Strict new Bali visa rules crack down on influencers and content creators

Indonesia has updated its immigration policy introducing stricter visa rules that could impact lifestyle influencers and travel content creators.

Over 1.5 million Australians travel to Indonesia each year, with the vast majority heading to Bali, and it remains a popular destination for content creators.

Now the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) has warned travellers to make sure they understand their visa conditions in an update posted to the Smarttraveller website on July 3.

“Ensure you have the right visa for your trip,” the update read.

“It’s illegal to work, conduct research or volunteer if you’re on a tourist visa. This includes creating or posting online content for payment or commercial purposes.”

The rules will apply to anything posted online for revenue, payment, sponsorship and commercial purposes.

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“Indonesian authorities may consider it a breach of visa conditions if you create content for commercial purposes while you’re on a tourist visa, even if the content is published after you’ve departed Indonesia.”

Indonesian Immigration issued updates on ‘unpaid activity’ in May, sharing a warning on social media for travellers.

If the unpaid activities do not align with the purpose of the visit stipulated on the visa or stay permit, this is considered an immigration violation, as reported by The Bali Sun.

In a post, the Indonesian Immigration explained: “It is not always about payment. Immigration authorities may look at the purpose of stay, the type of activity, and whether there is economic value behind it.”

Such activities included offering professional services – for example, make-up artists or photographers.

It also includes “commercial promotions”, such as endorsing products or services, as well as content creation for business, like creating social media content with promotion.

Work-like activities that include benefits, even if they are unpaid, are also not allowed on a tourist visa.

“Indonesian immigration law mandates that foreign nationals use their visa and stay permit in accordance with the intended purpose,” the post said. “Activities inconsistent with the granted visa may result in sanctions.”

The rules could also make things more difficult for remote workers, even if they are technically not getting paid by an Indonesian business. In this case, they could still be seen as getting an “economic benefit”.

One Aussie we spoke to, who chose to stay anonymous, said she previously spent a month in Bali working two jobs remotely for Australian companies while on a tourist visa.

“The cost of living is so much cheaper that I was able to save more money while working there than I would have by staying back home in Sydney,” she told nine.com.au.

“I also made money by creating videos for Instagram and YouTube while I was there – people love Bali content.

“There are so many people I met there who were doing the same thing, everywhere you look there are co-living and co-working spaces for creators, influencers, and remote workers.

“This is going to make life a lot harder for people who do that kind of work while living it up in Indonesia”

In a post on social media about the changes, Canadian content creator Zsolt Zsemba said enforcing them would be difficult.

“It’s going to be interesting to see how they enforce it. If someone eats a meal and posts about it, do they automatically assume it’s paid advertising?” he said, according to South China Morning Post.

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“Social media influencers spread mostly good vibes about Indonesia and Bali. This may hinder some of the social media coverage of the island.”

He did, however, agree that influencers getting paid to do something “should have the proper visas”.

Travellers that fall into these categories need to apply for another visa such as a work permit, investment visa, business visa, volunteer visa, or artists and performers visa. All of these cover leisure, travel, and recreation as included activities.