Did you know that foreigners in Indonesia are not allowed to raise funds for animal treatment or organize collections to deliver gifts to an orphanage? For each of these good deeds, you can receive a deportation stamp and end up on the list of those banned from entering Bali. That is, unless the visitor has a special visa allowing this activity - C6.
An illustrative case occurred at the end of May. The Bali Immigration Office deported a 39-year-old Swiss citizen for illegally raising funds for homeless dogs. He arrived on the island with a tourist visa and began volunteering without official permission. During a check, it was found that he was not affiliated with any registered charitable organization. Officers deemed this activity as fraud, suspecting he could use the funds for personal purposes.
"We want to maintain safety and order in the region and ensure that every foreigner respects the laws and regulations in Indonesia," said R. Haryo Sakti, head of the Denpasar Immigration Office.
Many visitors believe that participating in charitable projects is possible with a tourist visa. However, Indonesia has strict rules on this matter: to engage in volunteering activities and especially in fundraising, a special C6 visa is required.
The C6 visa is a single-entry visa intended for participation in social, humanitarian, and volunteering projects. It allows one to stay in Indonesia for up to 60 days with the possibility of two extensions, each for 60 days. In total, one can remain in the country for up to 180 days after entering once.
This visa allows participation in social and humanitarian projects, traveling to tourist spots, and visiting friends and family. However, working, providing services, or re-entering the country after leaving is not allowed for C6 holders.
Having this visa confirms the foreigner's connection with a governmental or private charitable organization - a guarantee letter is included in the list of required documents for the application. Therefore, in legal terms, this provides proof that the person is not engaging in fraud and is not collecting money from concerned islanders under false pretenses.
The C6 visa for volunteers is applied for through the official Indonesian Immigration website:
- On the main page of the official Indonesian immigration website, click 'Apply'.
- On the opened page, select the applicant's nationality.
- In the 'Purpose of My Visit' section, choose General, Family or Social.
- In the purpose subsection, select social, and then in the 'I want to explore and choose visa' section, select C6 – Social, Humanitarian, and Volunteering.
Full list of documents required for a C6 visa:
- Passport valid for at least 6 months.
- Bank statement for the last 3 months with a balance of at least 2000 USD.
- Recent color photo.
- Guarantee letter from the host organization.
- Letter from a governmental or private organization describing the planned activity.
- Residential address in Indonesia.
Strict Indonesian rules regarding volunteering are also highlighted by the immigration office due to the recent sharp increase in the number of foreigners violating visa regulations.
According to recent data, from January to April 2024, 1610 cases of visa violations were reviewed. Over the same period in 2025, there were already 2201 cases, representing a 36.71% increase. So, if you feel the urge to help someone and engage in charity, make sure you are not breaking local laws.
You can contact an agency to apply for a C6 visa. The company Legal Indonesia has experience with this type of visa and can assist with the process from document preparation to obtaining the visa.
Sources: evisa.emigrasi, Antara.
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