Visa puzzle- living in Bali long term

You and your hubby should fly into Bali and sit and enjoy a chat with other expats.

You can do that most any night at the Fly Cafe in Ubud...although Friday and Saturday nights are best.

Soooo many questions require at least one beer to get serious answers. 

Ubudian wrote:

You and your hubby should fly into Bali and sit and enjoy a chat with other expats.

You can do that most any night at the Fly Cafe in Ubud...although Friday and Saturday nights are best.

Soooo many questions require at least one beer to get serious answers. 

Thats a good one Roy, but doubt one beer will be enough 

Thanks for your answers...pains me to do it but will have to look elsewhere in SE Asia for a place to live.... we can't move anywhere without our two cats.. and currently there is no entry to Bali with pets. Hope for changes in the policies from the UK in 2015

There is no direct entry into Bali...that is true.

However, you can arrange entry via Jakarta.

BTW, you might consider that the sloppy handling of domestic "house cats" into Australia years ago...many of which became feral, almost resulted in the total extinction of several species of marsupials.  So maybe it's not always such a good idea to wish for changes in the law.

Try Cambodia. Easy for visas.

If you want to bring your cats you can. I know several people who have  brought their dogs. As many things here, just need to know the right person.

Not that I would recommend bringing your cats to Bali, unless they are the rough and tumble sort. Owning a pet here can be a tragic affair.

Hi I am fling to Bali on the 30th of this month to look at a Villa for my family. We are planning to move Bali permanently or atleast for 5 years. I had know idea that animals are not allowed in Bali. We live in Australia and we have a dog who is a family member aswell as a trained guard dog, my husband is a fly in fly out worker he is away for a whole month and we have 2 young children so our dog Bear gives me complete peace of mind as he is a amazing guard dog but also loves the children madly. It is our dream to move to Bali we were married there 19 years ago, but I could not leave our dog behind.
If there is any way we can take him with us please can you let me know.
My email address is [email protected]
I would travel to Jakarta or any where if that is the way to get him to Bali.
Our Vet here provides documentation that he is free of all diseases.

Bli Komang sounds like a great guy, and his web site is very good.  Selamat Komang!

I am never one who does anything less than promote and encourage new arrivals to Bali to rely on local Balinese for the invaluable help and kind assistance that they are in such a unique position to provide.

As for your pet dog however, you need the professional assistance of what is the most trusted and relied on method of getting pets into Bali.

That company is called Groovy Pets and they are based in Jakarta.

http://www.groovy.co.id/home

Currently (and ever since the rabies problem from some years back) there is no way to get a dog or cat legally into Bali except through Jakarta.

You could consider Malaysia which is well placed and not so expensive although it doesn't have the exotic feel that Bali has. They have a 10 year social visa called a MM2H (Malaysia My Second Home) and basically you just need to place a fixed deposit into a local bank. The amount depends on your husbands age whether he above or below 50 years old. The only other requirements are proof of a minimum income of at least US$3,000 and to get a local medical insurance. Advantages include being able to buy a car tax free which can reduce the price by around 40%.

Personally, I love Japan and would prefer to live there and travel to Bali every now and again.

[Moderated: Off topic]

Hi I returned from Bali 2 weeks ago and spent 3 days in Canggu looking at Villas for my family, looking at living in Bali long term. We want to rent for a year and then look at buying and yes we have a good friend her is Balinse.
I wanted to know other expats her live in Canggu and have children are the only options the Canggu school. I love the school but the fees are going to be hard to pay. Is there any other options for schools if you live in Canggu.

"We want to rent for a year and then look at buying and yes we have a good friend her is Balinse."

By that do you mean that you plan on using her as a nominee on your land title (Hak Milik)?

If so, I strongly urge you to think again, and pursue a Hak Pakai lease situation only.

Jade Kalaf wrote:

Hi I returned from Bali 2 weeks ago and spent 3 days in Canggu looking at Villas for my family, looking at living in Bali long term. We want to rent for a year and then look at buying and yes we have a good friend her is Balinse.
I wanted to know other expats her live in Canggu and have children are the only options the Canggu school. I love the school but the fees are going to be hard to pay. Is there any other options for schools if you live in Canggu.

Don't know how well you know Bali, how often you visited Bali before or if it was first time but better you rent a villa long term first and then you have a better feeling and still can decide whether or not your Balinese friend will be the nominee in the event you are going to buy any property.

Bear in mind that you will not officially the owner thus follow Roy's suggestion...Hak Pakai seems the best option (except money is not an issue).

We have been to Bali 16 times and we were married there 19 years ago, in the last year we have been 4 times each time for 4 to 6 weeks our friend we have know for 28 years..
My question was not about renting, leasing or buying it was about any other expats who have children and what schools they go to if we are living in Canggu I wanted to know if other expats live there and have children and do there children only go to the Canggu school.
If there are any expats who live in other areas and have children would love to hear where they live and what schools they attend.

So, why does your profile say, "Want to move to Thailand" when you have all these plans for life on Bali?

On your next trip, why not hang around the Canggu Club and mingle with other expats that are sending their kids to school in that area?

this is very interesting topics to reply based on my own experienced. I am Indonesian and married with Danish man, we living in Denmark but recently moved to Bali. it is very easy and simple procedure for my Danish husband to get KITAS for one year. for info about this go to websites:
http://www.imigrasi.go.id/index.php/lay … l-terbatas
they have English version , so you can just read it. it cost only less then : US. 70 and processing time less than 3 month

after finish 1 year then , you can extend and they give you for 2 years.

now here is the interesting parts , related with your case. since both of you are not Indonesian , nor legally married, nor one of you employed by International company here in Indonesia . it is almost impossible to live here in Bali for long term and apply for KITAS ( Kartu Ijin TInggal Sementara / temporary resident card ).  It is wise to save your headache with the Indonesian bureaucracy and just fly in and fly out whenever you feels like it based on tourist visa.

Few people might suggest you to rent a long term lease property or make investment here in Bali in order so you can get your KITAS. this type of suggestions has been prove many times as a scams. as you need to have or appointed   Indonesian sponsorship in any kind  investment ( Few property company would easily accommodate your needs) . Most of the time your so called " Indonesian Sponsorship " will leave you on the most time you need them the most.

I meet with this India Guy in Immigrations office in Denpasar, Bali and he almost have tears in his eyes cause when he tried to extend his 1 years visa, using his Indonesian sponsorship from the previous one, he( the sponsor ) was no where to be found. I  Feel very sorry for him  and hope he find a new sponsor.

anyway " grass in the neighborhood always looks greener than  in our own backyard " . keep your logic on guard and do not follow on those " paradise island dreaming"  which you do not know.

regards

“…since both of you are not Indonesian , nor legally married, nor one of you employed by International company here in Indonesia . it is almost impossible to live here in Bali for long term and apply for KITAS ( Kartu Ijin TInggal Sementara / temporary resident card ).”

I'm sorry, but that is not true.  Plenty of single foreigners live on Bali and not employed by any international company with a KITAS visa.  Actually, most any of the better known visa agents are more than happy to sponsor a foreigner for a KITAS visa. 

“Few people might suggest you to rent a long term lease property or make investment here in Bali in order so you can get your KITAS.”

Obviously a temporary resident visa will not be issued to a foreigner without a steady residence.  Also, a KITAS is not required for a foreigner to take a long term rental.

“I meet with this India Guy in Immigrations office in Denpasar, Bali and he almost have tears in his eyes cause when he tried to extend his 1 years visa, using his Indonesian sponsorship from the previous one, he( the sponsor ) was no where to be found. I  Feel very sorry for him  and hope he find a new sponsor.”

Hah!  With all the visa agents that hang out every day at Kantor Imigrasi, I am shocked that none of them jumped at the chance to sponsor him. 

All that being said, I do agree with you 100% that using a local to be your “nominee” for a land purchase, regardless of how long you've known them, is a very risky proposition, and in fact, there is absolutely no valid reason to use an Indonesian sponsor.  Moreover, more and more Balinese are refusing to sell their land these days…only leasing it out…and that is a good thing! 

Cheers!

Hi Roy,

All buying and selling and stuff on the island of the gods seems never ending. However a question if I may. Lets assume, an Australian leases land off a local person and agrees a fixed date of use and it is agreed that the land can be used for whatever purpose as long as the renter and rentee both agree legally and have it notarised with all the necessary paperwork that would ensue. If that person then builds a property and the owner of the land dies and the land is passed onto a family member who wants the land back, evicts the rentee and then demolishes the place before it is settled in court then what?

This has nothing to do with me its just one of those things in my mind that happens to be floating by?

Ubudian wrote:

“…

I'm sorry, but that is not true.  Plenty of single foreigners live on Bali and not employed by any international company with a KITAS visa.  Actually, most any of the better known visa agents are more than happy to sponsor a foreigner for a KITAS visa. 

Cheers!

Are you saying that it is legally possible that a visa agent can just sponsor a foreigner for a KITAS ?? I am not talking about a KITAS Lansia.....

If so, how ill it work respectively what are the requirements ??

Thankyou good advice not sure why my profile states Thailand. Bali is the place for us.

Maybe because most of your other posts are in the Thai/Phuket forum asking the same....

Luke, assuming this fellow used a hak pakai lease, then the family of the deceased land owner, named in the hak milik and hak pakai would be legally bound to the hak pakai lease and would have to wait until the duration of the lease ended.  In essence, the hak mililk land certificate is bound to the hak pakai lease, and it is equal in terms of all land right, permission to build and use (within zoning restrictions), with the exception that the land is not outright owned by the lessee.  The hak pakai lease is the most legally proven and able to stand up in court method of a foreigner enjoying all rights of property “ownership” but with a time certain limit, and that is generally regarded to not exceed two 25 year lease periods.  A hak pakai is not considered property per se and therefore cannot be passed on by way of a last will and testament. 

Tom, yes, beyond the retirement KITAS for those 55 and over, a single person can still have a KITAS (12 month) using a licensed visa agent as their sponsor so long as they can show residency (prior sosbud/60 day visas renewed and continuous time in Indonesia), and means of financial support.

Thanks Roy, thats what I thought and exactly why I wont be trying to lease land.  Far too completed for me.

Thanks Roy,

I did not know that this is a legal way to obtain a KITAS, that a licensed agent can sponsor. Still I wonder what kind of license it will be and who is granting it....

Tom, that was my visa arrangement far before I was able to do the retirement visa, and then the KITAP.   PT Bali Ide was my sponsor and it sure beat having to leave Bali every 6 months for a visa run.

Ubudian wrote:

Tom, that was my visa arrangement far before I was able to do the retirement visa, and then the KITAP.   PT Bali Ide was my sponsor and it sure beat having to leave Bali every 6 months for a visa run.

Thanks the info Roy,

I heard also from agents in Jakarta sponsoring KITAS, still what I heard as well is that this practice is not really legit so I wonder what kind of license they claim to have to be able to sponsor a KITAS, the Immigration is issuing this license ??

Do not get me wrong but I question that it is 100% legal...

By licensed visa agent, from what I'm told, that means a legit business (as with PT Bali Ide) and as opposed to a "free lance" operator. 

Sponsors of visas for foreigners take on a certain level of responsibility for those they sponsor.  BTW, that is exactly why I always tell my Balinese friends to not be so willing to sponsor a sosbud visa for a foreigner.  Inherent with that is the idea that an established firm that handles visa matters for foreigners is going to use some due diligence if for no other reason than to protect their own business.   

But for sure, it's 100% legal.