The Indonesian Second Home Visa (E33) is a long-stay, non-working visa for financially secure foreigners who want to live in Indonesia for 5–10 years without a sponsor, based on proof of funds or high-value property. It sits between classic retirement, investor, and “golden visa” style permits and is ideal if you want time, stability, and flexibility—just not a job in Indonesia.
What exactly is the Second Home Visa (E33)?
In plain language, the Second Home Visa E33 lets you base yourself in Indonesia—often Bali—for 5 years, extendable up to 10 years, without needing a local sponsor and without having to run a company or retire in the traditional sense.[2][4] You show financial strength instead of a work contract or pension letter.
By 2026, the key framework looks like this (rounded for clarity):
- Stay permit: 5 years initially, with an upgrade path toward 10 years in many cases.[2][4][8]
- Financial threshold: at least IDR 2,000,000,000 (about USD 130,000–150,000) in an Indonesian state bank or qualifying high-value property.[2][3][8]
- Purpose: living, investing, managing personal assets, spending time with family—but no local employment or Indonesian-sourced salary.[2][6][8]
- Sponsor: no local guarantor required (you apply in your own name).
Think of it as a “serious commitment” residency: you’re telling Immigration, “Indonesia is my second home, and I have the means to support myself here long-term.”
Second Home Visa vs other Indonesia visas: quick overview
If you are asking yourself which visa is best for a Bali long stay, the honest answer is: it depends what you want to do here, how long, and at what budget.
| Visa type | Typical use | Work allowed? | Stay horizon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second Home Visa (E33) | Long-term living, asset base, “second home” lifestyle | No | 5–10 years |
| Investor KITAS | Own & actively manage PT PMA company | Yes, in your company | 1–2 years, extendable |
| Retirement Visa | Over-60s, fixed retirement income, services package | No | Annual, up to 5 years |
| B211 / Tourist / “Remote worker” setups | Short- to mid-term stays, testing Bali | No local work | Up to 60–180 days per stay, renewals needed |
| Golden Visa Indonesia (investor program) | Substantial investment, semi-residency privilege | Case-specific | 5–10 years |
Second Home Visa vs Investor KITAS: lifestyle vs business tool
The phrase “second home visa vs investor KITAS” comes up constantly when I talk to founders and long-term Bali residents.
Investor KITAS (Company-based)
- You set up or buy into a PT PMA (foreign-owned company).
- The visa is tied to that company and lets you work in specific roles inside it (director, commissioner, etc.).
- Stay is usually 1 or 2 years at a time, renewable.
- Lower personal cash requirement, but higher compliance burden (tax, payroll, monthly reporting).
Second Home Visa E33
- No need to establish a company or hold a formal job title.
- You prove funds (IDR 2B+) or high-value property instead of a business plan.[2][8]
- You enjoy 5–10 years stability—but you cannot legally work for an Indonesian entity.[2][6][8]
- You can own shares in a PT PMA as a passive investor, manage your wealth, and live here quietly.
So if your priority is operating a business on the ground, Investor KITAS usually wins. If your priority is living in Indonesia long-term with minimal bureaucracy, the Second Home Visa is frequently the better fit.
Second Home Visa vs Retirement Visa Indonesia
For clients over 60, the big question is “second home visa vs retirement visa Indonesia”. These two look similar on the surface but feel very different in practice.
Retirement Visa (current mainstream scheme):
- Age requirement: typically 60+.
- Requires evidence of stable pension / foreign income, long-term accommodation, and mandatory local staff/services arrangements.
- Usually issued for 1 year at a time, extendable up to 5 years, then conversion options.
- Cheaper and with a lower financial barrier than Second Home, but more “old-school” in structure.
Second Home Visa E33 for retirees:
- No strict age requirement—wealth, not age, is the filter.[2][6]
- Much longer horizon from day one: 5–10 years.[2][4][8]
- More flexible lifestyle: you are not locked into classic “retirement” service packages.
If you’re over 60 and hold at least IDR 2B in savings or qualifying property, the Second Home Visa usually feels cleaner and more modern than the Retirement KITAS, and it is rapidly becoming the default for “affluent retirees” moving to Bali.
Second Home Visa vs Golden Visa Indonesia
We also see confusion around the second home visa vs golden visa Indonesia, especially as Indonesia slowly builds out its own “golden” investment tracks.
Key difference: the Golden Visa label generally refers to high-investment, policy-level programs (large amounts into government bonds, strategic sectors, or major corporate investments) with strong residency rights and sometimes work privileges attached. Minimum investments often run into the millions of US dollars and tend to target global investors or corporations.
The Second Home Visa compared to Golden Visa is much more accessible:
- Financial bar: around IDR 2B in funds or qualifying property, not multi-million-dollar investments.[2][3][8]
- Process: a visa-focused, immigration-administered route, rather than a heavily negotiated investment agreement.
- Purpose: long-term living and economic contribution through spending, not necessarily direct large-scale investment projects.[6][9]
If you are a private individual or family, not a multinational, the Second Home Visa is almost always the realistic path. The Golden Visa route is a different league.
Second Home Visa vs Tourist Visa and B211
Next up: the “test the waters” visas—this is where second home visa vs tourist visa and second home visa vs B211 visa comparisons matter.
Tourist visa / Visa-on-arrival (VOA):
- Stay: 30 days, extendable once to 60 days.
- Purpose: tourism only. No business activities.
- Good for short trips, but zero long-term predictability.
B211A Visit Visa (often used for “longer holiday” or “soft landing”):
- Stay: typically 60 days initial, extendable in-country up to around 180 days in total.
- Purpose: tourism, family visits, certain limited business meetings—not formal employment.
- Lower upfront cost, but you are still on a temporary treadmill of extensions.
When you compare those with the E33:
- If you want to try Bali for a few months, a B211 still makes sense.
- If you already know, “I want Bali for the next 5–10 years,” then jumping straight to Second Home avoids the extension merry-go-round.
Do keep in mind that using a tourist or B211 visa to quietly “live” here year after year is increasingly risky as data-sharing and enforcement tighten up. The E33 exists precisely to give a legitimate long-stay alternative.
Second Home Visa vs “Remote worker visa Indonesia” ideas
You will see the phrase “second home visa vs remote worker visa Indonesia” all over blogs and TikTok. For now, Indonesia does not have a fully separate, clean “digital nomad visa” with dedicated rules. Many remote workers currently:
- Use B211 or visa-on-arrival, working online for foreign employers while physically in Indonesia.
- Look at the Second Home Visa once they want real roots: stable school for kids, long-term leases, car ownership, etc.
For remote workers with sufficient assets, the Second Home Visa is effectively the closest thing to a “proper” long-term remote worker status: you can live here, work online for non-Indonesian clients, and you are not tied to a local employer. Just remember: can second home visa work in Indonesia? In the legal sense, no—you may not be employed by or earn Indonesian-source employment income under this visa.[2][6]
Difference between E33 and KITAS
This one causes recurrent confusion on forums: difference between E33 and KITAS.
- E33 is the visa category code for the Second Home program—a specific long-stay, non-working track.[2]
- KITAS is the general term for a Limited Stay Permit. Once you activate your Second Home Visa, you receive a Second Home KITAS as the underlying stay permit.[2][4]
So in some contexts, the Second Home Visa is described as “Second Home KITAS” simply because it converts to a KITAS upon arrival and acts like one in daily life. The real comparison is between E33 (Second Home) and other KITAS types (work, investor, retirement, spouse, etc.), not E33 vs KITAS as such.
Which visa is best for a Bali long stay?
This is where 10+ years of sitting across from families, founders and solo adventurers in Sanur and Canggu really matters. Here’s how I frame it in practical terms:
- You want 5–10 years, no office job, solid assets → Second Home Visa E33.
- You want to build and run a company in Indonesia → Investor KITAS (possibly combined with company shareholding structures).
- You’re 60+ with pension, moderate budget → Retirement KITAS, unless you comfortably qualify for E33 and want the upgraded stability.
- You’re still “dating” Bali (1–6 months) → B211, then reassess once you’re sure.
- You’re a high-net-worth investor targeting strategic programs → explore Golden Visa structures, but expect significantly higher thresholds and scrutiny.
If your priority sentence sounds like, “I want to enroll the kids in school, furnish a house, and not worry about my visa for the next decade,” then the Second Home Visa is almost always the most emotionally and practically satisfying route—provided you meet the financial conditions.
Key pros and cons of the Second Home Visa
Advantages
- Long duration: 5–10 years means fewer renewals, fewer airport runs, and more mental space.[2][4][8]
- No sponsor: you’re not beholden to a company or local guarantor for your basic right to stay.[2]
- Family-friendly: spouse and children can typically follow under linked Second Home permits.[5]
- Asset-friendly: designed to accommodate investment, property ownership structures, and wealth management.[2][6][8]
Limitations
- No work rights: you cannot legally be employed by an Indonesian company on this visa.[2][6]
- High entry threshold: the IDR 2B proof of funds or high-value property is deliberate gatekeeping.[2][3][8]
- Policy still maturing: as with any new category, minor adjustments and clarifications are likely over the coming years.
If you want a detailed procedural guide, read: How to apply for the Second Home Visa E33: step-by-step from start to arrival. For passport-specific nuances, especially if your citizenship has quirks, see: Second Home Visa by nationality: country-specific questions people ask.
Mini FAQ: Second Home Visa E33 (Bali focus)
1. Can Second Home Visa holders work in Indonesia?
No. The Second Home Visa is a non-working status. You may manage your own assets, receive foreign income, and hold shares, but formal employment or freelance services for Indonesian entities require a separate work permit/visa.[2][6]
2. Can I switch from a B211 or tourist stay to Second Home from inside Indonesia?
In many cases, yes—but the process and timing matter. You must maintain legal status throughout and satisfy all E33 requirements before conversion. This is exactly the sort of case we handle through our concierge service.
3. Do I have to freeze my IDR 2B forever?
No, but you do have to prove the required amount (or property) and maintain compliance as Immigration may request evidence again during extensions or checks.[2][3][8] Treat the funds as a long-term stability buffer rather than short-term spending money.
Need help choosing the right path?
If you are still stuck between second home visa vs investor KITAS, or unsure whether you qualify for E33, this is exactly what we do every day. Start with our home page for an overview or go straight to our concierge service and we’ll map out the clearest route for your situation.
Message us on WhatsApp now with your age, nationality, and rough budget, and ask: “Which visa is best for my Bali long stay?” — we’ll answer with a clear, personalised plan.
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General information, not legal advice; fees are agency estimates, not government fees. We confirm the latest rules for your case before you apply.