The Bali tourist tax, and why residents don't pay it

The Bali tourist levy is set by the Bali provincial government to protect the island's culture and natural environment. The Love Bali site lists the amount as IDR 150,000 and describes the system as the implementation of Bali Provincial Regulation Number 2 of 2025, which amends Regional Regulation Number 6 of 2023 on the levy for international tourists.

According to the official FAQ, the levy is due from "every international tourist who travels to Bali and do tourist activities." Payment is through the Love Bali website or app, by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB), bank transfer, virtual account, UnionPay or QRIS. The levy voucher is sent to the email address you enter.

Love Bali notes that the exchange rate shown on the payment page is the one applied, and that your bank may add charges.

Sources: Love Bali — Bali Provincial Government and its FAQ, read 7 October 2026.

This is the part that matters most to anyone moving to Bali. The official FAQ lists the exemptions:

• holders of diplomatic and official visas
• crew members on transport vehicles
• holders of a KITAS (Temporary Stay Permit Card) or KITAP (Permanent Stay Permit Card)
• holders of family unification visas
• holders of student visas
• holders of golden visas
• holders of other visas

How you claim the exemption depends on the category. The FAQ says golden visa holders and holders of other visas need to apply through the Love Bali system, while the rest — including KITAS and KITAP holders — just show their card to the officer.

Love Bali's exemption page also describes the criteria as covering official duties, specific citizenship statuses, and contributions to Bali's or Indonesia's development.

In practice, the levy is a cost for your first trip — the house-hunting visit, the look-see before you commit — and stops being one once you hold a residence permit.

A sensible order of events for a move:

• Visiting before you have a KITAS: pay the IDR 150,000 levy through Love Bali, as a tourist.
• Arriving on a KITAS or KITAP: keep the card with you and show it to the officer; no payment is needed.
• On a golden visa or another visa type: apply for the exemption through the Love Bali system rather than assuming it applies.

Family members travelling on family unification visas, and children on student visas, are on the exempt list too — useful for anyone moving with a family.