How can I find a job or volunteering opportunities in Bali?
Checked October 2026 · 4 sources
To work in Bali legally, a foreigner needs an Indonesian employer that obtains an approved RPTKA (foreign worker plan) from the Ministry of Manpower and sponsors a work KITAS, with a USD 100 monthly levy. Tourist visas and the visa on arrival do not allow any work, even unpaid. Volunteering needs a suitable visa, usually a social visit visa sponsored by the host organisation; check the current visa code with a visa agent.
In detail
Paid jobs for foreigners are mostly reserved for skilled roles that locals cannot fill: hotel management, diving or surf instruction with recognised certifications, international schools, engineering or senior positions in foreign-owned companies (PT PMA). The employer handles the RPTKA, the E23 work visa and the KITAS, valid from six months to two years.
Remote work for foreign clients falls under the E33G remote worker visa: at least USD 60,000 a year in income from outside Indonesia, one-year validity and no work for Indonesian companies or clients. It is not a local job permit.
Volunteering is treated as work by Indonesian immigration, even when unpaid, and the 2025 governor guidelines list working without a permit among prohibited acts. This social visit visa needs a letter from the sponsoring organisation, and its length and extensions depend on the current immigration rules. Check the exact visa with the organisation before you fly.
To find a placement, contact established local organisations directly, such as Sungai Watch for river and beach cleanups, and avoid paid 'voluntourism' packages in orphanages, which child protection groups advise against. Short one-off community cleanups are the usual way for visitors to help.
Good to know
- Never start a job or a placement before your permit is issued.
- Ask any organisation to put its visa sponsorship in writing.
- Confirm current rules on imigrasi.go.id or with a licensed agent.
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Sources
Rules and prices in Indonesia change often. Always check official sources before you travel.