Bank accounts, cards and money in Bali: opening an account, e-wallets, QRIS, cash and money changers

This guide is for expats, digital nomads and long-stay travellers who need to handle money in Bali: opening a bank account, paying by QR code or card, using cash, and sending money in or out. It was checked against Bank Indonesia (the central bank), customs, immigration and government travel pages on 14 October 2026. One recent change: the cross-border QR payment system run by Bank Indonesia, known as QRIS, went live with China on 30 April 2026 and is now linked to six countries, with more under discussion. Rules and bank policies change often and differ between branches, so confirm details with the bank, Bank Indonesia or a licensed adviser. This is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice.

The short version

• No official source opened for this guide sets one fixed list of documents for foreigners. Banks apply their own identity checks, and answers differ by bank and by branch.
• Foreigners with a stay permit (KITAS or KITAP) have the clearest route to an account. Whether a tourist on a visit visa can open one is unclear from the sources.
• QRIS is the national QR code standard. Visitors can use it with some home-country apps, but only six countries are linked so far.
• Cash is still widely needed. Use licensed money changers, count the notes before leaving the counter and be careful at ATMs.
• Cash or payment instruments worth Rp 100 million or more must be reported to customs at the border.

Opening a bank account as a foreigner

Documents banks usually ask for

There is no single official checklist. The details below come from the published product pages of two large banks, which are not named here and are undated, so treat them as examples.

• Passport. The one document every page lists for foreigners.
• Stay permit. KITAS is the limited stay permit (officially ITAS) and KITAP is the permanent one (ITAP). One large bank's pages list it for foreigners domiciled in Indonesia, and its foreign currency savings page lists passport plus KITAS or KITAP for foreigners.
• NPWP (tax number). The same bank lists the NPWP for Indonesian citizens only and says a customer without one can sign a statement letter. Another bank's account-opening FAQ, written for Indonesian citizens opening an account online, lists the NPWP as well. Whether a foreign resident is asked for one depends on the bank.
• Domicile letter. UK guidance says a foreigner must register at the local civil registration office after arrival, which issues a residence certificate (SKTT). Some branches may ask for it or for proof of address. The bank pages opened did not list it, so ask the branch.
• Opening deposit. One bank's savings accounts list minimum initial deposits between Rp 50,000 and Rp 500,000, depending on the product, and another bank lists Rp 100,000 for its standard account. Its foreign currency account lists USD 100 or SGD 200. All of these are undated figures, so check the current amount.

Can a tourist on a visit visa open an account?

The sources differ, and none answers the question plainly.

• One bank's page says individual customers can be Indonesian or foreign citizens with an identity card, and lists "other documents" for foreigners who are not domiciled in Indonesia, pointing to anti-money laundering guidelines without saying which documents. It does not state plainly that non-domiciled foreigners can open an account.
• Another bank's FAQ limits online account opening to Indonesian citizens with an e-KTP identity card.
• The official immigration pages for the tourist visa and the second home visas say nothing about bank accounts. Visa applications ask for a bank statement showing at least USD 2,000 over three months, but the pages opened do not say it must come from an Indonesian bank.

No official source opened says a visitor cannot open an account, and none says they can. In practice the decision sits with the bank under its own customer identification rules. The financial services authority, OJK, explains that Indonesian banks apply customer due diligence as part of anti-money laundering rules. Expect different answers from different branches, and expect a short visit to be treated differently from a one-year permit.

Account types

Type	What it is	What the sources show
Rupiah savings (tabungan)	Everyday account in rupiah, usually with a debit card	Documents as above; deposits and monthly fees are bank-specific
Foreign currency account	Holds currencies such as USD or SGD	One bank lists passport plus KITAS or KITAP for foreigners and an opening deposit of USD 100 or SGD 200 (undated)
Digital bank or app account	Account opened and run in an app	One bank limits online opening to Indonesian citizens; another offers app opening but lists extra documents for foreigners who do not live in Indonesia
E-wallet	Prepaid e-money app, not a bank account	See the next section

A rupiah account is the practical choice for rent, utilities and local card payments, because local bills are in rupiah and Indonesian ATMs pay out rupiah. A foreign currency account suits savings in dollars, but it is not needed for everyday spending.

E-wallets

GoPay, OVO, DANA, ShopeePay and LinkAja are e-wallets: prepaid apps that hold a balance, pay QR codes, top up from banks or shops and transfer to other users. They are issued by licensed providers and are not bank accounts.

• Balance limits. Bank Indonesia's page on e-wallets states a maximum balance of Rp 10,000,000. One provider's FAQ (undated) lists two tiers: a basic tier holding up to Rp 2,000,000 and an upgraded tier holding up to Rp 20,000,000. These figures conflict, and the Bank Indonesia page does not split unverified from verified accounts, so check the limit in the app you use.
• Verifying as a foreigner. The provider pages opened for this guide did not say whether a passport or KITAS is accepted for verification, or how limits differ for unverified and verified accounts. That could not be confirmed. The in-app help and customer service are the source to trust, and the rules can change.
• Problems. Bank Indonesia says to report a problem to the provider first and, if unsatisfied, to escalate to its contact centre, BI Bicara (131 within Indonesia, 1500131 from abroad, or bicara@bi.go.id).

QRIS: paying by QR code

QRIS (Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard) is one QR standard set by Bank Indonesia that lets a single code accept payments from any licensed app. Bank Indonesia sets a maximum of Rp 10,000,000 per transaction, and the issuing app may add its own daily or monthly limits. Bank Indonesia also sets the merchant fee: micro businesses pay 0 percent on payments up to Rp 500,000 and 0.3 percent above that, and small, medium and large businesses pay 0.7 percent. That is separate from anything your own app may charge.

Cross-border QRIS lets visitors pay at Indonesian QRIS merchants by scanning with their home country's payment app. Bank Indonesia's page lists Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, South Korea and China. News reports in September 2026 said the system is linked to six countries, representing only about 40 percent of international arrivals, and that Bank Indonesia has signed or is discussing links with others, including Timor-Leste and Hong Kong. For a visitor from another country, the practical options are cash, a card or an Indonesian e-wallet. The Bank Indonesia page says conversion is automatic and the home account is debited while the merchant receives rupiah, but it does not publish a rate or any fee for the payer, so check what your own app charges.

Cash

Notes and coins

Bank Indonesia's gallery shows paper notes of Rp 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000 and coins of Rp 100, 200, 500 and 1,000, all in the 2016 series. Carry smaller notes for small purchases, because small vendors may struggle to change a Rp 100,000 note.

Counterfeit and old notes

Bank Indonesia states it is the only body that decides whether a note is genuine. If someone hands you a suspect note, its guidance is to refuse politely, ask for a different note, suggest the person checks it at a bank or police station, and assume good faith because the person may be an unknowing victim. If you discover a suspect note later, keep it as it is and report it with the physical note to a bank, the police or a Bank Indonesia office. Bank Indonesia also withdraws some older and commemorative notes and coins and allows exchange at commercial banks or its offices within 10 years of the withdrawal date.

Licensed money changers

Money changers need a licence from Bank Indonesia. The licensed category is called Kegiatan Usaha Penukaran Valuta Asing, usually shortened to KUPVA, with KUPVA BB meaning the non-bank type. Bank Indonesia's public licensing directory lists money changers with a status filter (licensed or revoked) and a QR validation page for each entry. In 2022 Bank Indonesia's Bali office said that tourists should confirm an outlet's permits, look for the authorised money changer sign, Bank Indonesia logos and certificates, and a QR code that shows the licence when scanned. It reported 250 licensed outlets in Bali, up from 136 in 2021. Be wary of rates far above the going rate.

Avoiding short-change tricks

Two Bali Sun reports describe how short-changing has happened. In 2022 a couple exchanging USD 700 at a Kuta outlet found their cash was about Rp 2.2 million short and received no receipt. Bank Indonesia and the local enforcement unit later found a dozen or more Kuta outlets operating without up-to-date permits. In 2024 a tourist in Sanur described a teller laying out the correct amount, sweeping the notes out of sight and handing over fewer. Practical steps from those reports:

• Count the cash again on the counter, in front of the teller, before leaving. A legitimate teller should not object.
• Check that a current licence is displayed, and apply the same counting rule at banks and airports.
• Ask for a receipt.
• If something is wrong, report it immediately to the police or the local village security (pecalang).

The UK Foreign Office adds that bag-snatching is frequently reported in Bali and that scams have risen at tattoo parlours, nail salons and spas, where fees should be agreed in advance.

ATMs, cards and fees

• Acceptance. Canadian advice says credit cards are not widely accepted outside large urban centres and tourist areas, so carry cash for remote areas.
• Card fraud. Canadian advice describes a very high rate of credit and debit card fraud in Indonesia, including online fraud. Its precautions: use ATMs in public areas or inside a bank or business, avoid card readers with an irregular or unusual feature, cover the keypad when entering a PIN and check statements for unauthorised transactions. It also warns that criminals sometimes force people to withdraw cash from ATMs.
• Limits and fees. The limit on each withdrawal depends on the ATM and the card, so read the limit on screen. No reliable source for typical per-transaction figures was found. One large bank's undated fee table shows a daily ATM cash limit of Rp 15,000,000 for its own debit cards and fees of Rp 7,500 to Rp 20,000 for its customers withdrawing at other banks' ATMs. Your own bank's foreign transaction and ATM fees come on top for a foreign card, so check them before relying on a card.
• Dynamic currency conversion. If a terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, you are being offered dynamic currency conversion. A reference source explains that the markup over the wholesale rate can be higher than your card issuer's own conversion and that card network rules require the option to be disclosed. Choosing the local currency, the rupiah, usually avoids paying that markup, though your issuer may still add a foreign transaction fee.
• Nyepi. In 2022 the Bank Indonesia Bali office announced that ATM services would be switched off for the Nyepi period (internet and mobile banking continued, and bank offices closed). Nyepi also closes the airport for a day. Check the dates each year and withdraw cash beforehand.

Sending and receiving money

There are four common routes: a bank-to-bank international transfer, a specialist remittance provider, a card or app-based transfer, and cash. The factors that matter are the total cost (the fee plus the exchange rate margin), the speed, the limits and whether the provider is licensed.

• Bank Indonesia licenses payment service providers, and its public directory lists them by category, alongside money changers. Check a provider there before sending a large amount.
• Banks publish fee tables. One large bank's undated table shows outward remittances charged as a percentage with a minimum and a maximum, and fixed fees for transfers to other banks. Ask the bank for the full cost before sending.
• Bank Indonesia's regulation on the money and foreign exchange markets (PBI 6/2024) includes the concept of an underlying transaction and rules on prohibitions and limits for foreign exchange dealings. Thresholds could not be confirmed from the pages opened. Banks may ask for the purpose or supporting documents for large transfers, so keep invoices, contracts or salary proof.
• For a complaint about a transfer or e-wallet, report it to the provider first and then to BI Bicara.

Cash at the border

Indonesian customs says travellers carrying cash or payment instruments (cheques, travellers' cheques, promissory notes or giro slips) worth Rp 100,000,000 or more must report them to the officer, in rupiah or foreign currency. Failure to report, or reporting incorrectly, can lead to administrative sanctions. There is a point where the customs pages are unclear: one page also mentions foreign banknotes at an amount equivalent to Rp 1 billion, while another page says cash worth Rp 100,000,000 or more triggers inspection, including foreign currency. Declare anything at or near Rp 100,000,000 in equivalent value and confirm the current rule with customs. For air and sea arrivals the customs declaration is made in the All Indonesia arrival form, which can be filled from three days before arrival and is free of charge. Keep the QR code to show the officer.

Tax basics for residents

An NPWP is the Indonesian tax identification number. According to a professional tax summary for Indonesia (reviewed in June 2026), an individual is a tax resident if they reside in Indonesia, are present for more than 183 days in any 12-month period, or are present during a fiscal year and intend to reside. The annual individual return is due by the end of the third month after the calendar year, and a late filing carries an administrative penalty of Rp 100,000. UK guidance notes that the UK has a double taxation agreement with Indonesia and suggests professional advice on paying tax. Whether a bank asks a foreign resident for an NPWP varies by bank.

Where to get it done

• Opening an account: a bank branch (cabang), at the customer service desk. Ask whether the branch opens accounts for foreigners (WNA) and which documents it needs.
• Changing money: a bank, or a licensed money changer found through Bank Indonesia's licensing directory.
• Stay permit and residence certificate: the immigration office (kantor imigrasi) for the permit, and the local civil registration office for the residence certificate.
• Tax number and tax questions: the tax office or the tax authority's online service, or a licensed tax adviser.
• E-wallet or transfer problems: the provider's help centre, then BI Bicara.
• Cash declarations: customs officers at the airport.
• Scams and theft: the police, and your bank immediately for card fraud.