Visa runs from Bali: breaking the cycle
A visa run is a flight out to obtain a fresh entry status. Over time the cycle gets expensive: flights, hotels, lost days and an officer's decision at every border. A year of visa runs approaches the cost of a residence status and loses to it outright on peace of mind. The way out is a four-step ladder: C1, a D multiple-entry, the E33G, and the matching KITAS.
Updated: 25 August 2026 · Verified by the Malina Visa team
What a visa run is and why it persists
A visa run is a short flight out of the country in order to come back on a fresh entry status. It looks cheap for as long as you count only the visa and not the whole operation.
- ✓Return flights to the nearest country
- ✓A hotel night, transfers, food
- ✓A new visa on the way back
- ✓At least two days lost per cycle
Doing the annual maths
Take the e-VOA: 30 days plus one extension is 60 days per cycle, so roughly six cycles a year.
- ✓An e-VOA all-in — IDR 900,000, plus an extension with its IDR 500,000 fee
- ✓Six cycles means six visas, six extensions and six flights
- ✓A C1 — from IDR 2,500,000 gives 180 days; two cycles cover the year with one flight out
- ✓An E33G — IDR 12,000,000 for 12 months with no flights at all
Even before airfares, a year of visa runs approaches the cost of a residence status. With airfares it overtakes it comfortably.
The risk nobody prices in
The main problem with visa runs is not financial. Entry is decided by an officer each time, and a history of frequent entries raises questions.
- !A long chain of short visits looks like living in the country without the matching status
- !Working on a visit visa is a leading cause of deportation from Bali: the figures
- !Visa-free entry cannot be extended at all — the cycle gets shorter and more conspicuous
The ladder out
60 days with two 60-day extensions — up to 180 days without a single flight. From IDR 2,500,000.
A one or two year visa with unlimited entries: you fly when it suits you, not when your status runs out. From IDR 5,000,000.
A year of residence for remote work with foreign clients. The visa question is closed.
Your own business, family, or employment — investor, family or work.
Picking your step
The formula is simple and turns on two things: how many days a year you are here, and where your money comes from.
- ✓Up to six months a year, income from abroad — a C1 is enough
- ✓Flying in and out often — a D1 or D2
- ✓Living here and working remotely — the E33G
- ✓Running a business here or with family — the matching KITAS
Work out your own case in the visa finder — four questions and a result with the price.
Frequently asked questions
Are visa runs legal?
Leaving and re-entering on a fresh visa is not in itself a breach. But entry is decided by an officer, and a long history of short visits raises questions: it looks like living in the country without the matching status.
What does a year of visa runs cost?
On an e-VOA that is about six cycles: six visas at IDR 900,000, six extensions at the IDR 500,000 fee, plus flights and hotels. A year-long E33G at IDR 12,000,000 works out comparable, with no flights.
Can I do a visa run on visa-free entry?
Visa-free entry gives exactly 30 days and cannot be extended, so the cycle is half as long and twice as visible to immigration.
What should I choose if I live in Bali permanently?
A residence status matching your profile: E33G for remote work, investor for your own business, family if your spouse is Indonesian, work if employed.
How long can I stay without leaving?
60 days on an e-VOA, 180 on a C1. Visit visas do not go further — beyond that you need a KITAS.
Get the status right and your next flight becomes a holiday
Tell us how many days a year you spend here and where your income comes from — we will work out which status beats the runs on cost.
Visa finder