PT PMA vs Digital Nomad Visa: Which Path for Foreign Entrepreneurs?

Foreign entrepreneurs in Bali often face the same fork in the road: set up a PT PMA and operate locally, or live here on the Digital Nomad Visa E33G while keeping the business abroad.

These are not interchangeable. One is a company-and-investment path for Indonesian-source activity. The other is a limited stay permit for remote work paid from outside Indonesia.

This guide compares both paths, who each one fits, typical costs and documents, and how D12 pre-investment can bridge the gap while you scout. For the wider long-stay map, see moving to Bali long-term and the complete Bali visa guide.

The short answer

If your company, customers, and payroll stay abroad, start with E33G. If you want a Bali entity that sells locally, hire people, or hold business assets, start with PT PMA.

What E33G is for

E33G is Indonesia's remote-worker / digital nomad limited stay route. Official Immigration materials describe it as staying in Indonesia to carry out assignments for a company established outside Indonesia.

According to imigrasi.go.id E33G and the official eVisa FAQ:

Stay can be up to 1 year
Typical special requirements include proof of income of at least USD 60,000 per year and an employment contract with an overseas company
General documents include passport validity of at least 6 months, CV, itinerary, photo, and living-expense proof of about USD 2,000 in recent bank statements
You must not sell goods or services locally, or receive wages or similar compensation from individuals or companies in Indonesia

Bali Visa Hub packages currently list E33G support from about IDR 15,000,000. Confirm live pricing on the E33G service page.

E33G fits entrepreneurs who

Run a foreign company or freelance for overseas clients
Keep contracts, invoicing, and bank income outside Indonesia
Want a legal long stay without incorporating in Indonesia yet
Do not need to employ Indonesian staff under their own local company

E33G does not fit entrepreneurs who

Want to sell products or services to Indonesian customers
Need a local entity to sign leases, tenders, or supplier contracts as an Indonesian company
Plan to hire and pay staff through an Indonesian payroll
Intend to operate a villa rental, cafe, agency, or other local business

E33G is a stay permit for remote overseas work. It is not a business licence.

What a PT PMA is for

A PT PMA (Perseroan Terbatas Penanaman Modal Asing) is an Indonesian limited liability company with foreign investment. It is the standard vehicle when a foreigner wants to operate a revenue-generating business in Indonesia.

With a properly set up PT PMA you can typically:

Run a licensed Indonesian business activity
Sign contracts in the company name
Open a corporate bank account
Hire Indonesian and, where permitted, foreign staff
Support Investor or Working KITAS applications for qualifying shareholders or employees

Bali Visa Hub currently lists:

PT PMA setup without KITAS: IDR 30,000,000 (target about 14 working days once documents are complete)
PT PMA + 1 Investor KITAS package: IDR 45,000,000

See the PT PMA registration page for current packages.

Capital and structure notes

Company capital rules depend on your KBLI business classification and investment regulations. Bali Visa Hub's service guidance commonly references planning around:

Minimum total investment in the IDR 10 billion range
Paid-up capital requirements that can also sit in that range depending on sector
At least two shareholders
At least one director and one commissioner

Always verify the current capital and foreign-ownership rules for your exact activity before you wire funds.

Investor KITAS is a separate immigration step

Forming a PT PMA does not automatically give you a visa.

Immigration's E28A investor visa currently requires proof of share ownership of at least IDR 10 billion in the sponsoring company registered with the investment authority. If your shares are below that threshold and you serve as a director or commissioner, Immigration states you may need a work visa for that position instead.

In plain terms:

Big enough shareholding + qualifying role: Investor KITAS path may apply
Smaller shareholding + active management role: Working KITAS / employment route may apply
Company only, no qualifying stay permit: you still need a lawful visa to live in Indonesia

For employment sponsorship details, read Getting a Working KITAS in Bali.

Side-by-side comparison

Which path fits common entrepreneur profiles?

1. Solo SaaS founder paid by overseas customers

Usually E33G, if you meet the income and overseas-company contract evidence Immigration expects.

2. Agency owner selling to Bali hotels and local brands

Usually PT PMA, then Investor or Working KITAS depending on shareholding and role.

3. E-commerce brand shipping from abroad with no Indonesian entity

Often E33G while living in Bali, provided you are not building a local operating company or taking Indonesian-source business income.

4. Villa management, cafe, clinic, or tourism business in Bali

PT PMA (or another lawful Indonesian structure). E33G cannot legalise local hospitality operations. Property title is a separate issue: see foreign property ownership in Bali.

5. Still deciding whether to invest

Use D12 pre-investment for meetings, due diligence, and market research. It is not permission to run the finished business or to work as a local employee. After the company exists, move to Investor or Working KITAS.

Can you use both?

Sometimes, in sequence:

Live on E33G while your overseas business funds your Bali lifestyle
Scout with D12 if you need an investment-focused visit category
Incorporate a PT PMA when you are ready to operate locally
Switch to Investor or Working KITAS when the company and role qualify

Do not assume you can freely convert one category to another inside Indonesia without checking timing. See Can You Switch Visa Types While in Indonesia? and bridging visas.

Holding E33G does not replace corporate licensing. Holding a PT PMA does not replace a stay permit.

Cost reality check

Rough planning only:

E33G: lower upfront than incorporating; Bali Visa Hub lists about IDR 15,000,000 for service support, plus your own proof of high overseas income
PT PMA: Bali Visa Hub lists IDR 30,000,000 for company setup, or IDR 45,000,000 with one Investor KITAS package, before government fees, capital injection, tax, office, and staff costs

The expensive part of PT PMA is usually the real investment and compliance, not only the agency fee. The expensive part of E33G is usually meeting the income evidence standard while keeping all local commercial activity off-limits.

Common mistakes

Incorporating a PT PMA only to "get a visa," with no real business
Using E33G while issuing invoices to Indonesian clients
Confusing company capital with E28A share-ownership thresholds
Hiring staff under the table while on a tourist or nomad visa
Skipping KBLI / foreign-ownership checks before paying a notary
Assuming a tourist visa covers entrepreneurship of either kind
Buying property and assuming that equals a business or visa solution

If content creation for Indonesian brands is part of the plan, also read Bali's stricter immigration rules for content creation.

Decision checklist

Where will customers pay you: Indonesia or abroad?
Do you need an Indonesian company bank account and contracts?
Will you hire people in Indonesia?
Can you evidence about USD 60,000 annual overseas income and an overseas employment or equivalent contract for E33G?
Can you fund and operate a real PT PMA at the capital level your sector requires?
Are you ready for bookkeeping, tax, and licensing every year?

If answers 1 to 3 point abroad, study E33G. If they point to Indonesia, study PT PMA.

FAQs

Can I keep my foreign LLC and also open a PT PMA?

Yes, in principle. Many founders keep an overseas company for global clients and open a PT PMA only for Indonesian operations. Your Indonesian stay permit must still match what you do day to day.

Can freelancers use E33G?

Official wording emphasises an employment contract with a company established outside Indonesia and income evidence. If you are a pure freelancer with client contracts only, get a document review before applying. Do not assume every freelance setup qualifies.

Is PT PMA required for Investor KITAS?

In practice, Investor KITAS routes are built around a qualifying Indonesian investment company and shareholding. Confirm the exact E28 index for your case on imigrasi.go.id.

Can I start on E33G and sell to local clients "just a little"?

No. Local sales and Indonesian-source compensation conflict with the remote-worker purpose. If local revenue matters, plan a company path instead.

Does PT PMA give me freehold land?

No. Company land rights and personal residence rights are separate from immigration status. Read the property and visa guide.

What if I only need meetings and market research?

Look at D12 or a suitable business visit visa before you incorporate.

Ready to choose a path?

Be honest about where the money is earned. That single fact usually decides the route.

Overseas income, no local company: apply for E33G
Local Indonesian business: start PT PMA planning
Still scouting: D12 pre-investment

Contact Bali Visa Hub with your nationality, business model, where clients pay you, and whether you plan to hire in Indonesia. We can help map the immigration side and coordinate company setup when you are ready.

This article provides general information, not legal, tax, or investment advice. Immigration indexes, capital rules, and licensing requirements can change. Confirm current requirements with Indonesian Immigration, the investment authorities for your KBLI, and qualified advisers before acting.