A 55-year-old Australian man has been deported from Bali after leading meditation sessions at a yoga retreat while staying in Indonesia on a Visa on Arrival (VOA). Singaraja Immigration classified the activity as unauthorized work and also recommended that he be barred from re-entering Indonesia.
The “7 Day Inner Growth” retreat took place from July 27 to August 2 at Villa Boreh in Tejakula, northern Bali, in Buleleng Regency. The Australian national was deported on August 6.
He had entered Indonesia on a Visa on Arrival, which was valid until August 24. The VOA is intended for tourism and private visits and does not permit employment or other work-related activities.
The Australian came to the attention of authorities during immigration checks targeting foreign nationals across three regencies — Buleleng, Karangasem and Jembrana. In late July, inspections were carried out in Lovina, Amed and Medewi. In addition to being deported, he was banned from entering Indonesia.
This is not the first case of its kind in Buleleng. Earlier, two yoga instructors working at a villa in the same regency — a 48-year-old Indian national and a 44-year-old Singaporean national — also faced deportation.
During the first half of 2026, Bali authorities deported 342 foreign nationals for violations including overstaying, working without the required permits and breaching the conditions of their stay.
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