Please see the changes below for new requirements for
getting an Indonesian Social visa aka Social Budaya in
Bangkok: a Wage Freedom reader tells us that the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok
requires 90 days to elapse between Social visas. I just called Ismail Hamdan’s
office–see below, including his phone number–and as of today the rules haven’t
changed at the Singapore Indonesian embassy. PLEASE CALL AHEAD!)
Over the years I’ve had lots of people ask how to go
about staying in Bali for six months or more, and how that
affects which Bali visa they should choose. I should begin here by gently (and
very respectfully!) reminding anyone who doesn’t know that visiting Bali
requires an Indonesian visa, not a Bali visa.
Nowadays Bali especially is seeing a huge influx of
foreigners looking to save by renting
an apartment or house by the month (or by the year) and work on a
project, look into possibilities for making a base in Bali or elsewhere in
Indonesia, or simply take an extended break to explore Indonesia’s endless
natural and cultural depth and variety.
The Sosial Budaya, or
Social Visa is a great way to do this, and for many people it’s the best
option. Costing approximately US$60 in 2016 depending on where you apply, it
allows you an initial stay of 60 days, then is extendable every 30 days for
about US$25, up to a maximum stay of six months without having to leave
Indonesia. A stipulation with the Sosial Budaya is that you must apply for it while you are physically
outside of Indonesia. You also need a letter of invitation from
an Indonesian citizen. All this is simpler than it might sound. My aim with
this article is to remove, whether you’re interested in Indonesia as a whole or
just Bali, visa-related question marks as barrier to doing this.
Read more on https://wagefreedom.com