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Zantara AI
AI Technology Analyst
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Zantara AI
AI Technology Analyst
Bali Zero handles visas, company setup, tax and property compliance in Indonesia. Ask us directly on WhatsApp.
Chat with Bali Zero on WhatsAppIndonesia's payment landscape has undergone a radical transformation in the past five years. A country that was over 90% cash-based a decade ago now processes billions of digital transactions monthly. The government, through Bank Indonesia (BI), has been the driving force -- mandating interoperability through QRIS, building real-time payment infrastructure with BI-FAST, and licensing dozens of digital wallet and fintech operators.
For expats arriving in Bali or anywhere in Indonesia, understanding this payment ecosystem is not optional. Many restaurants, shops, and services in tourist areas now prefer or only accept digital payments. Knowing how to set up and use digital wallets, navigate bank transfers, and handle cross-border payments saves time, money, and frustration.
QRIS (pronounced "kris") is Indonesia's national QR payment standard, launched by Bank Indonesia in 2019. It solved a chaotic problem: before QRIS, each digital wallet had its own QR code. A warung (small shop) might need to display five different QR stickers for five different payment apps. QRIS unified all of them into a single code.
| Metric | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 (Projected) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered merchants | 30M+ | 35M+ | 40M+ |
| Monthly transactions | 80M+ | 120M+ | 160M+ |
| Transaction value/month | IDR 35T+ | IDR 50T+ | IDR 65T+ |
Bank Indonesia has expanded QRIS to work across borders. As of 2026, QRIS is interoperable with QR payment systems in Thailand (PromptPay), Malaysia (DuitNow), Singapore (PayNow), and the Philippines. This means tourists from these countries can pay in Indonesia using their home apps, and vice versa.
For expats, this cross-border feature is useful if you travel within ASEAN. Your Indonesian GoPay or bank app can make payments in Thailand or Malaysia at participating merchants.
Four digital wallets dominate Indonesia's payment landscape. As an expat, you should have at least two of them set up:
| Wallet | Parent Company | Users (Est.) | Top-Up Methods | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GoPay | GoTo Group | 40M+ | Bank transfer, debit card, convenience store | Gojek rides, food delivery, general payments |
| OVO | Grab (partnership) | 35M+ | Bank transfer, debit card, Grab app | Grab rides, Tokopedia payments, cashback deals |
| DANA | Ant Group (Alibaba) | 30M+ | Bank transfer, debit card | Online payments, Bukalapak, bill payments |
| ShopeePay | Sea Group (Shopee) | 25M+ | Bank transfer, ShopeePay Later | Shopee purchases, offline QRIS payments |
GoPay is generally the easiest digital wallet for foreigners to use. It is built into the Gojek app, which most expats already use for ride-hailing and food delivery. Setting up GoPay happens automatically when you register for Gojek.
To upgrade your GoPay account:
Once upgraded, GoPay supports QRIS payments at any merchant, peer-to-peer transfers, bill payments, and online purchases across hundreds of platforms.
OVO is tightly integrated with Grab and, through GoTo's merger, also works with Tokopedia. If you use Grab for transport or shop on Tokopedia, OVO is a natural choice.
OVO's KYC process for foreigners:
DANA has a strong bill payment feature that covers PLN electricity, PDAM water, BPJS health insurance, and internet subscriptions. If you manage your own villa and pay utility bills, DANA's one-stop bill payment interface is convenient.
If you shop on Shopee (Indonesia's most popular e-commerce platform by transaction volume), ShopeePay offers the most cashback and discounts. It also works offline via QRIS.
Most expats in Indonesia open a bank account at one of the major banks. Here is a comparison:
| Bank | Ease for Foreigners | Mobile App Quality | Minimum Deposit | Card Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BCA | Medium (need referral at some branches) | Excellent (myBCA) | IDR 500,000 | Visa Debit |
| Bank Mandiri | Good | Good (Livin) | IDR 500,000 | Visa/Mastercard Debit |
| BNI | Good | Good | IDR 250,000 | Mastercard Debit |
| Bank Jago | Easy (digital bank, app-only) | Excellent | IDR 0 | Visa Debit |
| CIMB Niaga | Good | Good (OCTO) | IDR 200,000 | Visa Debit |
Bank Jago deserves special mention because it is the easiest bank for foreigners to open an account with. Everything is done through the app -- no branch visit required. You upload your passport and KITAS, complete a video verification, and the account is open within 1-3 days. Bank Jago also integrates directly with GoPay for seamless top-ups.
BI-FAST is Bank Indonesia's real-time gross settlement system for retail transactions. Launched in December 2021, it replaced the older BI-RTGS system for transactions under IDR 100 million.
| Feature | BI-FAST | Previous System (LLG/SKN) |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Instant (seconds) | Same-day batch processing |
| Availability | 24/7/365 | Business hours only |
| Fee | IDR 2,500 | IDR 2,500-3,500 |
| Maximum per transaction | IDR 250,000,000 | IDR 500,000,000 |
| Using proxy (phone/email) | Yes | No |
One of BI-FAST's best features: you can link your phone number or email to your bank account as a "proxy address." Instead of sharing your full bank account number, you simply give someone your phone number. They enter it in their banking app, the system routes the payment to your linked bank account. This works across all participating banks.
To set up a proxy:
Moving money in and out of Indonesia is a common need for expats. Here are the main options:
| Method | Speed | Fee | Exchange Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise (TransferWise) | 1-2 business days | Low (0.5-1.5%) | Mid-market rate | Regular salary transfers |
| Bank wire (SWIFT) | 2-5 business days | $20-50 per transfer | Bank rate (1-3% markup) | Large one-time transfers |
| Western Union | Minutes to hours | Medium | Below mid-market | Urgent small amounts |
| Payoneer | 1-3 business days | Low-Medium | Competitive | Freelancer payments |
| PayPal | 3-5 business days to withdraw | Medium (2-4%) | Below mid-market | Online work payments |
| Method | Speed | Fee | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | 1-2 business days | Low | Personal remittance |
| Bank wire (via mobile banking) | 2-5 business days | IDR 25,000-50,000 + intermediary fees | Business payments |
| Instarem | 1-2 business days | Low | ASEAN transfers |
Wise (formerly TransferWise) is the most popular cross-border payment tool among expats in Indonesia. You can:
The key advantage: Wise uses the real mid-market exchange rate and charges a small transparent fee, typically saving 1-3% compared to traditional bank wire transfers.
Most restaurants in tourist areas accept QRIS. Higher-end restaurants also accept international credit cards (Visa, Mastercard). Warungs and small local eateries may still be cash-only, though this is changing rapidly.
Villa rent is typically paid by bank transfer (BI-FAST or regular transfer). Some landlords accept GoPay or OVO for smaller amounts. Always get a transfer receipt or screenshot as proof of payment.
Pay PLN (electricity), PDAM (water), internet, and BPJS through your banking app or DANA. Set up auto-pay if your bank supports it to avoid missed payments.
Tipping in Indonesia is not obligatory but appreciated. Digital tips via GoPay are common for Gojek drivers. For restaurant staff, cash tips are still preferred.
Despite the digital payment revolution, keep IDR 500,000-1,000,000 in cash for:
Indonesia's payment ecosystem is one of the most advanced in Southeast Asia. As an expat, fully participating in it makes daily life smoother, cheaper (cashback and promotions are generous), and more convenient. The setup effort is minimal compared to the long-term benefit.
Need help with banking, business setup, or financial infrastructure in Indonesia? Bali Zero provides complete advisory services for expats and foreign businesses. Reach out at hello@balizero.com or WhatsApp +62 811-399-0045.