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.
PT Bukit Uluwatu Villa Tbk (BUVA), a Bali-based villa and accommodation operator listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, has disclosed an increase in its loan facility to subsidiary PT Bukit Bali Permai (BBP), raising the total ceiling from Rp5 billion to Rp27 billion. BUVA oversees several villa and property subsidiaries in Bali and Bintan, and the company stated the transaction has no material impact on operations. BUVA shares traded flat following the disclosure.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster led the demolition of an illegal villa built in a social forestry area in Buleleng Regency on September 12, 2026. The building lacked required construction permits (PBG), and authorities suspect a foreign investor financed the project using a local resident's name. The provincial government has ordered reforestation to restore the affected land.
The Bali Friendship Hockey Festival took place on September 12-13, 2026 at Lapangan Banteng in Seminyak, Bali, bringing together hockey teams from across Indonesia as well as Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore. The event aimed to develop athletes, strengthen international collaboration, and promote sport tourism.
Two French tourists were separately caught shoplifting food and daily necessities from supermarkets in Ubud, Gianyar, Bali, after reportedly running out of money during their trip. Both cases were settled through restitution and the tourists have already been deported.
Denpasar's Immigration Detention House has temporarily detained a 35-year-old Palestinian man with refugee status, suspected of running an unauthorized tourism business on Nusa Lembongan Island. He is being investigated for violating Indonesia's immigration law, with coordination with UNHCR now underway.
Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck near the Seribu Islands off Jakarta in the early hours of Saturday. The quake had a deep focus of 376 kilometers, and BMKG confirmed there is no tsunami potential. The epicenter is far from Bali, and no damage or casualties have been reported so far.
Indonesia's air navigation provider AirNav has launched a new national communication network called Jarkompenas, designed to speed up information sharing about volcanic ash and airport closures. The system connects domestic aviation facilities, meteorological agencies, and international partners across the Asia-Pacific region, potentially reducing delays in alerts that affect flights over volcanic areas including Bali.
Denpasar police arrested a 36-year-old Australian man suspected of dealing marijuana from an apartment in the Pemogan area. Officers seized 37 packets of dried marijuana, two packets of tobacco allegedly containing synthetic narcotics, and an electronic scale, and the investigation into his supplier continues.
The international art event Art & Bali 2026 opened on September 11, 2026, at Nuanu Creative City in Tabanan, Bali. Running through September 13, the exhibition features 24 galleries and small businesses selling artworks ranging from a few hundred thousand to hundreds of millions of rupiah, depending on type, form, and size.
Indonesian carrier TransNusa began daily direct flights between Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport and Phuket, Thailand, on September 9. The new route allows travelers to combine both destinations without a layover, and TransNusa becomes the second airline after Indonesia AirAsia to operate this route.
Foreign investors are cautiously returning to Indonesian stocks, bonds, and the rupiah after a turbulent first half of 2026, as the Prabowo administration pledges fiscal discipline and a new central bank governor signals policy continuity. While sentiment has improved, market participants remain wary, citing global risks and a need for consistent policy execution. For foreigners living in or visiting Indonesia, including Bali, the rupiah's trajectory affects daily costs of living and currency exchange decisions.
Cok Ace, chairman of Bali's Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI), reflected on Bali tourism's history since 1927 and expressed concern that sacred cultural practices, such as Barong and Sanghyang dances, are being over-commercialized for performances in hotel lobbies. He argued that Bali's traffic and waste problems stem from "over-concentration" rather than "overtourism," and called for future tourism to be measured by value created rather than visitor numbers.
One year after severe flooding struck Bali's Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar, and Tabanan (Sarbagita) region in September 2025, killing 18 people, the advocacy group Pulihkan Bali has filed a citizen lawsuit against government institutions. The group blames man-made factors including rampant land conversion and poor waste management, and is demanding climate justice legislation and stricter land-use controls.
A joint search and rescue operation in the Sunda Strait off Pandeglang, Banten, has entered its second day without locating a speedboat carrying eight people, including five journalists who were covering the Anak Krakatau eruption. Authorities have expanded the search area and deployed additional vessels, warships, and a thermal drone.
Ubud native Kadek Wardana shares his joy at being promoted to goalkeeper coach for Bali United's senior team, while expressing sadness over the prolonged tourism slump in his hometown. He notes that foreign tourists have left Bali and domestic visitors now prefer coastal areas like Uluwatu and Canggu over Ubud.
On September 7, 2026, the closing ceremony of the Lembongan Surf Team Music Festival 2026 was held at Mahagiri Beach in Jungutbatu Village, Nusa Penida, Klungkung Regency. Attended by the Klungkung Regent and other officials, police secured the event given the large number of participants and spectators.
Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta Airport, which had suspended operations due to volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau, resumed normal operations early on September 8. Flights between Bali (Ngurah Rai) and Jakarta/Bandung by seven airlines also returned to normal the same day. Separately, Bali's disaster agency (BPBD) clarified that heightened volcanic activity is not mechanically linked to feared
The Denpasar Class I Immigration Office deported a Chinese national (initials JZ) via I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on September 7, 2026, after he was found working as a project supervisor at a construction site in Bali while holding only a tourist visa.
In Canggu on Bali's southwest coast, an influx of digital nomads and foreign investors has driven rice paddies to disappear amid a construction boom and soaring land prices. In July 2026, two Dutch nationals were banned from re-entering Indonesia over discrimination allegations tied to a foreign-run running event, highlighting rising friction with local residents. Experts warn that locals risk being pushed out of housing and job opportunities in their own community.
Swiss-Belhotel International officially opened Ashva Swiss-Belresort Ubud in Tegallalang, Bali on September 5, 2026. The new resort offers 90 rooms and suites plus wooden pavilions, targeting families, wellness travelers, and corporate events.