Expat retirees fearing last Christmas in Indonesia get visa reprieve – for now

Foreign retirees were worried that this Christmas would be their last in cheaper-living, warm nation, as government is altering visa rules on Christmas Eve

It’s still trying to entice wealthy foreigners to Indonesia’s shores, but has dropped, for the time being, the requirement to have 2 billion rupiah or own a luxury property

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People enjoy a Bali beach at sunset. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:00am, 24 Dec 2022Updated: 10:02pm, 24 Dec 2022

Foreign retirees in Indonesia received a Christmas reprieve after immigration authorities dropped – at least for now – a proposed requirement to deposit 2 billion rupiah (US$128,000) in a state-owned bank or own a luxury property to stay in the country.

The initiative, announced in October by the government as Southeast Asian nations compete to entice wealthy and foreign investors to their shores, sent a shudder of fear through the legions of older expats and retirees who have been drawn to Indonesia’s cheap living and idyllic location for their twilight years.

The rule tweak was set to replace current retirement visa schemes on December 24, seeding fears among long-term foreign retirees who permanently live in Indonesia and cannot afford the new thresholds.

However, Jakarta changed its mind on Wednesday, three days before the deadline, cheering those who feared it could be their last Christmas in Indonesia.

Elizabeth, a 71-year-old Australian who has lived in Bali for over 20 years, said she was “very relieved” by the climbdown.

Giving a pseudonym due to the sensitivity of the immigration issue, she said it had caused her a lot of anxiety as she does not have 2 billion rupiah, and also cannot afford to return to Australia.

She speculated, though, that the authorities had never intended to target pensioners as they rejigged the rules.

“It was going to be a very, very sad Christmas for many of us. Some people were very very concerned,” added Elizabeth, who holds a five-year visa, known as Kitap.