Foreign Community — Bali's Outsiders, Koreans Included
Australian, Russian, Chinese, and Korean diaspora, the Korean community, visa system (VOA, KITAS, retirement, Nomad), children's education, conflicts and scams.
As of 2024, the foreign residents of Bali (KITAS·KITAP holders) are estimated at roughly 50,000. Of these: over 10,000 Australians, 7,000+ Russians and Ukrainians (after the 2022 invasion), 3,000–5,000 Koreans, several thousand each of Chinese, Indians, and Americans. Each group has its own position, role, and frictions in Bali; the practicalities of visas, taxation, and children's schooling also differ by nationality.
This Part takes a local observer's view of the outsiders living in Bali. For Korean readers, it functions as an article that places your own position on the map.
Chapters in this Part
- 8.1 Global Diaspora — Australians in Bali (since the 1970s, Jimbaran and Seminyak), Russians and Ukrainians (surging since the 2022 war, Canggu), Chinese capital (southern hotels), Indians (yoga, Ayurveda)
- 8.2 Korean Community — History (since the 1990s), scale and distribution (Legian, Sanur, Ubud), Korean businesses (restaurants, travel agencies, guesthouses), Korean churches, schools, eateries
- 8.3 Visa System — VOA (visa on arrival, 30+30 days), B211A (social/tourist), KITAS (semi-residency), Silver (retirement), Nomad/Investor (newly added 2024), rights and taxes per visa tier
- 8.4 Children & Education — International school distribution (Green School, Sanur, Kuta), costs (USD 20,000–50,000/year), progression and returning home
- 8.5 Conflicts & Scams — Real estate scams (Nominee, Hak Pakai traps), police and immigration crackdowns, the limits of help from the Korean consulate or police
The honesty of this Part
This Part is neither a boast for foreigners nor a criticism of foreigners — it aims for an objective description of foreign society in Bali. It also takes on uncomfortable questions:
- Why do first-generation foreigners (Australians) and second-generation (Russians) clash in Canggu?
- What reputation does the Korean community hold within Bali?
- Is the Nominee real-estate contract legal — or a scam?
- Which kinds of incidents the Korean consulate cannot help with
If a blog shows my Bali life, the Part 8 of the Field Notes shows where we foreigners sit within Bali.
This Part is in progress. Chapters on Koreans, visas, education, and conflicts will follow.
