US Citizen Promotes 0.54-Hectare Land Plot in Kintamani on Social Media, Denpasar Immigration Investigates

A US national identified by the initials SR, 34, has come under scrutiny in Bali after promoting a 0.54-hectare (54-are) plot of land for sale in the Kintamani area of Bangli Regency through a video posted on social media.

In the Facebook video, which quickly circulated online, SR is seen presenting the land against a backdrop of Kintamani's mountain scenery, speaking entirely in English. He claimed it took him five years to convince the landowner to agree to sell what he described as "beautiful, only non-developed land in the busiest streets of Kintamani." He went on to pitch the property directly to villa developers, hotel developers, and investors looking for a unique project, stating the offer had "just dropped today."

Following the video's spread, Denpasar Immigration Office announced it had summoned SR for clarification. Putu Suhendra, head of communications at the office, confirmed the summons was issued on Thursday, July 30, 2026, but said SR had not yet reported to the office by that afternoon, with authorities still awaiting his arrival.

The case touches on a recurring issue in Bali: foreign nationals engaging in land marketing or brokerage activities. Under Indonesian law, foreigners are generally barred from directly owning land, and cases where foreigners actively promote or broker land sales raise questions about whether such activities exceed the scope of their visa or stay permit.