The Bali Golden Visa E28B is Indonesia’s 5–10 year residency visa for serious individual investors who commit at least USD 2,500,000–5,000,000 to establishing a company in Indonesia. It’s fully processed online, and with a good agent, you never have to visit an embassy or queue at immigration yourself.
What is the Bali Golden Visa E28B, in plain language?
The Golden Visa E28B is a long-stay visa that lets you live in Indonesia for 5 or 10 years while you establish and run an Indonesian company as an individual investor.
It sits under Indonesia’s new Golden Visa framework and is designed for investors who will set up a PT PMA (foreign-owned company) in Indonesia and inject substantial capital, then actively manage the business on the ground.
By 2026, the rule of thumb is:
- 5-year E28B – commitment to establish a company with issued capital / investment of at least USD 2,500,000 within 90 days of arrival.
- 10-year E28B – commitment of at least USD 5,000,000 within the same 90-day window.
I’m Carla Brooks, senior consultant at Bali Golden Visa Agent (home), and I’ve been steering investor files through Denpasar immigration since the old paper KITAS days. Below is the exact how to apply for Bali Golden Visa step by step guide we use internally for E28B cases.
Step 1 – Decide: 5-year or 10-year Golden Visa (and check you qualify)
Before you look at forms, you need to decide which track you’re on and confirm that you meet the core profile immigration expects to see.
Investment track
- 5-year Bali Golden Visa E28B: commit to establishing a PT PMA with at least USD 2.5M issued capital / investment value within 90 days of arrival.
- 10-year Bali Golden Visa E28B: same structure, but with at least USD 5M committed.
The commitment is not just a verbal promise. It appears as a formal Statement of Commitment you sign and we lodge with your application, and later you must prove you actually set up the company at the committed level.
Who the E28B is for (and not for)
- Designed for: individual investors who own or control a sizeable company abroad and now want a Bali base via a substantial Indonesian company.
- Not designed for: digital nomads, small-time investors, or those only buying a villa. There are other paths for that.
If you’re not sure whether E28B, another Golden Visa category, or a standard investor KITAS is a better fit, you can always start with a consult via our concierge service.
Step 2 – Collect the documents needed for Indonesia Golden Visa E28B
This is where most DIY files get stuck. The documents needed for Indonesia Golden Visa E28B are specific and not forgiving if they’re formatted incorrectly.
Core personal documents (5-year and 10-year)
- Passport valid at least 6 months from intended arrival (12 months is safer).
- Latest color photograph (passport-style, neutral background, JPEG).
- Curriculum Vitae – a real CV, not a one-liner. Immigration wants your professional history.
- Travel itinerary – even a draft showing approximate entry date is acceptable.
Investment and corporate documents (from your overseas company)
- Proof of share ownership in your company abroad, as shown in an audited financial report from an international-standard audit firm.
- Proof of turnover/sales:
- At least USD 25,000,000 annual turnover for a 5-year E28B.
- At least USD 50,000,000 annual turnover for a 10-year E28B.
- Statement of commitment to establish the Indonesian PT PMA at the required capital level (USD 2.5M or 5M).
- Optional: Guarantee letter from a sponsor (for example, if a ministry or agency is backing your investment).
For a practical, investor-friendly breakdown of supporting evidence and proof-of-funds formats, see our related guide: Bali Golden Visa Documents Checklist & Proof of Funds (No Surprises).
Step 3 – Agent route vs DIY: which is realistic for E28B?
Let’s answer the big question directly: Bali Golden Visa application through agent or DIY?
Officially, you can apply yourself via the immigration eVisa portal. In practice, E28B is not in the same category as a tourist e-VOA. The stakes are higher, the documents heavier, and the investment quantum is large enough that a refusal is not a harmless inconvenience.
Here’s how they compare:
| Aspect | DIY via eVisa | Through Bali Golden Visa Agent |
|---|---|---|
| File preparation | You interpret all regulations and formats yourself. | We map your corporate structure, prepare formats, and pre-flag risks. |
| Portal submission | You create account, upload, pay, troubleshoot errors. | We handle submission, payments, and tracking. |
| Timeline reliability | Delays if documents rejected or need re-upload. | We know where files stall and avoid common rejection triggers. |
| Post-approval compliance | You manage 90-day company setup proof alone. | We coordinate PT PMA establishment and follow-up filings. |
For a Golden Visa at this investment level, almost all serious investors choose the agent route. You’re not paying for a PDF upload; you’re paying to avoid avoidable refusals and missed compliance deadlines.
Step 4 – Where to apply for Bali Golden Visa online (and do you need an embassy visit?)
The official answer to where to apply for Bali Golden Visa online is the Indonesian immigration eVisa system, as of 2026. Your application is fully digital; the visa is granted as an eVisa that’s emailed to you.
This leads naturally to another frequent concern: Do I need to visit Indonesian embassy for Golden Visa?
- No embassy visit is required in standard E28B cases. The visa is approved centrally and issued electronically.
- Your passport is not physically stamped until you actually arrive and complete the usual immigration entry process.
- The only time an embassy might come into play is if your nationality triggers extra security checks, or if the system is down and immigration temporarily re-routes certain flows. That’s rare and we’ll tell you upfront if you fall into a special category.
With an agent, you sign a limited set of powers and instructions. We then handle the entire Bali Golden Visa E28B application process directly with immigration on your behalf.
Step 5 – Submission, fees, and payment-to-eVisa timeline
Now to the part everyone wants to know: how long does Bali Golden Visa approval take and what does the process look like between sending your documents and holding a live eVisa.
Government fees and agent fees in 2026
Indonesia reviews Golden Visa pricing periodically, and 2026 is no exception. That’s why we keep an always-updated breakdown here: Exact Cost of Bali Golden Visa in 2026 (Government Fees, Agent Fees, Hidden Costs).
Expect three main cost blocks:
- Government visa fee (E28B index, 5 or 10 years).
- Agent service fee (depends on complexity and whether you’re bundling company setup and family dependants).
- PT PMA establishment & ongoing compliance costs (not technically “visa fees,” but inseparable from your investment plan).
Timeline from payment to eVisa Golden Visa Indonesia
Assuming your file is clean and your audits are straightforward, the typical timeline looks like this:
- Day 0–5: We collect your documents, review them line by line, and prepare your Statement of Commitment and supporting formats.
- Day 5–7: We submit your Golden Visa application online and pay the government fees.
- Day 7–21: Immigration reviews. If they need clarifications, we respond. Most well-prepared E28B cases are decided in 10–21 working days.
- Day 21–25: You receive your eVisa by email. From here, you plan your entry and we align your PT PMA setup steps to your arrival date.
So in practical terms, how long does Bali Golden Visa approval take? In 2026, for a clean, agent-prepared file, our benchmark is 3–4 weeks from payment to eVisa.
Step 6 – Arrival, biometrics, and company setup obligations
The Golden Visa is not “set and forget.” You’re making a serious investment, and Indonesia expects you to follow through. That includes both Indonesia Golden Visa biometric requirements and post-arrival company commitments.
Biometrics and onshore formalities
- On arrival in Indonesia with your eVisa, you’ll go through standard passport control.
- Within a defined timeframe, immigration may schedule you for biometrics (fingerprints and photo), especially if you convert your eVisa into an ITAS (temporary stay permit card) and register at the local immigration office.
- Your agent will tell you exactly when and where to appear; you don’t handle appointment systems alone.
The 90-day company establishment rule
One of the most critical conditions is this:
- You must establish your Indonesian PT PMA in line with your Statement of Commitment within 90 days of first entry.
- That means having the company established with the correct issued capital, obtaining your Business Identification Number (NIB), tax ID (NPWP), and supporting corporate documents.
- You then provide these to immigration as proof you have fulfilled your investment commitment.
If you fail to prove this, the authorities can cancel your Golden Visa. This is one of the main reasons investors work with an integrated agent who handles both immigration and company law rather than trying to coordinate multiple vendors alone.
Can you convert a tourist visa to Golden Visa in Bali?
The honest answer: in 2026, how to convert tourist visa to Golden Visa in Bali is “you don’t, not directly.”
- Golden Visa E28B is intended to be processed while you are outside Indonesia. You enter with the approved Golden Visa, not as a tourist.
- If you’re already in Bali on a tourist visa or e-VOA and decide to pursue E28B, the usual path is:
- We prepare your Golden Visa application.
- You exit Indonesia when appropriate.
- Your Golden Visa is approved while you’re abroad.
- You re-enter using the Golden Visa eVisa.
Immigration does adjust onshore conversion policies from time to time, but for E28B we always advise planning as an offshore application. If you’re already here and want to move to E28B, speak to us before you book flights or let your current stay permit lapse.
FAQ – Quick answers for busy investors
1. Can my family join me under the E28B Golden Visa?
Yes. Spouses and children can usually apply for dependant stay permits linked to your Golden Visa. We lodge their files after your main E28B is approved to keep things clean.
2. Do I have to live in Bali full-time on a Golden Visa?
No, but you should treat this as a genuine residency, not a “paper address.” Extended absences are possible, yet immigration expects your investment and business activities to be real, not nominal.
3. What happens if my overseas company’s turnover changes after approval?
Immigration assesses your eligibility based on audited financials at the time of application. If your future turnover drops, it does not automatically cancel your visa, but it may become relevant at renewal or if you apply for additional permits.
What to do next
If you’re ready to move from “research mode” to a concrete plan, the simplest next step is to:
- Check the 2026 numbers and full cost structure here: Exact Cost of Bali Golden Visa in 2026 (Government Fees, Agent Fees, Hidden Costs).
- Review your documentation against our practical checklist: Bali Golden Visa Documents Checklist & Proof of Funds (No Surprises).
- Book a tailored consult through our concierge service so we can map your investment structure to the right Golden Visa pathway.
Want a straight answer on your chances, your timeline, and your realistic costs? Message us on WhatsApp now and mention “E28B STEP-BY-STEP” for a personal review of your case.
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General information, not legal advice; fees are agency estimates, not government fees. We confirm the latest rules for your case before you apply.