Bali’s booming tourism industry continues to attract millions of visitors each year, but when it comes to foreign workers actually legally employed on the island’s busiest tourism routes, the numbers may surprise you.
According to recently released data from Badung Regency — home to top destinations like Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu, Jimbaran, Uluwatu, and Nusa Dua — only 163 foreign nationals were officially registered as legal workers in the area as of December 2025.
📊 Where These Foreign Workers Are Located
The data, sourced from the Badung Regency Industry and Manpower Office (Disperinaker), breaks down the legal foreign workforce by sub-region:
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North Kuta: 60 foreign workers
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Kuta: 48 foreign workers
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South Kuta: 48 foreign workers
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Mengwi: 7 foreign workers
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Other areas: Small additional numbers
Although Bali is a magnet for global talent and lifestyle nomads, the majority of working foreign nationals are concentrated in management, director-level roles, consultancy positions, chefs, marketing managers, and professional trainer positions — often in tourism, hospitality, or corporate settings.
📍 What “Legally Employed” Means
This total reflects foreign nationals who are working under valid employment visas and have had their work permits extended legally through the Indonesian immigration and manpower system.
It does not include foreigners living in Bali on other types of permits — such as investment visas, pre-investment visas, retirement visas, business visas, or digital nomad stay permits — who might be residing long-term but aren’t officially employed by local companies through standard employment passes.
⚠️ Ongoing Challenges With Illegal Work
While the majority of foreign visitors and residents respect Indonesian immigration law, Bali authorities have stepped up monitoring and enforcement in recent years to crack down on foreigners working outside the conditions of their visas. In some cases, individuals have been deported or banned after being caught working in contravention of their permit type.
For example, authorities recently deported a Swiss national who was found working at a surf camp despite holding a stay permit not intended for employment.
📌 A Note for Employers and Expats
If you are considering hiring foreign staff in Bali — or are a foreign professional thinking of working on the island — it’s essential to understand the strict requirements around employment visas and permits. Ensuring correct documentation isn’t just good practice — it’s a legal obligation that safeguards both workers and employers.
