Intelligence for expats and founders.

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Bali Real Estate 2026: The Era of Order

The 'Wild West' is officially over. As the market enters institutional maturity, the rules of the game have changed forever. From 7 million arrivals to the rise of Managed Resorts, here is the roadmap for 2026.

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The Great OTA Purge: Why March 31, 2026, Will Change Bali Hospitality Forever

'The countdown has begun. 32 days remaining until the Airbnb purge in Bali. No NIB, no listing. Under PP 28/2025, every hospitality unit must be verified via API integration with OSS. Here is how to stay legal.'

Tax Residency in Indonesia: What Every Expat and KITAS Holder Needs to Know

Bali Property Market 2025: What the Numbers Actually Reveal

Facts The Bali property market concluded 2025 as one of the more scrutinised investment destinations in Southeast Asia, drawing sustained attention from European, Australian, and increasingly American buyers seeking leasehold villa assets. Demand remained concentrated in the

Indonesia Eyes Bali Tax Haven—But Skeptics Say Political Will Is Missing

Facts Indonesia has periodically floated the idea of establishing a tax-privileged zone in Bali, framing it as a mechanism to compete with regional rivals such as Singapore and the Cayman Islands for foreign capital and high-spending tourists. The concept typically involves r

Indonesia Tightens PMA Rules: What Foreign Investors Must Know

Facts Indonesia's investment framework for foreign-owned companies — known as Penanaman Modal Asing, or PMA — has long been the primary legal vehicle through which non-Indonesian nationals conduct business on the archipelago. Governed by the Investment Coordinating Board (BKP

Immigration Cracks Down: 15 Sponsors Behind 320 Visa-Abusing Foreigners

Facts Indonesian immigration authorities have identified 15 individual sponsors responsible for facilitating the legal stay of 320 foreign nationals who were subsequently caught participating in illegal online gambling operations in the Hayam Wuruk corridor of Central Jakarta

Indonesia's Finance Ministry Debunks Viral Claim That Official Told Foreign Investors to Leave

Facts A statement purportedly made by Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, Chairman of the Financial Services Authority (OJK), began circulating widely on Indonesian social media, claiming he had told foreign investors they were free to leave the country. The clip or quote spread rapidly, t

Indonesia's Retirement KITAP: The Permanent Stay Option Most Expats Miss

Facts Indonesia's immigration framework offers two primary residence permit tracks for foreign retirees: the Retirement KITAS, a temporary stay permit requiring annual renewal, and the Retirement KITAP, a permanent stay permit that provides multi-year or indefinite residency

Inside Komodo's Last Village: Life on the Edge of a World Heritage Zone

Facts Komodo Island, part of Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) province, is home not only to the Varanus komodoensis — the Komodo dragon — but to a fishing and farming community that has coexisted with the reptile for generations. The village of Komodo, the oldest settlement on the i

Jakarta's Aparthotel Market Signals Demand for Flexible Urban Living

Facts Citadines Gatot Subroto is a serviced residence located on one of Jakarta's principal arterial roads, Jalan Gatot Subroto, a corridor that runs through the heart of the city's business and diplomatic district. The property belongs to The Ascott Limited's Citadines brand

Ngurah Rai Immigration Office Cracks Down on Unofficial Fees

Facts The Ngurah Rai Immigration Office in Bali has announced a formal initiative to overhaul its service delivery with the explicit goal of eradicating pungutan liar — colloquially known as pungli — the practice of unofficial or extralegal fees solicited by government offici

SONO Hotels Signs Bali Canggu Property, Betting on Indonesia's Luxury Lifestyle Boom

Facts SONO Hotels & Resorts Asia has announced the signing of SONO Felice Bali Canggu, marking the brand's latest expansion into Indonesia's competitive lifestyle hospitality market. The agreement adds Canggu — Bali's most internationally recognized creative and surf enclave

Indonesia's Parliament Presses Bali Immigration to Tighten Foreign Nationals Oversight

Facts Indonesia's House of Representatives has formally urged Bali's Directorate General of Immigration to intensify its supervision of foreign nationals (WNA — Warga Negara Asing) across the island. The parliamentary intervention reflects growing concern at the national legi

Indonesia's Tax Filing Amnesty Fails to Move the Compliance Needle

Facts Indonesia's Directorate General of Taxes (Direktorat Jenderal Pajak, DJP) introduced a series of relaxation measures around the annual tax return filing process — commonly referred to as SPT (Surat Pemberitahuan Tahunan) — with the explicit goal of lowering the administ

Navigating Indonesian Schools: What Expat Families Need to Know

Facts Indonesia's education system presents expatriate families with a layered set of choices that vary significantly by institution type, location, and immigration status. The most accessible option for foreign nationals is the international school, which operates under curr