The Ukrainian diaspora in Bali is actively developing despite strict local laws and restrictions. Find out how Ukrainians are integrating, doing business and supporting each other on the island

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The Ukrainian diaspora in Bali is actively developing and is one of the most dynamic among the many foreign communities on the island. The events of 2022 became a catalyst for Ukrainian unity, both in Ukraine and far beyond its borders, and today, in the most remote corners of the world, many events are held to unite Ukrainians, support them psychologically, promote Ukrainian culture and business abroad, and help our army. Dmytro P., a volunteer and founder of the Ukrainian community in Bali, as well as the international platform for Ukrainians Miy Prostir, shares:

"We have held many meetings, from psychological support to large charity cultural festivals with up to 300 people. All these events had one goal: to help Ukrainian soldiers at the front and to support our community."

Photo: 24.02.2024 - the second anniversary of the full-scale invasion

Today, Ukrainians in Bali can attend both business and cultural events, as well as knowledge and experience exchange events. And despite strict local laws that prohibit the use of state symbols of other countries, large gatherings and rallies, the Ukrainian community continues to actively support each other and the Armed Forces of Ukraine by organizing events. As Dmytro explained to Visit Ukraine, this is made possible by gatherings in small groups that comply with all local requirements.

"If a person regularly organizes events, they may have questions from the migration service. Personally, we are monitored by the local police and migration service to ensure that we do not break the law, and because of this, we are currently limited in our activities and are looking for legal ways to resolve this issue. Nevertheless, in our chats and social networks, you can regularly see new events for 20-30 people for Ukrainians. They are either business, educational or entertainment. The main value we provide is the opportunity for Ukrainians and friends of Ukraine to get together, without russian or Belarusian citizens," he explains.

Photo: Ivan Kupala celebration

Why do Ukrainians choose Bali?

Bali is an island that attracts Ukrainians with its unique nature, culture, and favorable climate. Most Ukrainians come here for a temporary stay, but every year the number of expats who stay on the island is growing. Dmytro emphasizes that one of the main factors in choosing Bali is its exoticism, richness of cultural events, availability of housing for different budgets, and the opportunity to enjoy a variety of cuisines.

Peculiarities of living in Bali: what Ukrainians need to know

Living in Bali has its own peculiarities that should be taken into account by every Ukrainian planning to move. The most important thing is respect for local traditions, customs, and culture.

“For example, a photo in a swimsuit near a holy tree can lead to a loud scandal throughout the island,” says Dmytro.

In addition, Ukrainians are advised to be very responsible about the laws, from the rules of wearing helmets while riding a bike to employment and doing business. After all, local laws strictly regulate the opportunities for foreigners. In particular, only those who have the appropriate permits can work legally on the island, and Ukrainians are no exception. Regular checks by the migration service and police are common practice, so breaking the law can lead to deportation.

"It will be very difficult to find a legal job in Bali. The migration service constantly monitors tourists and regularly deports foreigners. This is especially true for photographers, yoga teachers, business speakers, and anyone who does not have permission to earn money on the island. Of course, there are “solicitors” who will say that they will protect you and help you get around the law, but I do not recommend using this. In general, there are a lot of visa changes in the country now, so there is hope that the situation will change and foreigners will be able to work legally with new visas," Dmytro emphasizes.

A separate problem is the large number of fraudsters who may try to deceive tourists when exchanging money, renting housing or other domestic issues.

"Unfortunately, because it is a tourist island, you have to be careful in all matters related to money. Even reposting information about a free room can be perceived as a pretext for blackmailing you and extorting money from you to avoid handing you over to the migration service for illegal work," explains Dmytro.

Integration and support for Ukrainians in Bali

Integration of Ukrainians in Bali is relatively easy thanks to an active Ukrainian community that is always ready to help newcomers. However, for a deeper immersion in local life, it is recommended to learn the local language and culture.

Photos: 10.07.24 - presentation of Ukrainian culture at the international festival in Bali PKB

At the same time, it should be noted that there is no official support for Ukrainians in Indonesia at the state level, so all assistance is provided only at the community level.

How to choose a place to live and organize everyday life?

Bali is a diverse island, and each neighborhood has its own peculiarities. Dmytro notes:

"Usually, the first thing people ask is where they should live. The island is not big, but it is actually very, very diverse. So my answer is always that you need to live for a while in each of the key locations and choose what is closer to you."

In addition, newcomers often ask about basic household items such as supermarkets, schools for children, and medical services. In response to these needs, the Ukrainian community is preparing to launch a Knowledge Base that will greatly simplify the life of Ukrainians on the island.

Read our previous article to find out how much real estate in Bali costs and how a foreigner can buy it.

Legalization in Bali: problems and solutions

Legal residence in Bali is relatively easy to arrange, as there are many different visa options available today. However, legalizing your work remains a challenge. The Indonesian government closely monitors the labor market to protect local workers, and that is why employment and service provision remain problematic for many Ukrainians.

In the conversation, Dmytro noted that not so long ago, a common way to obtain a long-term stay on the island was to obtain an investment visa that allowed you to start a business. However, this has now become a problem due to abuse by foreigners, which has led to tighter controls and frequent inspections.

"In fact, this visa was created for investors and only gave them the right to raise funds and open and run a company. But thousands of foreigners began to use this visa as a way to stay on the island for a long time, and for some it also became an excuse to work illegally and provide their services in Bali. This has become a serious problem for the island, and so now there are changes in the legislation to give more options to foreigners. But unfortunately, no quick changes are expected, and every six months there are large demonstration raids to check the documents and activities of foreigners. The biggest one is currently underway, and we already know about dozens of deportations," he explains.

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Business in Bali: opportunities, challenges and support

There are significant business opportunities in Bali, and more and more Ukrainians are daring to develop their own business on the island. Dmytro said that last year, a meeting of Ukrainian entrepreneurs was organized to discuss development strategies, and to the surprise of the organizers, almost 100 local Ukrainian businesses were on the list. The key to success is that Bali is a tourist island and there is a constant flow of tourists looking for accommodation, entertainment and good service. Therefore, the market is very large and promising.

"During this time, a number of businesses have closed, and more and more new ones are appearing. Indonesia now needs qualified personnel and funds for service development. Ukrainians have a significant competitive advantage and can find a way to implement their experience on the island. But you need to take into account the things I mentioned above. Namely, the legalization of your employment," he explains.

Continuing with the topic of supporting the Ukrainian diaspora in Bali, Dmytro noted that mutual support between businesses and the community is one of the key parts of the successful functioning of the Ukrainian community on the island.

Separately, the community has created a list of Ukrainian businesses and distributes it among Ukrainians. This not only helps to raise awareness of available services, but also contributes to the development of the local economy through cooperation within the diaspora. An updated version of this list is planned to be launched in September, as well as a new platform where Ukrainian entrepreneurs can place their services or shops to make it easier for Ukrainians to find services and goods.

It is important to note that the Ukrainian community in Bali supports only businesses that meet ethical standards and comply with local laws. This includes legal work on the island, fair working conditions, and respect for local traditions and culture.

In addition, Dmytro explained that business plays an important role in supporting the Ukrainian army.

"We involve businesses during important events for the community and Ukraine, and we have a number of businesses that have already become our friends and support our activities. The most recent was Independence Day, where we raised funds for an evacuation vehicle. ANTA Group and Liga Tennis supported us to cover the costs of the organization."

Photo: 25.08.24, Independence Day of Ukraine

Visit Ukraine also asked Anton Taranenko, CEO of ANTA Group, an international real estate developer with more than 10 years of experience in the real estate market, about business opportunities for Ukrainians in Bali and the support received by the community on the island.

When asked how interested Ukrainians are in starting a business in Bali, Anton Taranenko noted that in the development area, Ukrainians in the Balinese market are not only active, but are in fact the main competitors among themselves.

"Ukrainians in general are quite active in opening businesses in Bali. If we talk about real estate development, I see that there is a real boom here. And after analyzing the main competitors, we can also say that we are competing in Bali between Ukrainian teams," he says.

However, competition is not all that unites the Ukrainian business environment in Bali. According to Anton, it is a large community that constantly communicates, shares experiences and supports each other, both in work and social and cultural issues.

"We always support the initiatives of the Ukrainian community in Bali. If they contact us, we are happy to help them. As a rule, the assistance is directly allocated either for certain events, or to support some initiatives, or for consultations. Personally, ANTA Group is always open to advising Ukrainian businesses and businessmen who want to open or do something in Bali. That is, we are quite frank and have a fairly open format of communication for those who are interested in investing in Bali or starting a business, or some kind of cooperation with Indonesia as a country," he says.

Adapting to the local business environment: challenges and tips

Adapting to doing business in Bali can be challenging, and Ukrainians should be prepared for some difficulties. According to Dmytro, we have identified several key challenges that businesses most often face and tips on how to overcome them:

1. Hiring staff: Finding qualified employees focused on a high level of service can be a challenge. In addition, it is important to remember that locals do not tolerate disrespectful and abusive behavior. Raising your voice or other signs of disrespect can lead to an employee simply not showing up for work the next day. Therefore, it is critical to build good relationships and create a cohesive team for successful adaptation. Work on improving employees' skills in a gentle and friendly way.

2. Legalize the business and the activities of individual employees: Company owners usually have an investor visa, which allows them to invest and manage the business only. However, even a small step, such as posting a post about your company on Instagram, can be considered illegal work, such as advertising. In such cases, it is necessary to consult a visa agent to avoid problems and be sure of the legality of your actions.

3. Cultural and religious aspects: If a business contradicts local cultural or religious norms, it can cause a negative reaction from the community or even a media campaign against the company. For example, if the design of your complex violates the vision of the locals and goes against the rules and customs, or if the construction leads to the cutting down of trees, which are living and even sacred creatures for the Balinese, this can create serious problems. Consult with local experts to avoid such situations.

4. Frequent changes in legislation: Laws in Bali change very frequently, so you need a reliable lawyer who will be aware of all the changes and can help you adapt your business to the new conditions.

5. Social responsibility: In Bali, it is very important not only to do business, but also to create added value for the locals and your employees. It is important to show respect for the local culture, participate in social projects, and show respect for your employees. This can help in cases of misunderstandings and problems in the future.

Photo: Action from Ukrainians for local children on St. Nicholas Day

Anton Taranenko also shared his experience of starting his own business on the island and explained how best to approach the implementation of a business idea and start a company. According to him, there is no universal “methodology” for everyone, but in general, everything is quite simple when it comes to starting a company.

"You can open a company for yourself, this is the so-called PT-PMA, in which there can be a founder and a commissioner - they have two different positions. But it must be two people. It's not difficult to open a company, and for the first two years there are certain benefits, a very reduced interest rate. If I'm not mistaken, it's 2% of the turnover. And then there is a general taxation system, depending on what the company does. The only thing you need to understand is that there are different laws here, and you should have your own lawyer and financier, or sign an agreement with a financial company that will accompany you in all respects," he explains.

Prospects for business development in Bali

According to Dmitry, the prospects for business development in Bali look optimistic, especially in the service sector. Although legislation still restricts this area to preserve jobs, there have been positive changes recently. The authorities recognize the need to attract qualified personnel from abroad, which can give a powerful impetus to the development of services on the island. Currently, there are opportunities to create quality services and products, especially in areas such as education for children, beauty and grooming services, food and other usual services for expats. These niches will remain relevant for a long time.

Despite the legal restrictions, there are already examples of successful Ukrainian businesses in Bali that demonstrate the possibility of development in this environment. In addition, the Indonesian market in general is huge and requires qualified personnel, especially in large-scale projects such as the relocation of the capital to another island due to the threat of flooding. There are also unresolved problems with roads, logistics, and education in Bali, which opens up huge opportunities for large businesses.

In addition, there are many promising areas for developers on the island, which is why the number of development companies is only growing every year. Both experienced players, such as ANTA Group, and beginners who have not previously been involved in construction and are just discovering this niche come here. However, as Anton Taranenko explains, despite the fact that you can just “go in and build”, there are many nuances in this niche, in particular because “today there is no such strict regulation of building codes and the legislation does not work as systematically as, for example, European legislation”. That is why he advises to “look very carefully at what the developer is building, how he approaches his work, what technologies he uses, who his contractors are, and what the quality of construction is.”

By the way, if you are interested in investing in real estate in Bali, as well as the features, advantages and disadvantages of investing in 2024, read our previous article or go straight to the ANTA Group website to see the available options and prices, as well as get advice from a competent specialist.

So, if you are planning to move to Bali, try to spend at least a year on the island to feel its true spirit. After all, as the locals advise, two weeks or even a month will not give you a complete picture of life on this multifaceted island.

To learn more about the life of the Ukrainian community on the island, join the Bali Ukraine Telegram chats and Instagram, a place where you can get help and answers to your questions.

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