Long-term rental & living in Bali
Second Home Visa Indonesia and Long-Term Villa Rental
The second home visa lets financially self-sufficient foreigners stay in Indonesia for several years at a time without local employment, and it is one of the more practical routes for anyone planning a genuinely long villa stay in Bali.
The second home visa is a multi-year residence permit for foreigners who can show sufficient financial means, without an age requirement in the way the retirement or silver hair visas have. It is aimed at people who want to base themselves in Indonesia for an extended period, whether or not they are retired, and it is one of the more useful routes for anyone planning a genuinely long-term villa stay rather than a series of renewed short visas.
This guide covers what the second home visa actually offers, how it compares to other long-stay routes, and what it means practically when you go to rent a villa on a monthly or yearly basis.
What the second home visa offers
Unlike the retirement visa, which generally targets applicants aged 55 and over, the second home visa is open more broadly to financially self-sufficient foreigners who can demonstrate the required savings or investment (as of 2026, verify the exact financial threshold and duration with a licensed visa agent, since these figures are reviewed periodically). It typically grants a longer validity period than most other KITAS categories, which suits someone planning to settle into Bali for several years rather than deciding year by year.
Who tends to use it
We see three broad groups apply for a second home visa: younger retirees who do not yet meet the retirement visa’s age threshold, families relocating for an extended period who want stability beyond a one-year renewal cycle, and long-term residents who have outgrown repeated tourist-visa renewals but do not want to set up a business for an investor KITAS. If your situation involves setting up or investing in a local entity instead, our guide to the investor KITAS is the more relevant read.
How it compares to the retirement and silver hair visas
| Factor | Second home visa | Retirement visa | Silver hair visa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age requirement | Generally none, financial proof instead | Generally 55+ | Own separate threshold |
| Typical duration | Multi-year | Annual, renewable | Own separate terms |
| Employment | Not permitted | Not permitted | Not permitted |
| Best suited to | Long-term self-sufficient residents of any age | Retirees on pension income | Older residents meeting its specific criteria |
Our guides to the retirement visa and the silver hair visa cover those two alternatives if you are still comparing routes; the retirement visa’s closest sibling is visa extension for shorter stays, covered separately if you are not yet ready to commit to a multi-year permit.
What it means for your villa rental
A multi-year visa status is genuinely useful when negotiating a yearly villa lease, since it signals to a landlord that you are planning to stay rather than testing the waters for a few months. Our guide on paying a year upfront for a villa in Bali and our yearly villa rental prices by area page both cover the commercial side of committing to a longer lease once your visa status is settled. If you are also weighing whether to eventually buy rather than keep renting, our renting versus buying guide is a natural next step.
Steps to take before applying
- Confirm current financial proof requirements and validity period with a licensed visa agent
- Decide whether a multi-year commitment genuinely suits your plans, versus a shorter, renewable route
- Gather the financial documentation early, since this is usually the slowest part of the process
- Discuss your expected move-in date with a prospective villa manager so the lease timeline lines up
- Confirm what visa documentation the landlord needs at signing versus what can be provided once issued
Choosing where to base yourself on a multi-year visa
With a multi-year visa in hand, area choice becomes a genuinely long-term decision rather than a holiday one. Umalas suits residents who want ongoing access to coworking and a social base; Sanur suits a calmer, family-oriented long stay; Ungasan suits those prioritising privacy. Our comparison of the best areas to rent a villa in Bali covers the trade-offs in more depth.
What to do next
The second home visa is one of the more flexible long-stay routes precisely because it is not tied to age, but the financial threshold and current terms need confirming with a licensed agent before you plan a lease around it.
Next steps: get current eligibility figures from a licensed visa agent, decide which area suits a multi-year stay, then tell us your expected timeline and we will show you yearly villa options that fit. Browse our current long-stay villas to start.
Frequently asked questions
Does the second home visa have an age requirement?
Generally no, unlike the retirement visa. It is based primarily on demonstrating sufficient financial means rather than age, though exact criteria should be confirmed with a licensed visa agent (as of 2026, verify).
How long does the second home visa typically last?
It is generally positioned as a multi-year permit, longer than the standard annually renewed retirement visa, though the exact current duration should be confirmed directly with a licensed agent since terms are reviewed periodically.
Can I work remotely on a second home visa?
Local employment is not permitted under this category. If paid remote work for a foreign employer is central to your plan, ask a visa agent whether a digital nomad visa fits your situation better alongside or instead of the second home visa.
Is the second home visa better than the retirement visa for a younger retiree?
It can be, particularly if you do not yet meet the retirement visa's age threshold but can show the required financial means. Compare both against your specific circumstances with a licensed agent rather than assuming one is universally better.
Does having a second home visa make it easier to sign a yearly villa lease?
It generally helps, since it signals a genuine multi-year commitment to a landlord rather than a short trial stay, but it is not usually a strict requirement; being upfront about your visa status and timeline matters more than the specific category.
Written by The Host Bali team, who manage villas in Sanur, Canggu, Umalas and Ungasan. Prices, rules and visa details change; we date every guide and update it when something moves. Nothing here is legal or tax advice — for a purchase or a licence, check the specifics with a licensed notary or adviser in Bali.