income from an Indonesian company or client.
Yes, through a retirement KITAS, but the bar has risen. These routes are for older applicants (generally 60 and over) and now expect around US$3,000 (about £2,360)/mo in pension income, up from the ~US$1,500 of the older retirement KITAS. Your UK State Pension and private or workplace pensions count. The 5-year Silver Hair Visa (E33E) needs that income plus a US$50,000 deposit in an Indonesian state bank and no local sponsor; the standard 1-year retirement KITAS (E33F) needs the income plus a local sponsor. Both need health insurance. One catch: your UK State Pension is frozen in Indonesia and won't rise each year, so leave a margin. Retirees who'd rather skip the income test often use the deposit-based Second Home Visa instead.
Yes. Indonesia is a frozen-pension country: it has no reciprocal social-security agreement with the UK, so the DWP pays your State Pension but never uprates it. It's locked at the weekly rate you were on when you moved (or first claimed abroad) and won't rise with the annual triple lock — unlike in the EU, the USA, or the Philippines, where it does keep rising. Over a long retirement, inflation erodes its real value badly, so build that into your budget. You can still have it paid into a UK or Indonesian account, and you can protect future entitlement with voluntary National Insurance: voluntary Class 2 for periods abroad ended on 6 April 2026, and Class 3 now costs £18.40/week (£956.80/year) in 2026/27.
Possibly — but your position is far simpler than an American's. The UK taxes on residence, not citizenship, so once you leave and become non-resident under the Statutory Residence Test, HMRC generally stops taxing your non-UK income (no FBAR-style filing). Indonesia, though, taxes residents on worldwide income: you become an Indonesian tax resident after more than 183 days in any 12 months, at rates of 5%–35%. Under the UK–Indonesia double-taxation agreement (in force 1994), UK government and civil-service pensions stay taxable only in the UK, while your State Pension and private or workplace pensions can be taxable in Indonesia once you're resident. A 4-year foreign-income exemption may apply to some recognized skilled workers, but for ordinary nomads and retirees it's a grey area. Take cross-border advice.
Not freehold. Indonesia's 1960 Basic Agrarian Law reserves freehold title (Hak Milik) for Indonesian citizens only, and that hasn't changed. Foreigners use three legal alternatives: a leasehold (Hak Sewa), a 25–30-year lease open to any foreigner with no residency needed; Hak Pakai (Right to Use), a registered title valid up to 80 years that requires a residence permit; or a PT PMA company holding an HGB title. The popular "nominee" workaround is illegal and, under the 2025 property rules, increasingly prosecuted — courts can void the deal and leave the foreign buyer with nothing. Most nomads and retirees simply rent.
Permanent residence yes, citizenship rarely. After holding a KITAS continuously for 3–5 years (or 2 years if married to an Indonesian) you can apply for a KITAP, the 5-year renewable permanent-stay permit. Naturalization requires 5 consecutive years (or 10 cumulative) of residence, Indonesian-language ability, and a clean record — and, critically, Indonesia does not allow dual citizenship for adults, so you'd have to renounce your British passport. Because of that, almost all Britons stay on a KITAS or KITAP rather than naturalise.
Only briefly — but there's a nice bonus: Indonesia drives on the left, just like the UK, so no adjustment. You can drive on a valid UK licence with an International Driving Permit (IDP) for up to about three months after you arrive or your KITAS is issued. After that you must get an Indonesian licence (SIM A for a car, SIM C for a scooter) — KITAS holders can often convert on a fast track. Indonesia isn't on the UK's list of designated countries for a straight licence exchange, so there's no test-free swap either way. Driving on a foreign licence or IDP alone beyond the initial period is illegal, with fines of Rp 1–5 million. In practice most people in Bali rent a scooter (about £30–50/mo) or use Gojek and Grab.
Almost everyone uses a licensed Indonesian visa agent to assemble the file, handle sponsorship, and file on the e-Visa portal — it's the norm, not a luxury. A UK–Indonesia cross-border tax adviser is also worth it to handle your P85 and residence position, the pension treaty split (government vs State/private), the frozen State Pension, and the 183-day residency test and 4-year expertise exemption before you trigger Indonesian tax residency.
Find an immigration specialist →Also Considering…
Official sources & references
- Visasevisa.imigrasi.go.id — Directorate General of Immigration — official e-Visa portal (E33G, retirement, Second Home, Golden Visa)
- Residenceimigrasi.go.id — Directorate General of Immigration — KITAS/KITAP, visa index codes & requirements
- Taxpajak.go.id — Directorate General of Taxes — residency, income-tax rates & the expatriate exemption
- UK guidancegov.uk — FCDO — Living in Indonesia (healthcare, tax, driving, benefits)
- UK Pensiongov.uk — State Pension if you retire abroad (Indonesia is frozen)