Indonesia plans special 5-year visa to attract foreign remote workers

Indonesia is looking at granting a special five-year visa to attract international employees of Airbnb, Twitter, and other firms that have allowed their staff to work remotely, Bloomberg reported.

The special visa for remote workers and business-leisure travelers has been in the works since 2021, but it was put on hold after a fresh Covid-19 wave led to fewer flights and stricter border controls.

Tourists who get the visa can stay in the country for up to five years without needing to pay taxes if their income comes from overseas. Indonesia hopes that the move will create 1 million jobs for locals, according Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno.

With travel restrictions eased and Covid-19 cases under control, tourist arrivals in the archipelago grew 500% to 110,000 in April, the highest since the onset of the pandemic.

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