Sports Business Licences in Bali: What Operators Should Check

TL;DR

A gym owner planning a second location and an instructor adding a new service face a practical question: does the registered business activity match…

---

The Facts

A licensing update worth checking before you expand

A gym owner planning a second location and an instructor adding a new service face a practical question: does the registered business activity match what customers will actually buy? Bali operators should start there when reviewing the latest sports licensing update.

In a report published on 16 October 2026, Kemenpora described a national forum held in Jakarta the previous day. The ministry said it now has authority to issue and supervise sports business licences, previously under the Tourism Ministry. The discussion concerned risk-based licensing under PP 28/2025, which replaced PP 5/2021.

The ministry outlined four routes: low risk requires an NIB; medium-low adds a standard certificate issued according to the applicable conditions; medium-high requires an NIB and a verified standard certificate; high risk requires an NIB and a permit. Basic spatial, environmental and building requirements remain relevant where applicable.

Importantly, the report says a KBLI code update does not automatically invalidate an active licence. A code adjustment for unchanged activities differs from adding activities or changing company documents. Kemenpora's official report provides the context.

Bali PMA restrictions must be checked first

National risk-based licensing does not mean every activity is open to new foreign investment in Bali. An official provincial release published on 24 July 2026 states that OSS access for new PMA applications in 18 specified activities had been closed across Bali since the third week of May. Its list includes fitness-centre facilities, stadium facilities and sports promoters. Bali Provincial Government release.

That is a specific restriction to check before planning a new PT PMA activity or expansion. Do not interpret the Kemenpora update as reopening a blocked activity. Existing permit status, new applications and ongoing obligations require separate review.

For classification updates, BPS identified 18 June 2026 as the national implementation deadline for KBLI 2025 and explained that previously issued licences remain valid, with substantive activity changes requiring adjustment. This article does not describe an ongoing grace period. Use the current OSS record and activity description. BPS conversion guidance.

Build a file around the actual service

Bali Zero recommends preparing a short operating description before seeking a classification review. Record what the customer pays for, where the service happens, what equipment is involved and who delivers it. Attach the current price list and a sample booking description.

For example, an operator advertising a single fitness brand may sell access to equipment, structured lessons and separate retail products. Treat those as questions to resolve against the registered activities. A brand name alone is a poor basis for deciding the licensing route.

Create a comparison sheet with four columns: actual service, registered activity, supporting document and unresolved question. This makes a consultation more useful than forwarding an NIB and asking whether everything is covered.

Check the status, not just the downloaded document

Use the official OSS portal to review the activity and project records. Save dated evidence of the status shown, any outstanding requirements and the relevant application reference. If a representative manages the account, ask for a walkthrough of those records.

Before committing to a new venue, assemble the lease or proposed lease, site address, intended use and available building documents. Ask the responsible authority or adviser which requirements apply to that particular operation. Do not guess a risk category because an activity feels gentle or familiar.

For an existing business, identify the exact change being proposed. A new location, a new service and an administrative code adjustment should not be bundled into one vague request to renew everything.

A practical next step for Bali operators

Nominate one person to maintain the comparison sheet and keep copies of submissions, responses and completed documents. Resolve discrepancies before describing the business to investors as fully ready for its expanded services.

This is an operational preparation checklist, not a classification decision for any particular gym, studio or instructor. The useful outcome is a clear record of the activity, the applicable route and the evidence still needed.

Primary Source

Exa: kemenpora.go.id

---