In Bali, foreigners have been reminded of an important rule: having a bank account in Indonesia, on its own, does not entitle you to run a business on the island.
The reminder follows reports that some foreigners with tourist or social-visit status open accounts with local banks and use them for commercial activities. Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority (OJK) clarified that foreigners can indeed open accounts if they meet the requirements of a particular bank. However, when it comes to doing business, that alone is not enough.
In other words, you can open an account, but you cannot work through it without the correct immigration status and compliance with investment rules. To run a business legally in Indonesia, you need the appropriate documents and a valid basis for staying in the country.
A tourist or social-visit visa is suitable for holidays, short trips and some business meetings, but not for full-scale work or running a business. If a foreigner is effectively earning money in Indonesia or carrying out commercial activities here, the authorities will look not only at whether they have an account, but also at their visa and legal status.
Officially, the OJK allows certain accounts to be opened for foreigners, including under a simplified scheme for tourist accounts with a limited balance. However, the terms depend on the bank and the product: in practice, many major banks ask for documents confirming the person’s stay status.
Source: ojk.go.id
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