Your Bali Visa Advice Is Out of Date: B211A Is Gone (2026 Visa Codes Explained)
Indonesia cut 133 visa classifications to 110 and retired the codes half the internet still tells you to apply for. Here is what replaced them.
I spent three hours on a Tuesday night in April reading contradictory visa advice for Indonesia. One site said to apply for a B211A. Another said B211A doesn’t exist any more. A third said it had been “renamed” but the process was the same. A forum post from two months earlier confidently recommended a C312 work visa, also discontinued. By midnight I had six browser tabs open and less clarity than when I’d started.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Indonesia overhauled its entire visa classification system in mid-2025, and as of 2026, the old codes that every blog post, YouTube video, and visa agent used for years (B211A, B211B, C312, C313, C314, C319) are gone for new applications. The new Indonesia visa codes 2026 system uses a completely different numbering scheme, and a huge amount of the advice still floating around the internet is simply wrong.
So here’s the article I wish I’d had that Tuesday night: the actual old-to-new mapping, what each visa costs, who it’s for, and the one tax trap that almost nobody mentions.
What Actually Happened to the B211A, and Why Half the Internet Hasn’t Noticed
On 2 June 2025, Indonesia’s Ministry of Immigration published Decree No. M.IP-08.GR.01.01, which restructured the entire visa index. The number of visa classifications dropped from 133 to 110, and here’s the bit that matters: the familiar alphanumeric codes were replaced wholesale.
The B211A, which had been the go-to single-entry visit visa for tourists wanting longer than 30 days, became the C1. Same visa, same function, same duration, same extensions. Just a new code. The B211B (social/cultural visit) is now in the C-series too. C312 became E23 for work permits, C313 and C314 merged into E28A for investors, and C319 became E33F for retirees.
If you already hold a visa under the old code, it remains valid until it expires. But if you’re applying fresh in 2026, you’re applying under the new code, and any agent or website still advertising a B211A for new applications is working from outdated information.
The reason so much advice is still wrong is simple: the internet is slow. Blog posts written in 2024 still rank on Google. YouTube videos from early 2025 still get views. And visa agents in Bali, some of whom are brilliant and some of whom are, well, less so, don’t always update their websites even when they know the codes have changed. The paperwork they file uses the correct codes. Their marketing often doesn’t.
The Old-to-New Indonesia Visa Code Mapping Table You Actually Need
Here’s the conversion table I couldn’t find when I needed it. Pin it, bookmark it, screenshot it: this is the reference that makes sense of the new Indonesia visa codes 2026:
| What you need | Old code | New code | Duration | Approximate cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short tourist visit | Visa on Arrival (VoA) | B1 | 30 days (extendable once to 60) | IDR 500,000 (~USD 30) |
| Longer tourist stay | B211A | C1 | 60 days (2 x 60-day extensions = 180 max) | ~IDR 2,000,000 (~USD 130) |
| Business visit | B211A (business purpose) | C2 | 60 days (extendable) | Similar to C1 |
| Multiple-entry visit | None | D1 | Multiple entries over set period | Varies by purpose |
| Employment | C312 | E23 | 6 months / 1 year / 2 years | Via employer (RPTKA required) |
| Investor | C313/C314 | E28A | 2 years (renewable) | Min. shareholding IDR 10 billion |
| Retirement | C319 | E33F | 1 year (renewable, 55+) | Via licensed agent |
| Digital nomad | (new) | E33G | 1 year (non-extendable) | Min. income USD 60,000/year |
| Silver Hair (premium retirement) | (new) | E33E | 5 years (60+) | USD 50,000 bank deposit |
That table is the whole value of this article, in a sense. Everything that follows is context.
The Three Visas Most Bali Visitors Will Actually Use in 2026
Most people reading this will need one of three visas. Let me walk through each.
B1: Visa on Arrival (the “just get me in” option)
This is what you get if you’re coming for a holiday of up to 30 days. It costs IDR 500,000 (roughly USD 30) and you should apply online before you arrive. The old process of queuing at the airport counter still works, but the e-VOA saves a miserable 45 minutes in an immigration queue after a long flight. Apply at least two business days before departure. You can extend once for another 30 days at a local immigration office, for 60 days maximum.
One thing that catches people out: your day of arrival and day of departure both count as full days. So “30 days” is really 28 usable days.
C1: Single-Entry Visit Visa (formerly B211A)
If you want 60 days, or up to 180 days with extensions, this is your visa. The C1 is the old B211A with a new name, functionally identical. You’ll need a passport valid for at least six months, bank statements showing approximately USD 2,000, and a return or onward flight. Processing takes 5–14 working days. You don’t need a sponsor for the initial application, but you will need one for each 60-day extension.
You can’t work on a C1. Not even remotely. Not even content creation. I know, everyone’s doing it. But officially, it’s not permitted, and immigration enforcement has been tightening.
E33G: Digital Nomad Visa (the remote worker permit)
This is the one everyone asks me about. The E33G gives you one year of legal residency to work remotely, as long as your income comes entirely from outside Indonesia. You need to earn at least USD 60,000 a year from foreign sources (roughly USD 5,000 a month), and show bank statements with at least USD 2,000 over the past three months.
The E33G is non-extendable. After your year, you leave or apply for something else. You need an employment contract with a foreign-registered company, freelancers with service agreements are in legally grey territory. And you must arrive in Indonesia within 90 days of issuance.
The E33G Tax Trap Nobody Talks About: Indonesia Visa Codes 2026 and Your Tax Bill
This is the section I really wish someone had written clearly when I was researching. Because the E33G comes with a catch that most visa guides bury in a footnote or skip entirely.
When you hold an E33G, you receive a KITAS, a limited stay permit. Holding a KITAS demonstrates intent to reside in Indonesia, which makes you a tax resident. As a tax resident, you’re expected to register for an NPWP (tax identification number) and file annual tax returns. And Indonesia taxes residents on worldwide income. Not just what you earn while physically in Bali, everything.
Now, double-taxation treaties may apply depending on where you’re from (the UK has one with Indonesia, as do Australia, the US, and most EU countries). But “may apply” is doing a lot of work in that sentence. You need to understand your specific situation with an actual tax adviser, not a blog post, including this one.
There’s another restriction worth knowing: a single Indonesian client voids the E33G. You cannot receive payment from any Indonesian entity, sell goods or services inside the country, or take employment with an Indonesian company. Even one local project technically breaches the terms. I know digital nomads who’ve done it anyway. I also know one who had his visa revoked. Your call.
How to Spot Outdated Visa Advice and Find the Right Indonesia Visa Codes 2026
After going through all of this, here’s how I now filter visa information. It’s saved me from more than one wrong turn.
Red flags that advice is outdated: If anyone tells you to “apply for a B211A” in 2026, their information is at least a year old. Same if they reference C312, C313, C314, or C319 as current visa types. The codes changed in June 2025. Any content created before that date, or after it but without updating, is working from a retired system.
Where to check current information: The official Indonesian immigration portal (evisa.imigrasi.go.id) uses the current codes. Emerhub and LetsMoveIndonesia both keep their guides updated with the new codes. The ABNR law firm published a solid breakdown of the ministerial decree. I’d cross-reference at least two of these before making any decisions.
Why agents sometimes still use the old names: Some visa agents in Bali use “B211A” as shorthand because their clients recognise it. That’s not necessarily a red flag, it’s marketing. The test is whether the actual paperwork they file uses the correct C1 code. Ask. If they don’t know what a C1 is, find a different agent.
And one more thing: since May 2025, all KITAS applications and renewals require an in-person appointment at a local immigration office for biometrics (photos and fingerprints). The old fully-remote processing through agents is gone. Plan for this if you’re applying for an E23, E28A, or E33G.
Conclusion
Visa admin is nobody’s favourite part of planning a trip to Bali. But getting it right matters, especially now, when so much of the advice circulating online refers to a system that no longer exists.
The good news is that the actual visas haven’t changed much. The B1 still gets you 30 days. The C1 (old B211A) still gets you up to 180. The E33G gives digital nomads a year, with tax strings attached that are worth understanding before you commit.
If you’re still unsure which visa fits your situation, I’d honestly recommend booking a one-hour consultation with a licensed visa agent in Bali (Emerhub, LetsMoveIndonesia, and VisaBaliEasy all offer these). The cost is usually USD 30–50 and it’s far cheaper than applying for the wrong thing.
Got questions I haven’t covered? Reply to this email, I read every one. And if this saved you from a midnight spiral of contradictory blog posts, share it with someone who’s planning their own move. The more people who have the right information, the fewer who’ll pay for the wrong visa.
FAQs
1. Is the B211A visa still valid in Indonesia?
If you already hold a B211A that was issued before the code change, it remains valid until it expires. But the B211A code has been retired for new applications as of June 2025. The equivalent visa is now called C1, same function and same duration, with the same extensions available. Just a new code under Indonesia’s restructured system.
2. What replaced the B211A visa in Indonesia?
The C1 single-entry visit visa replaced the B211A. It allows 60 days initially with two 60-day extensions possible, for a maximum stay of 180 days. The rename happened under Ministerial Decree No. M.IP-08.GR.01.01 of 2025, effective 2 June 2025.
3. How much does the Indonesia visa on arrival cost in 2026?
The B1 visa on arrival costs IDR 500,000 (approximately USD 30). You can apply online through the official e-VOA portal at least two business days before arrival, or at the airport counter on landing, though the online route saves you a lot of queuing.
4. What is the E33G digital nomad visa and who qualifies?
The E33G is Indonesia’s remote worker visa, valid for one year and non-extendable. You must earn at least USD 60,000 annually from foreign sources, show USD 2,000 in bank statements over three months, and hold an employment contract with a foreign-registered company. You cannot work for Indonesian companies or earn any income from Indonesian sources.
5. Does the E33G digital nomad visa make me a tax resident of Indonesia?
Yes. Holding an E33G grants you a KITAS (limited stay permit), which makes you a tax resident in Indonesia. You’re expected to register for an NPWP (tax identification number) and file annual returns. Indonesia taxes residents on worldwide income, though double-taxation treaties may reduce the liability depending on your home country.
6. Can I work remotely on a C1 tourist visa in Bali?
Officially, no. The C1 (formerly B211A) does not permit any form of paid work, including remote work, content creation, or freelancing. Many people do it anyway, but immigration enforcement has been tightening and the risk is yours. The E33G remote worker visa is the legal route for working remotely in Bali.
7. What happened to the C312 work visa in Indonesia?
The C312 was replaced by the E23 working KITAS under the 2025 visa overhaul. The E23 requires an approved RPTKA (Foreign Worker Utilisation Plan) from the Ministry of Manpower and is valid for 6 months, 1 year, or 2 years. Existing C312 permits remain valid until expiry, but renewals use the E23 code.
8. How many visa classifications does Indonesia have in 2026?
Indonesia reduced its visa classifications from 133 to 110 under Ministerial Decree No. M.IP-08.GR.01.01 of 2025. The restructuring merged overlapping categories and added new ones, including the E33G (digital nomad) and E33E (Silver Hair premium retirement visa).
9. Do I need a sponsor for an Indonesia visa in 2026?
It depends on the visa type. The B1 (visa on arrival) doesn’t need a sponsor at all. For a C1 (single-entry visit), no sponsor is required for the initial application, but extensions require a local sponsor arranged through immigration. KITAS categories (E23, E28A, E33G) all need a sponsoring entity or licensed agent.
10. Can I extend my stay beyond the visa period in Bali?
The B1 (visa on arrival) can be extended once for 30 days, for 60 days total. The C1 (formerly B211A) can be extended twice, each for 60 days, for 180 days total. The E33G digital nomad visa is non-extendable, after one year you must leave Indonesia or apply for a different visa type. Overstaying any visa incurs fines of IDR 1,000,000 per day and potential deportation.
