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Zantara AI
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Bali Zero handles visas, company setup, tax and property compliance in Indonesia. Ask us directly on WhatsApp.
Chat with Bali Zero on WhatsAppBali has over 30 international schools offering IB, Cambridge, and Australian curricula. The island hosts hundreds of language schools, yoga teacher training programs, surf academies, coding bootcamps, and professional development centers. Every single one of these businesses requires at least one education KBLI code on its NIB. Yet education is the sector where foreign entrepreneurs most frequently misclassify their activities, because the distinction between a "school," a "training center," and a "cooperative education unit" is not intuitive — and the consequences of choosing the wrong code range from denied permits to forced restructuring.
KBLI 2025, aligned with ISIC Revision 5 and mandated by BPS Regulation No. 7 of 2025, organizes education into a detailed hierarchy: early childhood, primary, secondary, higher education, and non-formal education. It introduces the SPK (Satuan Pendidikan Kerjasama) classification as the formal legal pathway for foreign-invested schools. And it assigns risk levels that determine your licensing burden, with most education codes landing at medium risk — but a few critical exceptions sitting at low risk or high risk.
This guide maps every education and training KBLI 2025 code relevant to foreign entrepreneurs in Bali, explains the SPK model for international schools, and provides practical classification advice for language centers, coding bootcamps, sports academies, and professional training companies.
The following table covers the 18 primary education codes grouped by education level. All codes listed allow PMA (foreign investment).
| KBLI Code | Name (Indonesian) | Name (English) | Risk Level | PMA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85132 | Pendidikan Taman Kanak-kanak Swasta | Private Kindergarten | Sedang (Medium) | Yes |
| 85133 | Pendidikan Kelompok Bermain | Playgroup Education | Sedang (Medium) | Yes |
| 85134 | Pendidikan Taman Penitipan Anak | Daycare Education | Sedang (Medium) | Yes |
| 85135 | Pendidikan Taman Kanak-kanak Luar Biasa | Special Needs Kindergarten | Sedang (Medium) | Yes |
| 85139 | Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini Sejenis Lainnya | Other Early Childhood Education | Sedang (Medium) | Yes |
| KBLI Code | Name (Indonesian) | Name (English) | Risk Level | PMA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85141 | Satuan Pendidikan Kerjasama Kelompok Bermain | Cooperative Playgroup Unit | Sedang (Medium) | Yes |
| 85143 | Satuan Pendidikan Kerjasama Pendidikan Dasar | Cooperative Primary Education | Sedang (Medium) | Yes |
| 85144 | Satuan Pendidikan Kerjasama Pendidikan Menengah Pertama | Cooperative Junior High | Sedang (Medium) | Yes |
| 85252 | Satuan Pendidikan Kerjasama Pendidikan Menengah Kejuruan | Cooperative Vocational Secondary | Sedang (Medium) | Yes |
| 85440 | Satuan Pendidikan Kerjasama Pendidikan NonFormal | Cooperative Non-formal Education | Sedang (Medium) | Yes |
| KBLI Code | Name (Indonesian) | Name (English) | Risk Level | PMA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85321 | Pendidikan Tinggi Akademik Swasta | Private University (Academic) | Sedang (Medium) | Yes |
| 85322 | Pendidikan Tinggi Vokasi dan Profesi Swasta | Private Vocational Higher Education | Rendah (Low) | Yes |
| KBLI Code | Name (Indonesian) | Name (English) | Risk Level | PMA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85410 | Jasa Pendidikan Olahraga dan Rekreasi | Sports & Recreation Education | Sedang (Medium) | Yes |
| 85420 | Pendidikan Kebudayaan | Cultural Education | Sedang (Medium) | Yes |
| 85492 | Jasa Pendidikan Komputer/TIK Swasta | Private Computer/IT Education | Sedang (Medium) | Yes |
| 85497 | Pendidikan Teknik Swasta | Private Technical Education | Rendah (Low) | Yes |
| 85499 | Pendidikan Lainnya Swasta | Other Private Education | Tinggi (High) | Yes |
| 85500 | Kegiatan Penunjang Pendidikan | Education Support Activities | Sedang (Medium) |
Key insight: Of the 18 codes listed, 14 are medium risk, 2 are low risk (85322 and 85497), and only 1 is high risk (85499). Education support activities (85500) is medium risk. The low-risk codes — vocational higher education and technical education — offer the lightest licensing burden and fastest processing times.
If you want to open an international school in Bali, you cannot simply register as a "private school." Indonesian law requires foreign-invested educational institutions to operate as a Satuan Pendidikan Kerjasama (SPK) — a Cooperative Education Unit. This is not optional. It is the only legal structure available.
SPK is a formal partnership model between a foreign educational institution and an Indonesian educational foundation (yayasan). The foreign partner provides curriculum, teaching methodology, quality standards, and often teachers. The Indonesian partner provides the legal entity, local compliance, and integration with the Indonesian education system.
Every international school you see in Bali — Green School, Bali Island School, Australian Independent School, Dyatmika — operates under the SPK framework.
The SPK codes in KBLI 2025 are organized by education level:
A typical international school in Bali that runs from playgroup through high school would register multiple SPK codes on its NIB: 85141, 85143, 85144, and potentially 85252 if it offers a vocational track.
Operating an SPK school requires:
All SPK codes carry medium risk classification, meaning they require standard licensing procedures with sector-specific permits from the Ministry of Education. The PMA structure is permitted, making it possible for foreign investors to hold equity in the operating entity — though the educational yayasan itself must be Indonesian.
For a broader understanding of how KBLI 2025 is reshaping Bali's business landscape across all sectors, see our analysis of KBLI 2025 and Bali's Business Transformation.
Not every education business is a school. Language centers, professional training institutes, corporate training providers, and vocational skills programs form a large and growing segment of Bali's education economy — driven by the island's international community and the demand for English, Indonesian, and professional skills training.
Language schools (English, Indonesian, Mandarin, Japanese, etc.) do not have a dedicated KBLI code. They typically fall under one of two classifications:
Professional development and corporate training providers should consider:
Code 85499 (Other Private Education) is the default classification for education businesses that do not fit elsewhere. It is also the only high-risk education code in the table. Many language schools, arts academies, music schools, and general training centers end up here because it is the broadest category.
The practical consequence of high risk: your NIB application requires additional documentation, your business may face periodic inspections, and your licensing timeline will be longer than medium-risk or low-risk classifications. If there is any way to classify your activities under a more specific code — 85410 for sports education, 85420 for cultural education, 85492 for IT education — you should do so. Only use 85499 as a last resort when no other code fits.
Bali's tech scene has spawned a growing number of coding bootcamps, digital marketing courses, and IT skills training programs. KBLI 2025 provides two codes directly relevant to these businesses.
Jasa Pendidikan Komputer/TIK Swasta
This is the primary code for coding bootcamps, web development courses, data science training, cybersecurity education, and general IT skills programs. It covers any private institution that teaches computer science, information technology, or digital skills.
If you are running a coding bootcamp in Bali — whether teaching full-stack development, mobile app creation, UX/UI design, or data analytics — code 85492 is your correct classification. It is specific enough to clearly describe your activity and carries medium risk rather than the high risk of the catch-all 85499.
Pendidikan Teknik Swasta
This code covers technical education in fields like engineering, mechanics, electronics, and industrial technology. However, it also applies to technical training programs that include applied technology skills.
The low-risk classification makes 85497 attractive for training businesses that can frame their activities as "technical education" rather than general education. A coding bootcamp that focuses on software engineering, DevOps, or systems architecture could potentially argue for 85497. The boundary between 85492 (IT education, medium risk) and 85497 (technical education, low risk) is worth discussing with a licensed advisor, as the lower risk level translates directly into lighter compliance requirements.
For tech businesses that also provide training, you might combine education codes with IT service codes. See our guide on KBLI 2025 IT & Software Codes for the full technology classification landscape.
Bali is synonymous with surf schools, yoga teacher training programs, dive academies, and fitness certifications. All of these are regulated education activities under KBLI 2025.
Jasa Pendidikan Olahraga dan Rekreasi
This single code covers a remarkably wide range of activities:
Surf schools and surf instructor certification programs
Yoga teacher training (200-hour, 500-hour, and continuing education)
Dive schools and PADI/SSI certification programs
Martial arts academies (Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, traditional Indonesian martial arts)
Fitness certifications and personal trainer education
Tennis, golf, and other sports coaching academies
Risk Level: Sedang (Medium)
PMA: Yes
The medium risk classification and PMA eligibility make this a straightforward code for foreign entrepreneurs in Bali's massive wellness and adventure tourism industry. A surf school in Canggu, a yoga teacher training center in Ubud, or a dive school in Amed all register under 85410.
Important consideration: If your sports education business also offers tourist packages (surfing holiday packages, yoga retreat packages that include accommodation), you may need to combine 85410 with tourism codes from the 79xxx series. A surf school that purely teaches surfing needs only 85410. A surf camp that sells week-long packages with accommodation, airport transfers, and guided surf trips is operating as both an education provider and a tourism operator.
Pendidikan Kebudayaan
This code covers education in cultural arts, traditional crafts, dance, music, and cultural heritage. In Bali, this includes:
Balinese dance schools for foreigners
Gamelan music education
Traditional craft workshops (batik, silver jewelry, woodcarving)
Cultural immersion programs
Risk Level: Sedang (Medium)
PMA: Yes
Cultural education is a niche but growing segment in Bali, particularly as experiential tourism gains popularity. If you are offering structured cultural education programs — not just one-off tourist activities, but courses with curriculum, progression, and certification — code 85420 is your classification.
Many education businesses in Bali do not fit neatly into a single KBLI code. A coding bootcamp might also provide IT consulting to local businesses. A language school might offer corporate training and business consulting to multinational companies. A yoga teacher training center might also run a wellness consulting practice.
KBLI allows businesses to register multiple codes on a single NIB. The strategy for education businesses is to combine education-specific codes with consulting codes from the 702xx series.
| Business Type | Primary Code | Secondary Code | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coding bootcamp + IT consulting | 85492 (IT Education) | 70209 (Management Consulting) | Covers both training delivery and advisory services |
| Language school + corporate training | 85499 (Other Education) | 70209 (Management Consulting) | Adds consulting credibility to language services |
| Sports academy + tourism packages | 85410 (Sports Education) | 79xxx (Tourism) | Covers education and tourist package operations |
| Technical training + engineering consulting | 85497 (Technical Education) | 70209 (Management Consulting) | Low-risk primary + consulting complement |
| International school + education advisory | 85143 (SPK Primary) | 85500 (Education Support) | Covers school operations and supplementary services |
The key principle: your primary KBLI code should reflect your primary revenue-generating activity. If you earn 70% of your revenue from teaching and 30% from consulting, your primary code should be an education code. The consulting code is a secondary classification that broadens your permitted activities without changing the fundamental character of your business.
For detailed guidance on management consulting classifications, see our KBLI 2025 Consulting & Professional Services Guide.
If speed and simplicity matter to you — and they should — prioritize the two low-risk education codes:
Best for: Technical training programs, engineering education, applied technology skills. The lowest compliance burden in the education sector. If your training activities can be accurately described as "technical education," this code gives you the fastest path from NIB application to operating license.
Best for: Accredited vocational programs that lead to professional qualifications. This requires accreditation from the Ministry of Education, so it is not suitable for informal training programs. But for established vocational institutions seeking the lightest regulatory framework, 85322 is the optimal choice.
Everything else is medium risk (Sedang) — which is not bad. Medium risk is the standard classification for most business activities in Indonesia. It means standard licensing procedures, standard timelines, and standard compliance requirements. The 14 medium-risk education codes are all perfectly workable for foreign entrepreneurs.
The one to avoid if possible: 85499 (Tinggi/High). High risk means additional documentation, potential inspections, and longer timelines. If you can classify under a more specific code, do so.
The mandatory compliance deadline for KBLI 2025 migration is June 18, 2026 (per BPS Regulation No. 7 of 2025). As of February 2026, the OSS system has not yet fully integrated KBLI 2025 codes. This means you should prepare now and execute when the system is ready.
For a comprehensive overview of setting up a business in Indonesia — including PT PMA registration, capital requirements, and general licensing — see our guide on Starting a Business in Indonesia.
Bali's education sector is expanding. The island's growing expatriate population drives demand for international schools. Its wellness tourism industry fuels surf, yoga, and dive education. Its emerging tech scene creates appetite for coding bootcamps and digital skills training. And its cultural richness supports a unique niche in cultural education and immersion programs.
KBLI 2025 provides a clear, if detailed, framework for classifying these activities. The SPK model gives international schools a legal pathway. The low-risk codes (85497, 85322) offer streamlined licensing for technical and vocational training. The medium-risk codes cover everything from kindergartens to sports academies with standard compliance requirements.
The risk is not in the regulations — it is in misclassification. A surf school that registers as "Other Private Education" (85499, high risk) instead of "Sports and Recreation Education" (85410, medium risk) has unnecessarily increased its compliance burden. A coding bootcamp that defaults to the catch-all code instead of using "Private Computer/IT Education" (85492, medium risk) or "Private Technical Education" (85497, low risk) has left licensing speed on the table.
Choose precisely. Choose specifically. And choose before June 2026.
Planning an education business in Bali? Bali Zero provides end-to-end company setup, KBLI classification advisory, and SPK partnership facilitation for international schools, training centers, and education startups. Contact us to get your education business classified correctly before the KBLI 2025 deadline.
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