Bali Cracking Down On Foreign Influencers Working On Tourist Visas

Indonesian officials are taking a hard stance against foreign travel influencers in Bali participating in brand collabs, accepting comped stays and taking part in unpaid content shoots under tourist visas.

It’s no secret that Bali has started suffering from an overtourism problem. This has resulted in regular gridlock traffic, a strain being put on the island’s water and sewerage systems, rising housing prices and just a general lack of respect for locals and their infrastructure.

Bali has also seen an influx of foreign nationals setting up temporary shop in Bali, taking part in gray area influencer work including paid and unpaid content creation, collab deals and other activities being sponsored by local brands such as hotels, restaurants, and other tourist-related establishments.

As a result, Indonesia is cracking down on these foreign influencers, saying that any type of work that results in some form of direct or indirect economic gain, must be done so using the correct visa. Most travelers visiting Indonesia typically will apply for a tourist visa, which costs roughly US $30, but with authorities taking a firm stance, those coming to Bali for work-related purposes are now being told that they must get the appropriate work visa.

These start at US $100, and may cost as much as $1,000+ depending on what type of visa you apply for and how long you plan to stay.

In April 2026, the Dharma Dewata Immigration Patrol Task Force, consisting of 100+ officers, was set up to police online and live activities in the popular hotspots including Canggu, Ubud, Seminyak, Kerobokan and Uluwatu. 62 visitors have already been have already been detained, and punishment can range from fines, deportation and a possible long-term ban on future re-entry into Indonesia.

Activity that can be classified as illegal under a tourist visa can range from creating sponsored posts, partnering with brands or taking part in collaborations, taking part in video or photo shoots, or marketing campaigns, accepting free compensation from hotels and restaurants (e.g. free food or stays), and any type of content creation for commercial purposes, even if unpaid. In short, if the government thinks your activity will result in some form of economic gain, then it’s a good idea to apply for the appropriate work visa rather than risk entry under a tourist visa.

Looking at the big picture here, it hard to blame the Indonesian government for being firm about this. Even though they are the ones who initially started the drive for increased tourism, it is clear foreigners are taking blatant advantage of the system, using their tourist visas for purposes other than what it is originally intended for.

From a financial perspective, influencers using a tourist visa for work purposes means lost money for the Indonesian government. Even if they can’t get a handle on the tourist situation, at least the increased revenue could be put towards improving infrastructure.

As a travel writer myself, I would technically fall under the “work” category if I visited Bali to review a hotel, for instance. While I fund myself and do not accept any form of compensation (to remove any bias from reviews), my reviews can be technically considered work. Even though I’m not working for anyone in Indonesia, I still end up benefiting financially when users on the web visir my website or my YouTube videos.

Based on their visa website, I would most likely need a C5 journalist single entry visa, which costs US $110. This visa, while not relatively expensive, is still restrictive as you cannot be employed locally, and you are required to provide the necessary paperwork covering proof of funding and affiliations with whatever company you represent.

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