Retiring in Bali: which visa and how much income do you need?

Spending your retirement under the palm trees, between rice fields and beaches? You wouldn't be the first. According to Lexpatri, around 2,300 French people already live in Bali, and 3,135 are registered with the French consulate in Indonesia.

Good news: Indonesia offers a special visa for retirees, from age 55. Bad news: there is a money condition many people don't know about. Visa, budget, health, French pension: here is everything you need to know, simply.

The 2 retirement visas

Indonesia has two visas for retirees. The basic conditions are the same.

• Age: 55 or older (the minimum age dropped from 60 to 55 in 2024).
• Income: at least $3,000 a month, for example your pension.
• Bank account: a statement for the last 3 months showing at least $2,000.
• Passport: valid for at least 6 months.

The E33F visa: 1 year, renewable

• You need a guarantor (sponsor) in Indonesia. In practice, it is often a visa agency.
• Official fee: 7 million rupiah.
• It is renewed online every year, up to 6 years in total.
• With this visa, you are not allowed to work or sell services.

The E33E visa: 5 years in one go

• No guarantor needed: you apply yourself.
• Plus: a $50,000 deposit in an account in your name, at an Indonesian state-owned bank, within 90 days of arrival.
• Official fee: 13 million rupiah, not refunded if refused.
• It can be extended up to 10 years in total.

As a couple? If you each want an E33E visa, each of you must prove $3,000 a month in income and have your own deposit. Family members can also come along on a "family" visa.

How does the application work?

1. You apply online on the official immigration website (evisa.imigrasi.go.id), yourself or through your guarantor.
2. Processing takes about 4 to 5 working days after payment.
3. You then have 90 days to enter Indonesia.
4. Your residence permit is issued on arrival, at immigration control.

And after several years? You can apply for a permanent residence permit (ITAP), within 30 days before your visa expires.

You don't have $3,000 a month?

That is the case for many French retirees. There are still options:

• The visit visa: according to the Bali Bonjour guide, it lets you stay up to 6 months without becoming a resident. After that, you must leave the country.
• The "Second Home" visa: no minimum age, but you need a deposit of about $130,000.
• Living in Bali a few months a year, during the French winter, for example.

How much does life in Bali cost?

Here are some prices collected by Lexpatri:

• 2-room apartment in central Bali: about €900 a month.
• 3-bedroom villa in Ubud: €670 to €1,120 a month.
• Groceries: about €200 a month.
• Lunch: about €3. Dinner at a restaurant: about €15.

Be careful: rents have risen by 20 to 30% since 2022. And they are often paid in advance, for 3, 6 or 12 months.

Which area should you choose?

• Ubud: quiet, rice fields, cheaper than the coast. But further from the airport and the big hospitals.
• Sanur: by the sea. Together with Ubud, it is one of the areas where, according to the Vivre à Bali guide, a retired couple can live on €1,500 to €2,500 a month, including housing, staff and insurance.
• Canggu and Seminyak: lively, lots of services, but rising rents and heavy traffic.

Buying a house? A foreigner cannot own the land. There is a right of use called Hak Pakai (30 years, extendable by 20 years). Be wary of setups using an Indonesian "nominee": they are risky.

Health: the most important point

• There is no social security agreement between France and Indonesia.
• The good private hospitals are mainly in the south of the island, such as BIMC or Siloam.
• In a serious case, an evacuation to Singapore can cost €15,000 to €40,000.
• International insurance for ages 55-70 costs about $800 to $2,500 a year, according to Lexpatri. The CFE (Caisse des Français de l'étranger) is another option.

What about your French pension?

• Your pension keeps being paid in Indonesia.
• Every year, send a certificate of life to your pension funds, for example with the "Mon certificat de vie" app. You have 1 month to reply, otherwise your pension may be suspended.
• Under the tax treaty between the two countries, pensions from French schemes remain taxable in France. They are exempt from CSG-CRDS, but a health contribution is still deducted.
• To open a local bank account, you need a residence permit (KITAS). And every foreign account must be declared to the French tax office.

✅ For / ❌ Against: should you retire in Bali?

✅ For

• From age 55, no need to wait until 60.
• Daily life costs less than in France: meals, groceries, housing outside tourist areas.
• A large French community is already there.
• The E33E visa lets you stay 5 years without yearly paperwork.

❌ Against

• $3,000 a month minimum: many retirees don't have that much.
• Health is expensive: private insurance is a must in practice, and evacuation is possible in serious cases.
• Rents are rising in the most popular areas.
• Climate: rainy season from November to April, and high humidity all year round.

What this means for you

1. Do the maths: add up all your pensions. Do you reach $3,000 a month?
2. Do a test stay of a few weeks, ideally in the dry season (May to October).
3. Visit several areas: Ubud, Sanur and Canggu are very different.
4. Choose your health insurance before you leave.
5. Get the rules confirmed by the Indonesian embassy in Paris or on the official immigration website. They can change without notice.

For your test stay, book a free-cancellation hotel. You can then compare and recheck its price with Prixofy before you leave.

Key takeaway: a retirement visa for Bali is possible from age 55, with at least $3,000 a month in income. The E33F lasts 1 year (up to 6 years), the E33E lasts 5 years with a $50,000 deposit. Plan for good health insurance, and never forget your certificate of life.

Read also: Bali: what has changed and what many tourists don't know

Plan your trip to Indonesia

• Discover the island before moving: activities and tours in Bali↗.
• Internet on arrival: an Airalo↗ or Saily↗ eSIM.
• Airport transfer: see our transfer deals.
• Your hotel at the best price: compare prices.

What do you think?

Could you spend your retirement in Bali? What would hold you back the most: money, health or family?

Sources

• Directorate General of Immigration of Indonesia, "E33F Visa Rumah Kedua Lansia untuk 1 Tahun", accessed 2 November 2026: https://www.imigrasi.go.id/wna/daftar-visa-indonesia/E33F
• Yogyakarta Immigration Office, "Wisatawan Lanjut Usia/Pensiunan" (minimum age 55): https://jogja.imigrasi.go.id/warga-negara-asing/permohonan-visa-republik-indonesia/wisatawan-lanjut-usia-pensiunan/
• StampedNomad, "Indonesia Retirement KITAS (E33F and E33E): Rules and Fees", updated 8 October 2026: https://www.stampednomad.com/visas/indonesia-retirement-kitas-e33f
• Okusi Associates, "Retiring in Indonesia: Retirement KITAS, Second Home and Golden Visas Compared", updated 13 October 2026: https://okusiassociates.com/guides/retirement-second-home-visas-indonesia
• Lexpatri, "S'expatrier en Indonésie (Bali) en tant que Français, Guide 2026": https://xn--lexpatri-i1a.fr/destinations/indonesie
• Bali Bonjour, "Visas pour retraités à Bali / en Indonésie : vos options", 6 June 2026: https://www.balibonjour.com/visas/retraite/
• Vivre à Bali, "Visa retraite Bali / Indonésie (ITAS)", October 2026: https://vivreabali.fr/visa/retraite
• Service-Public.fr, "Retired living abroad: when do you need to present a certificate of life?", verified 3 March 2025: https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2543?lang=en
• La Retraite en clair, "Passer sa retraite en Indonésie", updated 18 September 2025: https://www.la-retraite-en-clair.fr/vivre-retraite/passer-retraite-etranger/passer-retraite-indonesie
• Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Paris, visa services: https://kemlu.go.id/paris/pelayanan-perwakilan/pelayanan-visa/visa