Moving to Indonesia as foreign employed “contractor”

[sborsari]

I’m trying to gather some more intel here. I want to remain foreign employed (making USD... cuz then I’ll be LOADED) as a “digital nomad” but essentially drop the nomad part (Yes I know right now the country is locked down hopefully I’ll be ready to make the move in six months). I understand that I will have to make a “border run” every two months so my visa doesn’t expire (I suppose inevitably I’ll get nikkah eventually which will solve that issue). Are there any other major issues I’ll run into?

Also, how does someone who isn’t a citizen get a car? I just learned foreigners can not buy a car... can a foreigner lease a car or motorcycle? Aka... how am I suppose to go food shopping without a taxi?

Thanks for replies

 

[HappyMan]

I'm pretty sure that the visas you are describing prohibit you from working here. Also, if you are here for more than 182 days a year, you are supposed to pay taxes here. And, when you try to do that, I think you will run into the problem that you are prohibited from working here.

I'm pretty sure that the forum has a policy about advising people to do illegal things...

Anyway, lots of people have done what you are planning to do, or so I hear. Seems like they used the method you are planning to... just wander around until they find a place that they like and then park it (except for visa trips). Far as I know, that's the whole deal.

There has been talking of creating a "digital nomad" visa in the near future... If that happens, you can probably expect the immigration office to start taking a lot more interest in working age adults who reside here on tourist visas year round. The proposed "digital nomad visa" was not cheap, and KanIm needs their income.

Seems like the marriage option is your legal method. If you did it, you'd be the first foreigner I ever heard say they got married to an Indonesian for a visa. I guess someone has to fulfill that stereotype I keep running into.

You can rent a car. You'd be surprised how much stuff people can fit onto the back of a motorcycle taxi here. Automobile taxis aren't that expensive, really, if you are on a good foreign income. I would think pretty hard about investing in the purchase of an automobile (through any method) when you are subject to deportation or denial of entry at any time.

I'm not trying to gloom and doom you to death, but I don't think that the Indonesian government is in a, "Yay, more foreigners! Let's do want we can to make it easier for them to live here!", mood at the moment. Seems like more doors are slowly being closed than are being opened, unless you are very wealthy, then you are very welcome.

 

[Ruserious]

Your in luck. There is a very useful free tax seminar that's just been announced and is highlighted on another thread on this site. It can answer many questions. Just be sure to give your real name and contact details so they can keep you fully up to date after the seminar on how you can avoid those pesky taxes by being a digital nomad.

 

[sborsari]

I'm pretty sure that the visas you are describing prohibit you from working here. Also, if you are here for more than 182 days a year, you are supposed to pay taxes here. And, when you try to do that, I think you will run into the problem that you are prohibited from working here.

I'm pretty sure that the forum has a policy about advising people to do illegal things...

Anyway, lots of people have done what you are planning to do, or so I hear. Seems like they used the method you are planning to... just wander around until they find a place that they like and then park it (except for visa trips). Far as I know, that's the whole deal.

There has been talking of creating a "digital nomad" visa in the near future... If that happens, you can probably expect the immigration office to start taking a lot more interest in working age adults who reside here on tourist visas year round. The proposed "digital nomad visa" was not cheap, and KanIm needs their income.

Seems like the marriage option is your legal method. If you did it, you'd be the first foreigner I ever heard say they got married to an Indonesian for a visa. I guess someone has to fulfill that stereotype I keep running into.

You can rent a car. You'd be surprised how much stuff people can fit onto the back of a motorcycle taxi here. Automobile taxis aren't that expensive, really, if you are on a good foreign income. I would think pretty hard about investing in the purchase of an automobile (through any method) when you are subject to deportation or denial of entry at any time.

I'm not trying to gloom and doom you to death, but I don't think that the Indonesian government is in a, "Yay, more foreigners! Let's do want we can to make it easier for them to live here!", mood at the moment. Seems like more doors are slowly being closed than are being opened, unless you are very wealthy, then you are very welcome.

I’m a Muslim and one of the main reasons I plan to move to Indonesia is because A) making USD will make me rich on money that in the US would make me middle class single B) allow me to afford a stay at home wife because C) I am a Muslim. So no, I am not USING someone for a visa, it’s very hard to marry in the US as a Muslim considering it is less than 1% Muslim country. But thanks for making assumptions that I would use someone like that.

 

[HappyMan]

I’m a Muslim and one of the main reasons I plan to move to Indonesia is because A) making USD will make me rich on money that in the US would make me middle class single B) allow me to afford a stay at home wife because C) I am a Muslim. So no, I am not USING someone for a visa, it’s very hard to marry in the US as a Muslim considering it is less than 1% Muslim country. But thanks for making assumptions that I would use someone like that.

To be fair, you did mention it in the context of how you would arrange a visa, rather than as some separate goal, so the Ass didn't have far to travel between yoU and Me. Really, I don't have a moral issue with it or anything, providing that both parties consent. I'm more of a "sanctity of my promise to my partner" than a "sanctity of my promise to my church/government" type of person. People just used to ask me of I married an Indonesian so I could buy land/invest here. Indonesians seem to think it is a frequent occurrence or something.

Anywho, I hope things work out for you, man. Peace.

 

[snpark]

Keep digging

 

[ChrisTex]

I’m a Muslim and one of the main reasons I plan to move to Indonesia is because A) making USD will make me rich on money that in the US would make me middle class single B) allow me to afford a stay at home wife because C) I am a Muslim. So no, I am not USING someone for a visa, it’s very hard to marry in the US as a Muslim considering it is less than 1% Muslim country. But thanks for making assumptions that I would use someone like that.

Mate, what does being muslim exactly have to do with anything? You mentioned it three times. You want a cookie or something? It is not hard for muslims to get married in the US(my cousin is married one who also happens to be Indonesian). Now if you are saying in the current climate aka covid, then it is hard for everyone do things including marriage.


Oh and everything you described for your first post...you would still be a digital nomad.

 

[Helpful Herbert]

I like the idea that someone's main aim in life is to find a country where he will be rich enough to 'afford' a stay-at-home wife

 

[snpark]

Yes and of course he's probably never been here before either. Been watching 90 day fiance on TLC

 

[ChrisTex]

Yes and of course he's probably never been here before either. Been watching 90 day fiance on TLC

That would be an interesting watch if they did it based just on Indonesia or did an Indonesia version.

 

[snpark]

Eps 1. Chuck and Brad try to find the country of Bali on a map.
"I think it's in India. Near Austria"

 

[ChrisTex]

Eps 1. Chuck and Brad try to find the country of Bali on a map.
"I think it's in India. Near Austria"

See? We are off to a great start. We can pitch to Wonderful Indonesia for the tourism aspect and then figure out which TV station to host the show.

 

[snpark]

Hosted by Karl Pilkington of the "ok wall of China"
Wonderful Indonesia? Well it's alright Indonesia really.

 

[fastpitch17]

OK, maybe the mind is slipping but just what the hell is a digital nomad?

What is all this crap about being rich in Indonesia because you are paid in US dollars? I mean, you would be just as rich in Malaysia or Vietnam and even richer in India.

Stay at home wife seems to be the key here. Good Muslim woman. Cook, clean, have babies and do what her husband tells her. Nope, probably hard to find in the US but someone thinks Indonesia has that. No problem in finding that stay at home wife here. Someone needs to stay home and take care of her live in parents and siblings.

Why do I feel that this type of person gets a reality check a few minutes after getting off a plane and when he gets to that 60 day point is on a plane of no return?

 

[gemima]

OK, maybe the mind is slipping but just what the hell is a digital nomad?

What is all this crap about being rich in Indonesia because you are paid in US dollars? I mean, you would be just as rich in Malaysia or Vietnam and even richer in India.

Stay at home wife seems to be the key here. Good Muslim woman. Cook, clean, have babies and do what her husband tells her. Nope, probably hard to find in the US but someone thinks Indonesia has that. No problem in finding that stay at home wife here. Someone needs to stay home and take care of her live in parents and siblings.

Why do I feel that this type of person gets a reality check a few minutes after getting off a plane and when he gets to that 60 day point is on a plane of no return?

I wasn't going to bite on this thread but I have failed.
I really find the attitude of the OP to be a bit distasteful re the desire to be "LOADED" and finding a SAH wife. Sigh.

1. Yes you will be richer than many here if you are earning USD BUT there will still be loads of people richer than you here. The cost of living is cheap if you accept normal local standards but if you want to keep western standards (living environs/ food etc.) it's surprisingly expensive.
2. It will be much easier to find a Muslim wife here indeed, and there will likely be lots who want to be a SAH wife for you. But I'm not sure it will be a happily ever after story for all parties. I wish the OP the best and I hope his future wife will be happy and respected. Remember when you marry a woman here you also marry her family in many cases. And you might be surprised when your nice meek GF turns into an assertive wife, women here arent stupid.
3. You will be a digital nomad here no matter what you say/ do. The arrangements around doing that are vague right now. Many do it and live here happily (esp in Bali) but it's not a situation I would want to be in myself. I'm happy to be a fully signed-up KITAS holder and taxpayer here.
4. You can get a car if you have a KITAS, you can lease a car but when you first get here just use taxis (they are great here - bluebird/ grab and go-jek). For most shopping you can do it from home using tokopedia/ happyfresh anyway.

 

[Dharma Police]

@fastpitch17 A digital nomad is a traveler who supplements their income by creating content online, getting money from their subscribers or followers. It's usually through a third party like Patreon, who will take a percentage for their "banking" services.

So for example, let's say there's a popular yoga instructor. They post yoga videos and have thousands, if not millions of subscribers. Many of them donate money so that the yogi can continue posting videos. The need for a brick-and-mortar yoga studio is obsolete, They just need a camera and can record themselves in Canggu, Ubud, Uluwatu or wherever.

The reason why I say digital nomads "supplement" their income is because I've spoken to a few of these people. They can't hope to get rich from such an endeavor since a couple hundred bucks a month won't go that far - and we're talking some of the biggest content makers. Most likely they have their rich mommy and daddy send money for room and board.

 

[Bad_azz]

@fastpitch17 A digital nomad is a traveler who supplements their income by creating content online, getting money from their subscribers or followers. It's usually through a third party like Patreon, who will take a percentage for their "banking" services.

So for example, let's say there's a popular yoga instructor. They post yoga videos and have thousands, if not millions of subscribers. Many of them donate money so that the yogi can continue posting videos. The need for a brick-and-mortar yoga studio is obsolete, They just need a camera and can record themselves in Canggu, Ubud, Uluwatu or wherever.

The reason why I say digital nomads "supplement" their income is because I've spoken to a few of these people. They can't hope to get rich from such an endeavor since a couple hundred bucks a month won't go that far - and we're talking some of the biggest content makers. Most likely they have their rich mommy and daddy send money for room and board.

Successful DN's /content creators make far more than a few hundred a month you missed a zero off.

 

[Helpful Herbert]

Maybe the OP could set up a youtube channel about the trials and tribulations of life here with a stay-at-home wife. The episode when he realises that all her parents and brothers are going to move in should be particularly interesting. I would certainly subscribe.

 

[Dharma Police]

Successful DN's /content creators make far more than a few hundred a month you missed a zero off.

Okay, I'll keep an open mind. Can you name any vloggers, live streamers, and general content creators who are rich? One who has a vlog as a primary source of income? Celebrities don't count, since they have the added bonus of millions of followers. A star like Rihanna for example, can launch a makeup and will make money, hands over fist. Her brand has a worldwide following.

I don't see it from most of these vloggers. As a matter of fact, a lot of them talk about having a day job. Unless you know something I don't

 

[LRB]

Okay, I'll keep an open mind. Can you name any vloggers, live streamers, and general content creators who are rich? One who has a vlog as a primary source of income? Celebrities don't count, since they have the added bonus of millions of followers. A star like Rihanna for example, can launch a makeup and will make money, hands over fist. Her brand has a worldwide following.

I don't see it from most of these vloggers. As a matter of fact, a lot of them talk about having a day job. Unless you know something I don't

Mark Wiens with Migrationology and Trevor from Food Ranger would probably fit the description 'rich'. Both of them are frequent travelers and have millions of subscribers. Mark Wiens has mostly been stuck in Thailand during the pandemic but managed to fly to the US a few months back and is now operating there. Mark has a mixed heritage background (American and Chinese) and is based out of Bangkok where he lives with his family. I believe Trevor lives in China. Both have some pretty good videos from a few years back in Indonesia, poor Trevor making sambal in a pasar in Bukitinggi is pretty fun, bless him.

Comparing their channels on Social Blade is quite interesting (see: https://socialblade.com/youtube/compare/mark wiens/the food ranger). Mark Wiens has approximately 1.8 billion views since 2009 and Trevor is almost at 800 million from 2013. I imagine that the advertising revenue makes them very affluent using this as their primary income. I would imagine that both of them started out as digital nomads.