Bali is preparing to tighten financial checks on foreign holidaymakers at the same time as it celebrates a historic tourism milestone, with officials confirming the island welcomed more than 7 million international visitors in 2025.

The new fund screening requirement for international arrivals is being framed as part of a broader push to manage overtourism, curb unruly behavior and ensure that visitors can support themselves while on the island.

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New Fund Screening Rules Set To Roll Out For Foreign Visitors

Indonesian immigration and tourism authorities are in the final stages of preparing a financial screening mechanism that would require international visitors to Bali to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds for the duration of their stay.

While Indonesia has long required travelers to be able to support themselves, officials say the new measure will standardize and more actively enforce these checks at Bali’s main entry points, particularly I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.

The requirement is expected to operate as a more formalized proof-of-funds check, potentially asking tourists to show access to a minimum amount of money through bank statements, credit limits or digital banking apps.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact minimum threshold, but early discussions have mentioned figures calibrated to average daily spending needs over a standard holiday, rather than a one-size-fits-all amount.

Immigration officials in Jakarta and Denpasar have signaled that fund screening will be applied selectively, focusing on cases where tourists raise concern, for example when arriving without a clear itinerary, return ticket or accommodation booking.

The measure is also intended to give officers an additional tool to address visitors who arrive on tourist visas but attempt to work illegally or engage in activities that violate the terms of their stay.

Local policymakers argue that the fund checks are not designed to discourage genuine tourists, but rather to ensure that Bali continues to attract visitors who contribute positively to the economy and can comply with local regulations.

The move follows a series of high-profile incidents involving foreigners who overstayed visas, took on unregistered work or resorted to fundraising online after running out of money.

A Record Year: More Than 7 Million Tourists In 2025

The new controls come as Bali closes the books on its busiest tourism year on record. According to data presented by Bali’s governor at the start of January 2026, the island recorded around 7.05 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2025, based on airport passenger counts up to 31 December.

That figure excludes tens of thousands of additional visitors who arrived on cruise ships, suggesting the true total of international guests was even higher.

The 2025 result represents an increase of more than 11 percent compared with 2024, when Bali welcomed roughly 6.3 million foreign visitors by air and around 53,000 by sea. It also surpasses the island’s previous pre-pandemic record of 6.27 million foreign arrivals in 2019.

Officials say the rebound confirms that Bali has not lost its allure despite recent controversies over tourist misbehavior and new taxes on visitors.

Monthly data from Statistics Indonesia and the Bali Hotels Association show that international arrivals climbed steadily through the year, with July 2025 standing out as the strongest month.

In July alone, the island received about 697,000 foreign visitors, a jump of more than 9 percent compared with June and more than 11 percent year on year.

By the end of September, year-to-date foreign arrivals had already passed 5.29 million, putting Bali firmly on track to exceed 6.5 million visitors and eventually pass the 7 million mark by December.

Tourism leaders say the strong 2025 numbers reflect both pent-up post-pandemic demand and sustained airline capacity into Bali from key markets in Australia, Asia and Europe.

The island also benefited from geopolitical and climate factors, including heatwaves in parts of Europe that encouraged long-haul travelers to seek tropical destinations with established tourism infrastructure.

Why Bali Is Tightening Financial Checks Now

The decision to formalize fund screening comes against a backdrop of rising concern about the side effects of the tourism boom.

Local authorities have been grappling with an uptick in reports of foreign nationals working without permits, setting up unregistered businesses, or relying on social media crowdfunding when they run out of cash.

In several well-publicized cases, visitors who arrived with minimal savings were found sleeping rough or violating local norms in search of money.

Officials and community leaders argue that such situations strain public services and can damage the island’s image. They also say insufficiently funded visitors are more likely to break rules, from traffic laws to visa conditions, in order to stay longer than they can afford.

The fund check is intended to act as a preventative measure, ensuring that travelers can cover basic expenses like accommodation, food, insurance and onward travel.

The move aligns with Indonesia’s broader effort to promote what it calls “quality tourism” rather than purely chasing higher arrival numbers. In recent years, Bali has introduced a tourist levy, published detailed dos and don’ts for visitors, and stepped up enforcement on traffic violations and behavior at sacred sites.

Requiring proof of funds fits into this shift toward attracting guests who are more financially prepared and respectful of local regulations.

Tourism officials insist that for the vast majority of visitors, the change will be barely noticeable. Travelers who arrive with confirmed hotel bookings, return tickets and evidence of normal spending capacity are unlikely to face lengthy checks.

However, the policy is being communicated in advance through airlines, travel agents and consular advisories so that tourists are not caught off guard at the immigration counter.

How Fund Screening Could Work For Incoming Tourists

While final technical guidelines are still being drafted, officials and industry sources indicate that Bali’s new financial screening will likely piggyback on existing immigration procedures.

Travelers could be asked at random or under specific circumstances to show they have access to funds commensurate with the length and purpose of their stay, similar to rules applied in parts of Europe and other Asian destinations.

Acceptable proof may include recent bank statements, credit card limits, digital banking apps, or letters from sponsors in Indonesia with verifiable financial capacity.

For many travelers, proof of prepaid accommodation, tour packages or travel insurance may also help demonstrate that core expenses are covered.

Authorities are expected to issue a benchmark amount per day as a reference, although officers will retain discretion based on each case.

Industry stakeholders are urging the government to prioritize clarity and consistency in implementation so that the rule does not lead to arbitrary treatment or long queues at immigration.

Hotels and tour operators have called for clear public communication, preferably in multiple languages, laying out the documentation that travelers should carry and how checks will be conducted.

Immigration sources have indicated that travelers who are unable to demonstrate adequate funds could be refused entry or asked to shorten their planned length of stay.

However, officials privately acknowledge that enforcement will need to be balanced with Bali’s reliance on tourism income and the island’s reputation as a welcoming destination. Training for frontline officers is expected to be key to avoiding unnecessary disputes or confusion.

Who Is Visiting: Key Markets Driving Bali’s 7 Million Arrivals

The surge to more than 7 million international arrivals in 2025 was powered by a familiar roster of source markets, led by Australia.

Statistics from the Bali Hotels Association and Bali’s provincial statistics office show Australian tourists accounted for nearly a quarter of all international visitors to the island across the year.

From January to July 2025 alone, more than 900,000 Australians flew into Bali, and the total for the full year is estimated to have surpassed 1.3 million.

India and China continued to consolidate their roles as Bali’s largest Asian markets. Between January and July 2025, each contributed more than 300,000 arrivals, with India slightly ahead, and both markets maintaining double-digit growth compared with 2024.

South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Germany, Malaysia and Japan rounded out the top 10 source countries, together accounting for a sizeable share of the island’s visitor base.

July 2025’s record monthly arrivals illustrate the diversity of Bali’s inbound tourism. Australian travelers led with more than 160,000 arrivals that month, followed by tourists from China, India, France and South Korea.

European visitors, in particular, showed robust growth, with French arrivals jumping more than 60 percent compared with June as summer holidays drove demand for long-haul beach and cultural trips.

Tourism analysts say this diversified portfolio of source markets has made Bali more resilient to regional economic shocks.

Although domestic Indonesian tourism softened in 2025 compared with the previous year, weaker local demand was more than offset by the continued recovery in international markets and increased airline capacity from hubs such as Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Dubai.

Impact On Travelers, Businesses And The Local Community

For most holidaymakers, Bali’s new fund screening requirement is likely to translate into a simple addition to their travel preparation checklist: carrying evidence that they have enough money to cover their trip.

Travel agencies and online booking platforms are already advising customers to save bank statements on their phones, keep credit cards handy and ensure they have confirmed accommodation and return flights.

Some tourism businesses have expressed concern that the policy could deter budget travelers or backpackers who traditionally stay in guesthouses, eat at local warungs and spend on smaller-scale experiences.

However, other operators argue that visitors who arrive with insufficient funds often generate more problems than benefits, and that the island may ultimately be better served by guests who spend slightly more but tread more lightly.

Local communities, especially in popular areas such as Canggu, Ubud and Seminyak, have become increasingly vocal about the pressures of mass tourism. Traffic jams, noise complaints, waste management challenges and cultural insensitivity have all featured in recent public debates.

Many residents support stronger regulation, including financial checks, if it results in more respectful and responsible tourism.

For Bali’s government, the challenge is to strike a balance between maintaining the island’s appeal as a relatively accessible destination and steering it away from a race to the bottom on price.

The combination of a tourist levy, behavior guidelines and fund screening suggests that authorities are testing a new model: slightly higher barriers to entry, in exchange for more sustainable and manageable tourism growth.

Fund Screening In The Context Of Bali’s Wider Tourism Reforms

The financial screening initiative is only the latest in a series of measures introduced or strengthened in Bali over the past two years.

Authorities have rolled out a regional tourism tax payable by foreign visitors, tightened rules on foreigners renting motorcycles, and created dedicated task forces to monitor behavior in hotspots like Kuta, Canggu and Ubud.

Behavioral guidelines, distributed in multiple languages at the airport and through hotels, instruct visitors on appropriate dress at temples, respectful conduct in residential areas and the importance of not disturbing religious ceremonies.

Officials have not hesitated to deport foreigners who violate local laws or customs in ways that attract widespread criticism from residents or on social media.

At the same time, the island’s infrastructure is under increasing strain from record visitor numbers. Traffic congestion on key routes, pressure on water resources and waste management issues have prompted calls from planners and environmental groups for a more fundamental rethinking of the tourism model.

Some experts argue that simply adding new rules without addressing the underlying volume of visitors may not be enough to protect Bali’s environment and culture.

Against this backdrop, the requirement for proof of funds is viewed by many as a relatively moderate intervention. It does not cap arrival numbers, but it does help authorities filter out cases where visitors might be at higher risk of getting into difficulty.

Combined with ongoing campaigns to promote higher-value tourism segments such as wellness, culture and sustainable stays, Bali’s leaders hope the policy will nudge the island further toward a more balanced future.

FAQ

Q1. What is Bali’s new fund screening requirement for international visitors?
The fund screening requirement is a plan to ask some arriving foreign travelers to show that they have sufficient financial resources to cover their stay in Bali, such as through bank statements, credit cards or proof of prepaid services. It formalizes existing rules that visitors must be able to support themselves while in Indonesia.

Q2. When will the fund screening policy start?
Authorities have signaled that implementation will begin following the finalization of technical guidelines by immigration and tourism bodies. While an exact start date has not been publicly fixed, travelers planning trips in 2026 are being advised to carry proof of funds in anticipation of the new checks.

Q3. How much money will I need to show to enter Bali?
The government has not yet announced a fixed minimum amount, but officials have indicated that any benchmark will be linked to average daily living and travel costs. Travelers should be prepared to demonstrate access to funds that reasonably match the length and nature of their visit, including accommodation, food, local transport and onward travel.

Q4. Will every tourist be asked to prove their funds?
No. Immigration officers are expected to apply financial checks selectively, based on risk indicators such as missing accommodation details, one-way tickets, inconsistent travel plans or other factors that raise concern. Many visitors with complete documentation and normal travel profiles may not be screened at all.

Q5. What happens if I cannot show sufficient funds on arrival?
If an officer is not satisfied that you can support yourself during your stay, you may be refused entry or asked to adjust your planned length of stay. In some cases, travelers might be allowed to contact family, employers or sponsors to provide additional documentation, but this is at the discretion of immigration authorities.

Q6. How many international tourists visited Bali in 2025?
Official figures presented by Bali’s governor indicate that the island welcomed about 7.05 million foreign tourists in 2025 via air, the highest number in its history. This figure does not include additional visitors arriving by cruise ship, which would push the overall total even higher.

Q7. Which countries sent the most visitors to Bali in 2025?
Australia remained Bali’s largest single source of international visitors, followed by India and China. Other key markets included South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Germany, Malaysia and Japan, reflecting Bali’s broad global appeal.

Q8. Will the new rules affect visa-free or visa-on-arrival travelers differently?
The fund screening requirement is expected to apply to all categories of short-stay foreign visitors, regardless of whether they enter under visa-free arrangements, visa on arrival or e-visa schemes. The type of visa you hold does not remove the underlying obligation to be able to support yourself financially.

Q9. How can I best prepare for possible fund checks when flying to Bali?
Travelers should carry recent bank statements or digital banking access, valid credit or debit cards, confirmed accommodation bookings, return or onward tickets and, ideally, travel insurance details. Keeping digital copies on a phone or tablet as well as having key documents printed can make any inspection quicker and less stressful.

Q10. Is Bali trying to reduce the number of tourists with this policy?
Bali’s government says its goal is not to cut visitor numbers, but to improve the quality and sustainability of tourism. The island has just experienced a record year with more than 7 million foreign arrivals, and officials argue that financial checks will help ensure that incoming visitors are better prepared, more respectful of local rules and less likely to encounter serious difficulties during their stay.