Working & Getting Jobs as Foreigner in Bali

Written By Evo Syah
Updated March 15, 2021

Bali is one of the destinations dreamed of by many young people from all over the world. Finding a job on this Indonesian island is not easy, but not impossible. In fact, there are many expats who have settled temporarily, or permanently in Bali.

If you also want to live and work in Bali, here we tell you 6 jobs that you can do as a foreigner in Bali. A dream vacation destination for many, a paradise for surfing or lounging. Beaches, cultural, diversity, art, temples…

Bali can be one of the most beautiful islands on earth. It is also one of the best destinations for digital nomads who want to settle in Bali for a while.

And you, do you want to live and work in Bali for a season? Now, not all the colors of roses and obstacles may arise in terms of work permits, it is true that the bureaucratic laws of Indonesia can be the great inconvenience for Westerners, in addition to culture shock and others, however, all this is not an impediment to settle for a season on this island.

Jobs you can do as an expat in Bali

1. Digital Nomad

As we have mentioned above, Bali is one of the best destinations for digital nomads. Entrepreneurs of the new era, bloggers, designers, programmers, coach … in general, anyone who can work through the internet and generate income without having to go to a specific place. Here you have a lot of options to work remotely from Bali.

You can look for work as a freelance, here you have a lot of options, or create your own blog and generate income with an SEO course like this one. If you don’t know where to start, you may need to discover your talent first.

2. Diving Instructor

If you have a PADI or SSI certificate, you can work at one of the dive centers in Bali. There are many scattered throughout the island, some of them, taken and directed to certain audiences, for example Spanish. So the language will not be a problem in this case.

Working as a diving instructor is an option to enjoy an eternal vacation. Of course, it is not a job that usually has a very high salary. However, you don’t need much to live on this island.

3. Yoga Instructor

Yoga retreats in Bali, you can also take classes in dozens of centers, hotels, and others. If you have training and want to try working as a Yoga teacher in Bali, it is an option to consider.

In addition to contacting centers and others, you must be attentive to the job offers that are coming out.

Ubud is the ideal place to start, a spiritual and healthy lifestyle destination, there is even an annual festival dedicated to yoga in this place. Let’s say it is a destination for yogis from all over the world.

4. Musicians and Dj

A destination that people from all over the world flock to, it has also partly become a nighttime destination. This opens the doors for DJs and musicians from all over the world to find a place in the Balinese scene.

From the nightclubs to the fashionable venues of Kuta, the party capital of the island, to hostels, hotels and more.

5. Language Teacher

A good option when working in Bali as an expat is to offer language classes. The English language is the most studied in the schools of Bali, however, you can always make your way with other languages, you never know the demand of who wants to learn a language.

Schools, kindergartens, academies, universities even in the same hostels, there are different possibilities to offer language classes. You can also try teaching online. With a computer and a good connection, you will have become a digital nomad teacher.

6. Work in a Hotel

The island is full of hotels of all kinds. From hostels where you can work in exchange for accommodation and food (while working in a hostel you can do work from home to get an extra), to large international hotel chains that, although most of their staff are local, also have expatriates in their template, especially to cover certain charges.

You just have to investigate which hotels are present on the island and contact them to open the way to your future job in Bali. On this website you can find a lot of job offers in Bali.

Job Market Overview

One of the things to know about working in Bali is that it is just like the city’s housing market: competitive but not impossible. It is especially not as competitive compared to other popular ex-pat cities like Jakarta and Yogyakarta.

An overview of the city’s job market shows the unemployment rate staying between 7-8% in recent years. This is close to Indonesia’s overall average unemployment rate, which hovers around 8.75%.

Top Industries

There is a wide range of opportunities for ex-pats interested in making Magic City their new home. Bali’s job market supports those who work in various industries, from shipping and manufacturing to hospitality and education.

As it would be expected, the most required jobs in Bali are in tourism. Those with bilingual skills will be in high demand in this sector (see more in our How to Get a Job section below). Bali attracts millions of tourists year-round. With this popularity comes the need for tour operators, hotel workers, travel coordinators, food service employees, and guides, among many other positions.

Another top industry in Bali that may come as a surprise is transport. The city is home to Bali’s International Airport, which services flights across Indonesia and direct to Central, East and West Indonesia.

This sector also includes water transport since the city is a popular docking spot for international cruise ships. The city’s shipping port is also highly active, opening opportunities for shipping and manufacturing industries.

Other Top Industries in Bali

Banking
Education
Entertainment
Real estate

5 Fascinating Facts That Will Make You Want to Visit Bali

Bali is one of the provinces in Indonesia whose name is already well known to foreign countries. Bali is also known as the island of the Gods because of its magnificence and rich culture.

There is always a reason to return to Bali. Maybe because of that, many foreign and domestic tourists visit Bali every day. If you often visit Bali, you will know that there are many amazing things in Bali.

Well, the following five things can add to your admiration. Curious right? Let’s take a peek together!

Bali Mandara Toll Road

The Bali Mandara toll road connects Benoa, Ngurah Rai Tuban, and Nusa Dua, stretching 12.7 kilometers above sea level. This toll road is the first toll road on the island of Bali, as well as the first floating toll road in Indonesia.

Bali Mandara Toll Road is unique toll road because it has lanes for motorbikes on the left and right sides. This toll road construction began in March 2012, and they completed the toll around May 2013.

Garuda Wisnu Kencana

The Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) statue, located on Ungasan hill, South Kuta, Badung Regency, the architect is famous sculptor Nyoman Nuarta and inaugurated by the President Indonesia, Joko Widodo in September 2018.

GWK is the second tallest statue in the world-beating Liberty and the tallest in Indonesia. The construction of this statue took 28 years. Very impressive, yes?

Penglipuran Village

When you hear the word village, what comes to your mind is a natural place with a calm and beautiful atmosphere. Well, you can find all of that in Penglipuran village. The village with 112 hectares consists of 12 hectares of a residential area, 49 hectares of fields, and 37 hectares of bamboo forest.

This village is one of Indonesia’s most beautiful villages and become the cleanest village globally.

Penglipuran village comes from the acronym spelling and pura, which means remembering sacred places (ancestors). Initially, the people of this village came from Bayung Gede Village, Kintamani, who moved to Kubu Bayung village, which is now Penglipuran village.

Well, in this village, they finally settled and kept their culture.

Readers Choice Award (RCA)

The island of Bali is an island that is famous in foreign, so it is not surprising that this island has won so many awards. One of Bali’s awards is the best island in the 2017 version of the DestinAsian Readers Choice Awards, and the cool thing is that Bali has won this award for 12 years in a row.

The popular magazine Travel and Leisure also named Bali the best tourist destination island in 2017. And Bali took second place as the best tourist island in the 2018 World’s Best Awards Survey.

Luxury Hotels in Bali

In 2018, two luxury hotels in Bali were listed in 24 luxury hotels in the world, according to Trip Advisor’s version.

The two hotels are Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve located in Ubud, and Komaneka at Tanggayuda, located in Ubud. These two hotels are rank on 15th and 16th, an incredible feat, right?

Bali is not only recognize for its beauty by Indonesians but also recognized by people all over the world.

The Best Businesses to Start in Indonesia

With a large population, work force, and infrastructure, Indonesia can be a fertile ground for new businesses and emerging industries. Indonesia business owners also say that extensive banking and investment capital resources aid in attracting and maintaining funding. Indonesia is good for business, but what business could you start in Indonesia? Here are 11 business ideas for you to consider.

Fitness/recreation business

Exercise has long been found to be the bedrock of healthy living, and almost everyone wants to boast of having visited the gym at least once or twice in a week. With this trend, opening a fitness center would surely pay you, and considering the population of Indonesia, you may likely make a success out of your business if you have the right marketing strategies.

Retail

Retailing is not a novel business idea, but it is still thriving as far as the economy is still viable. If you have good marketing skills, you can choose a niche and start your retailing business. You can approach manufacturers and offer them your services. If you build trust with them, you could be given goods on credit for you to pay later.

SEO for local businesses

You can start this business just by building an “SEO Agency” optimized website that generates leads for businesses. As long as people are using their laptops or smartphones to find their next solar company, landscape architect, locksmith, real estate agent, etc., this business will thrive.

Accountant or Bookkeeper

Taxes are a certainty of life as far as the Indonesia is concerned. People and businesses will almost certainly need help with bookkeeping and tax filing. If you have the necessary training and certifications, offering your services as an accountant can be a great idea for you.

Real Estate Agent

Another great idea is to become a real estate agent. You can earn impressive percentages from people who need to buy their own homes, people who need holiday apartments and residents of the city who need to rent good apartments

Wholesale and distribution

Similar to retail, you can start a business where you become wholesale distributor for companies. Note that this business may be a bit capital intensive, but you can also start it on your own capacity and expand it as you go along.

Landscape Architecture

This idea has the potential for extensive growth and innovation. The city already has many public parks and a green area that needs to be maintained and properly designed to enhance beauty. From simply planting the spring plants to set up a whole big fountain, this job has many options.

It all depends on which services you can offer efficiently. You can start from residential projects and move to the public sector when fully established.

Graphic Design

If you have the expertise in this field with just a little advertisement, you can earn great profit. It can be efficiently operated, staying at home. Every other thing needs some design to make it look appealing. From book covers to company logos, you have a great choice to focus on. The better your services, the better your clientele.

Grocery Store

Whether buying into a franchise or opening a niche grocery store, owning your own grocery business can be a path to profits in the Sunshine State. Know your area and the industry, though. Depending on the type of store, profit margins can be as little as 1% for a conventional supermarket, and up to around 10 – 12% for a smaller, more specialized grocer.

Be prepared for extensive permitting, plus investing potentially half a million to start a small or medium-sized store.

Advertising and promotion

With a lot of big and small businesses in Indonesia competing for the market, a business centered on advertising and marketing would be quite profitable in the state. If you are good with putting up promotional materials that can draw people to the products you are marketing, then maybe you should set up an advertising service.

Software school

If you are familiar with the use of specialized software, you can build a business around teaching people how to use everyday software like Photoshop, QuickBooks etc. You can start by giving private lessons where you charge hourly, then you can grow it into a small group session and charge for complete tutorials. You can always hire other specialists and diversify.

More great businesses to start in Indonesia

The industries above are great food for thought, but other business opportunities abound in Indonesia too, such as:

Tourist/Visitors Guide

Indonesia has more than ten thousand visitors a year, this is a huge number if you know your way in and out of the city, and you can undertake this good startup business idea in Bali with high-profit returns. You must be a very friendly person to undertake this viable business idea and you may start it as it is one of the best part-time businesses in Center Indonesia (if you are starting alone) but if it an enterprise, you may start full time at once.

Export Business

Indonesia especially Miami has a very large port from which goods can be shipped efficiently to any part of the world, so even if you are into agriculture, or arts or food processing, and you understand the technicalities involved, you can undertake this creative small business opportunity.

Restaurant / Food truck

Eating food is inevitable by any person alive and because most people have tight schedule and most of them are tourist, they don’t have time to cook and they must eat, so they would pay to get good food to eat if you have a good cooking skill, why not try running a “mobile food vendor enterprise” a name I coined.

Conclusion

Indonesia business-friendly climate means that the Sunshine State is home to one of the highest levels of small business ownership in the country. Whether it’s one of the businesses above or the one you’ve been dreaming about, the best business to start in Indonesia is yours to decide.

Tips on Getting Started with the Bali Real Estate Market

Bali, known as one of the greatest tourist destinations in the world, is held very highly when it comes to its real estate value. Even during the pandemic as well as Indonesia’s PPKM that was enacted in January 2021 to prevent an even more widespread of the virus, the market of Bali Real Estate is still often considered to be one of the best.

Due to this, it’s not uncommon for many people such as yourself to be interested in Bali real estate market considering its potential massive potential as the Island of the Gods. Though, it’s also common for you to feel intimidated stepping foot into this still unknown territory in your life.

But, there’s no need to worry about such things with our tips on getting started with Bali property market.

Choose the location you love

When it comes to property, especially Bali real estate, the most important thing before choosing a location is to determine whether you love it or not.

Bali is a gorgeous place overall, and its real estate do offers tons and tons of location to choose from, but, choosing one that you love will resonate with other foreigners and potential guests in the area, resulting in even more returns on your Bali property investment.

Don’t choose a place that’s faraway from the sea

One of Bali’s most prominent attractions for foreigners and tourists are its beach and surfing activities. As such, when you’re thinking on investing in Bali real estate, choose a place that’s close to the beach because visitors often won’t compromise when it comes to beach distance.

A good location to start looking into is Seminyak due to its strategic location on being near the sea, as well as its reputation on one that’s generally safe to invest to even for beginners, though that comes with the cost of it being more expensive.

Choose one with an agent that’s properly recognized

Considering its potential to grow in the future, there are a lot of sharks and charlatans in the Bali real estate market that’s ready to rip you off because you’re just starting out in this business.

So, before buying or building any villas, make sure to know that your agent is one that’s known and recognized in the market because investing in Bali property market through some shady or sketchy ways can lead to some unpleasant situations for yourself.

Understand the country’s property laws

Before you start even thinking of investing in Bali real estate, do your homework regarding Indonesia’s property laws first.

There are a lot of things that have changed at the time of writing this article, and due to the limitation of said media, it’s impossible to list out the things you need to keep an eye on for these laws.

So, make sure you understand what you’re going to do first before making any decision. That being said, a good agent will often fill this information in for you, but knowing beforehand can still be handy nonetheless to avoid any frauds or schemes being done to you.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

While investing in a generally more popular area such as Seminyak, Canggu, Jimbaran and Uluwatu often considered to be good business practice, especially for people that are just starting out, it’s also important to point out to not invest everything you have into one location when it comes to Bali real estate market.

Indonesia, in its nature, is still a developing country, so there are always potentials to be discovered in places that was thought profitless for people. Always keep an eye out on the market and try to snatch the hidden jewel before anyone else.

Know the risk

If you’re thinking of Bali real estate, chances are you’re thinking to make profit off of it. With profit, there’ll always be risks involved in them, and Bali real estate is no different. Considering that it is a tourist destination, things such as the pandemic that’s going on right now can put a damper on your business.

So, before you start to actually invest, make sure to do your homework and understand the risks that are inherent with the real estate market, especially on a location as popular as Bali.

However, if the reason you’re looking on to Bali real estate is because you’re only looking for a place to settle for your family or your own retirement, then just choose a location that you liked the most.

Look to professionals

If by any chances you are still confused or have question about Bali real estate, especially for things that involves villas hunt, then perhaps it’s time to ask a professional yourself.

A good proponent for this would be Satya Puri Studio Consultant, being already in the Bali real estate market for over four years already, Satya Puri Studio has already made a name for themselves when it comes to advices on helping investors look for villas to rent, buy, or sell.

And besides Satya Puri Studio, there are of course many others professionals in the market that you can trust, so again, if you’re confused, just ask the professionals.

A professional’s help is also a good way to prevent yourself from getting blindsided with the business too as they can help fill you in on what information you’re missing in these lines of work.

And with that, ends this article on the Bali real estate market. It’s though doing real estate business on a place like Bali with the pandemic going on, but it will end eventually, and the Island of the Gods, is definitely a good place to start your real estate investment journey when the time is finally right.

Conclusion

So, we hope that you found this article useful, and if you do, make sure to share it with your friends who might find it useful for them too.

That’s all for us for now, thank you for reading this article up to this point, we hope you liked it, and we’ll see you again next time with another article that’s just as informative and useful. Goodbye and stay safe!

Best Places for Digital Nomads in Bali

Living as a digital nomad can be pretty thrilling and exciting. But, it is really important to know where you can work on your dream job.

So, before you hire one of the moving companies Indonesia, you should make sure that is the right city for you.

What makes a Bali great place for digital nomads? How can you find the best places for digital nomads in Bali? Read on to find out.

What is a digital nomad?

The term “digital nomad” may seem abstract and cliché for some, but by 2035 approximately 1 billion people will travel the planet. More and more people are becoming unhappy with the standard 9-5 job model.

In the modern digital era, old norms and structures of labor disappear, and opportunities for remote work increase.

While location independence sounds glamorous, nomadic life is hard work.

Selfies on a beach with a laptop can make a few friends jealous, but they definitely don’t reflect the impractical and difficult aspects of nomadic life.

Sounds easy, right? You can simply roll to any city, connect your device, and you will get instant nomadic success. Do not make this mistake!

So what makes great places for digital nomads in Bali?

There is no definite answer to this question, since at present the digital nomad may cover a million different jobs.

You-Tubers, Instagrammers, and Bloggers are the more “classic” digital nomad jobs that usually come to mind. However, you can meet graphic designers, authors, online teachers, virtual assistants, voice trainers, Vloggers, translators, and so on. Regardless of your profession, choosing a place is very important.

An adventurous YouTuber in a dull, gray city will fight for the material. And the online teacher, broadcasting from a cocktail bar on an exotic beach, will be unprofessional. Besides, since digital nomads are often lonely, it can be important to find a good place for singles in Bali.

You don’t want to spend all that money by yourself, right?

Although different digital professions have different needs, we believe that there are 3 key features that are necessary for everyone.

1. Internet

Without it, you are a driver without a car, a jockey without a horse, a dancer without music.

Is there anything more unpleasant than creating gold material that you are willing to share with the world, but Wi-Fi will not connect?

Or maybe you have an approaching deadline, and you have found a connection, but the download speed is minimal.

2. Cost-effective

This is not super important if you make big money, but most digital nomads do not.

If you do not have a few expensive products that mean money is no longer a problem, you will definitely want to explore the cost of living. And even if you have bags of cash, it does not always last long.

Technologies are developing very fast, algorithms are changing and can harm online business overnight. Your job is never 100% certain, so you always want to keep track of your expenses.

3. Inspiring

Digital nomadic can be a lonely business. Much of your time is spent on your laptop, so you need it to be as inspirational as possible.

You can’t do magic if your creative juices are all dry. For some, this means a crazy nightlife, for others – in the open air or vibrant culture. Everyone has different creative triggers, but we guarantee that in darker, less successful times, you wonder why you are doing this.

You wonder if the nomadic digital lifestyle is for you. But if you are surrounded by a truly inspiring background, it will certainly help you stay strong.

Why Bali?

For many digital nomads, the relatively low cost of living in the Indonesian would be an instant connect; In Bali, there is a thriving digital scene of nomads, and it wholeheartedly perceives the digital age!

When it comes to planning to move to Bali as a digital nomad, there is something to think about.

What regency do you want to live in? What work will you do? Attracting more than 75 million visitors every year, when the laptop is closed, you can explore the richness of nature, culture, and history.

With wide open roads for travel between various places for digital nomads in Bali, motor rental is the recommended way to travel to see the best of what Bali has to offer, including more distant hidden gems in the City. One thing you don’t need to worry about is finding a rental property.

Finding Indonesia movers prices is easy, but it’s finding the best places for digital nomads in Bali can be slightly more difficult. Or at least you might think so. In the hot spots for the digital nomads in Bali, there are always many available rental apartments. In fact, on the island of Gods, there is a phenomenal array of apartments to choose from. Although at first glance this is a difficult task, there are many tips that will help you find the perfect apartment suitable for your digital lifestyle of nomads.

Where are the best places for digital nomads in Bali?

Considering all the factors, we came up with a list of the best places for digital nomads in Bali. If you are thinking about hiring professional movers Bali and relocating to the Island of Gods, you should consider one of these places:

Canggu
Munggu
Seminyak
Kerobokan
Jimbaran

7 Best Business Ideas to Start in Canggu

If you are attracted to the Indonesia and want to invest, We recommend these best business ideas to start in Canggu. Although in Canggu, the competition is enormous, there is a market for everyone. Ideally, your business proposal is attractive and innovative.

To start, consider these facts about entrepreneurship in Canggu in 2021.

Many agree that Canggu is a magical city. And, apparently, it is true, because all the tourists who visit it, want to stay. I tell you that this is due to its beauty, its beaches, its skyscrapers, its shops, its nightlife … It is a cosmopolitan city that attracts young and old. We present to you … Canggu is located in the southeast of Bali, in the Indonesia.

8 Best Business Ideas and Opportunities to Start in Canggu

Luckily, the business infrastructure in the Indonesia makes any type of business possible … Of course, you must comply with the payment of the corresponding taxes, per day.
And have a spark of creativity and originality. Why? Well, because in Canggu there are so many people and with such varied tastes, that even the slightest change can bear fruit. We assure. However, we going to introduce you to the most successful profitable businesses in Canggu in recent years. You choose the path that suits you best.

1. The Real Estate Sector

The real estate industry is one of the profitable businesses in Canggu, which has the most movement. Buying, selling, renting and building seem to be the foundations of this city that never sleeps. For this reason, Canggu has a lot of supply and demand of all kinds.

2. Tourism

Canggu’s tropical climate is ideal for all kinds of tourism businesses to flourish. From the calmest and most conventional, to the most extreme and exciting. You can also include businesses related to entertainment, such as clubs or bars. However, since they are more expensive, I recommend creating a supply company for these companies.

3. Gastronomy

A good entrepreneur knows that the food business is one of the most stable. Regardless of where you are. The options can be diverse and in fact, the more varied and exotic, the better . This way you will have fewer competitors.

4. Franchises

If you don’t have time to create a business completely from scratch, you can partner to open one of the most successful franchises.

A little advice, instead of investing in traditional franchises, try to do it in small and innovative ones.

5. Beauty and Aesthetic Centers: The Seal of Bali

It is no secret to anyone that Canggu is synonymous with beauty, models and parties.

6. Health and Healthy Life

Canggu is one of the cities with the most in-demand physical training, cosmetic surgery and beauty businesses. That is why any type of business in this area is very profitable (as long as you are certified and comply with all the sanitary and legal requirements established in this country).

7. Clothing and Accessories

Following the logic of beauty and healthy living, the fashion business is also very profitable. Many fashion designers have made their way in Canggu.

What else can I do to make my business a success?

Lean on your local resources. Bali SCORE is a great starting place that has local chapters throughout the state. SCORE volunteers consist of business experts who provide business counseling services to companies in need in the form of workshops and one-on-one sessions.

IndSight — aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.

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