Indonesia (Bali) vs Malaysia: which digital nomad visa fits you?

Indonesia Remote Worker Visa and Malaysia DE Rantau Nomad Pass, side by side. Every figure comes from the official government source, with the date we last checked it.

Income: Malaysia is lower
Family: Indonesia: Not confirmed · Malaysia: Yes
Renewable: Indonesia: Yes · Malaysia: Yes

	IndonesiaRemote Worker Visa	MalaysiaDE Rantau Nomad Pass
Minimum income	≈ $5,000/mo$60,000 / year	≈ $2,000/mo$24,000 / year
Official rule	USD 60,000 per year salary/income	USD 24,000 per year (tech roles); USD 60,000 per year (non-tech)
Stay	1 year	3–12 months
Renewable	Yes	Yes
Family	Not confirmed	Yes
Fees	IDR 7,000,000 for the 1-year stay package (visa IDR 500,000 + category II verification IDR 2,000,000 + 1-year stay permit IDR 3,000,000 + re-entry permit IDR 1,500,000)	RM1,080 per applicant and RM540 per dependant (incl. 8% SST), non-refundable, paid to MDEC on application
Processing	5 working days after payment	Processed within 6–8 weeks of a complete application (MDEC)
Official source	imigrasi.go.id ↗Verified, checked Oct 23, 2026	mdec.my ↗Verified, checked Oct 23, 2026

USD figures are approximate (FX Oct 20, 2026). The official currency figure is what the authority applies.

Key differences

Malaysia is far cheaper to qualify for if you work in tech: DE Rantau asks for USD 24,000 a year for tech roles (USD 60,000 for non-tech). Indonesia’s E33G asks for USD 60,000 a year, plus a 3-month bank statement showing at least USD 2,000.
Indonesia is faster: 5 working days after payment, against 6–8 weeks for a complete DE Rantau application.
Indonesia’s E33G gives a 1-year stay that can be extended online. A DE Rantau pass lasts 3 to 12 months and can be renewed for a further 12 months (24 months maximum).
Fees: IDR 7,000,000 for Indonesia’s 1-year package; RM1,080 per applicant and RM540 per dependant for DE Rantau. Malaysia confirms family can come (a spouse can’t work); the Indonesian page we checked doesn’t confirm family rules. Bali has no visa of its own, so the E33G is the one for Bali.

Quick answers

Which needs less income, Indonesia or Malaysia?

Malaysia DE Rantau Nomad Pass has the lower bar: about $2,000 a month, versus about $5,000 for Indonesia Remote Worker Visa (a gap of roughly $3,000 a month at exchange rates of Oct 20, 2026). Malaysia DE Rantau Nomad Pass: USD 24,000 per year (tech roles); USD 60,000 per year (non-tech) (mdec.my, checked Oct 23, 2026). Indonesia Remote Worker Visa: USD 60,000 per year salary/income (imigrasi.go.id, checked Oct 23, 2026).

Which lets you stay longer, Indonesia or Malaysia?

Indonesia Remote Worker Visa: 1 year. The stay permit can be extended online. Malaysia DE Rantau Nomad Pass: 3–12 months. Renewable for a further 12 months (24 months maximum).

Can I bring my family on the Indonesia or Malaysia visa?

Indonesia Remote Worker Visa: not confirmed on the official page we checked. Malaysia DE Rantau Nomad Pass: yes, family members can be included.

How much do the Indonesia and Malaysia visas cost?

Indonesia Remote Worker Visa: IDR 7,000,000 for the 1-year stay package (visa IDR 500,000 + category II verification IDR 2,000,000 + 1-year stay permit IDR 3,000,000 + re-entry permit IDR 1,500,000). Malaysia DE Rantau Nomad Pass: RM1,080 per applicant and RM540 per dependant (incl. 8% SST), non-refundable, paid to MDEC on application.

Full official notes

Indonesia Remote Worker Visa

Also needs a 3-month bank statement with at least USD 2,000 and a work contract with a company outside Indonesia. No sponsor needed; apply at evisa.imigrasi.go.id. Processing takes 5 working days after payment, and the visa must be used within 90 days of issue. Stay permit extendable online.

Sources: imigrasi.go.id

Malaysia DE Rantau Nomad Pass

Renewable for a further 12 months (max 24 months). Spouse cannot work. Applications are processed within 6–8 weeks of a complete submission (longer if MDEC asks for more documents). Renewal can be filed up to 3 months before the pass expires; renewals take 6–8 weeks. A tourist pass cannot be converted to a DE Rantau pass. You do not need to be in Malaysia to apply. Source: MDEC official FAQ v9.

Sources: mdec.my · mdec.my

Not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the issuing authority before you apply. How we verify