A Ukrainian woman and a Russian man working as hair stylists at a salon in Tibubeneng, Badung, have been deported from Bali after immigration authorities found they were working outside the scope of their residence permits. The Russian man was also working as a freelance DJ. Both have been proposed for a five-year entry ban.
Things to Consider: Remote Worker visas (ITAS Remote Worker) are strictly for remote work on behalf of an overseas employer and do not permit direct paid work at local businesses such as salons, bars, or event venues in Bali. Employment-based ITAS holders must also ensure their actual job duties match what was declared by their sponsoring company. Anyone considering side jobs or freelance work (e.g., DJing, styling) should verify in advance with immigration authorities or a licensed visa agent whether such activity is permitted under their current visa category, as violations can result in deportation and a five-year entry ban.
Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport will conduct a full-scale Airport Emergency Exercise (AEE) on September 23, 2026, simulating a building fire, security breach, and aircraft accident. Airport management has asked passengers not to panic if they witness the drill and to follow staff instructions. Normal flight operations will not be affected.
Tabanan Immigration Office has designated Nyambu and Kaba-Kaba villages in Kediri District as pilot 'Immigration Development Villages' to strengthen monitoring of foreign nationals at the community level. Immigration officers will make weekly visits and encourage residents to report information, with plans to expand the program to other villages gradually due to limited staffing.
The Badung Regency government in Bali is working with tourism stakeholders and academics to transform the sector toward quality, sustainable tourism. Key measures include infrastructure development in North Badung, greater use of traditional Balinese security guards (pecalang), and parking reorganization in Kuta.
AXEAN Festival, a Southeast Asian music showcase, returned to Jimbaran Hub in Bali for its third consecutive year, drawing over 4,000 attendees across three days. The edition featured Indonesian headliners and marked the first Asian partnership for Seattle-based music platform KEXP.
Indonesia's Director General of Immigration revealed that sham marriages used by foreigners to illegally acquire land, along with drug trafficking, human trafficking, and cyber scams, are being driven by organized crime syndicates. In response, immigration authorities announced plans to tighten a 'selective policy' to screen out low-quality or rule-breaking foreign visitors.
HARRIS Hotel & Residences Sunset Road Bali and Nikhila Hotel Seminyak Bali received top honors at the Bali Tourism Awards 2026, held on 14 September 2026 at The Meru Sanur. The awards recognized the properties' hospitality quality, MICE facilities, and boutique guest experience in their respective areas.
A suspected large-scale gold sales and investment fraud scheme in Renon, Denpasar has left at least 23 customers claiming losses totaling Rp6.8 billion. An Indian national director, Jaya Krishna Reddy, is alleged to be the mastermind and has reportedly become unreachable. Bali Police are investigating the case.
Bali's High Prosecutor's Office has sought five-year prison sentences for two Indian nationals, Piyush Sharma and Yash Raj Singh Gaur, accused of masterminding an international online gambling network operated from Bali. Prosecutors also sought four-year sentences for 33 other Indian defendants in the same case and requested deportation for all of them after serving their sentences.
AirNav Indonesia and Boeing have signed a Letter of Intent to jointly study ways to optimize aircraft ground movements and runway capacity at Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport. The study will use simulation modeling to identify options for reducing congestion and improving efficiency. This is a preliminary research step and does not immediately change flight schedules or airport operations.
Indonesia's Tourism Ministry reports that 58.34% of foreign tourists who visited the country in 2025 engaged in culinary or gastronomy-related activities. The ministry will hold the 'Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy 2026' program in Solo and Yogyakarta from late September to early October, aiming to boost recognition of local food culture, including regional cuisines relevant to travelers across Indonesia, including Bali.
Bali's Uluwatu area is undergoing rapid transformation in its property and tourism market. Demand is shifting from large luxury resorts toward one- to two-bedroom "mass premium" villas aimed at digital nomads, surfers, and couples. Property management firm Betterplace says stable occupancy, rental income potential, and expanding infrastructure are making Uluwatu an attractive investment destination.
A Japanese action film, 'Unso Dragon - Powered Human Battle Courier,' won seven awards including Best Picture at the Bali Cultural Exchange Film Festival held on September 12 in Bali, competing against 17 entries. The event also included screenings at local schools and a commemorative tree planting, highlighting cultural exchange between Japan and Indonesia.
Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest independent hotel brand, has added four luxury properties in Baliβlocated in Canggu, Uluwatu, Ubud, and Sanurβto its global portfolio. This brings the total number of member hotels in Indonesia to five, and guests can now access the free I Prefer loyalty rewards program at these properties.
An Australian man from Perth and his two young children were found dead in a rented bungalow in Kuta, Bali. Local police are investigating the possibility of a murder-suicide. Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family.
A Ugandan woman without a passport was detained by police and local security (pecalang) after allegedly entering a resident's property without permission in Kediri, Tabanan, Bali. Immigration authorities have transferred her to a detention center in Denpasar and are processing her deportation.
Kuta Police in Bali arrested a 26-year-old suspect who allegedly snatched gold jewelry three times in the Seminyak area. The case came to light after an Indian tourist reported losing a gold necklace worth around Rp75 million while walking to his hotel. Police tracked the suspect using CCTV footage and arrested him at his home in Karangasem.
The Tirta Gangga Art Festival 2026 has opened at the Tirta Gangga water palace in East Bali's Karangasem regency, marking the site's 78th anniversary. The event features traditional dance competitions, cultural parades, and local business stalls, bringing together artists and communities from diverse backgrounds.
Bali is transforming from a tourist destination into an international investment and lifestyle hub, with foreign visitor arrivals reaching nearly 6.95 million in 2025. Legal frameworks like Government Regulation No. 18/2021, which allows foreigners to own residential property under certain conditions, are supporting this shift. Analysts suggest sustainability will become a key differentiator in Bali's evolving property market.
A 30-year-old Australian woman died after slipping and falling from a cliff at Kelingking Beach in Nusa Penida, Bali, while attempting to find her own path near the cliff edge. A search and rescue team recovered her body after a 1.5-hour evacuation effort.
Tangerang Immigration in Indonesia uncovered an international online gambling network involving two Chinese and three Vietnamese nationals, after discovering irregularities in their residence permit renewal documents. A raid on an apartment seized computers and dozens of mobile phones. The incident occurred in Tangerang, not on Bali island.