Moving from Amsterdam to Bali, without the guesswork

The 90-day timeline

Run it backwards from the flight date. Every task is the Netherlands to Indonesia version of the sequence, not a generic checklist.

1. Days 0 to 30

   Decide and file

   • Pick the visa route into Indonesia: employment sponsorship, self-employment permit, investor or family route. The route sets every deadline after this one.
   • Legalise diplomas, birth and marriage certificates for use in Indonesia. Check whether an apostille is accepted or full embassy legalisation is needed, and start here: it is often the slowest step.
   • Get freight quotes Amsterdam to Bali, sea and air. Sea is cheaper and 4 to 8 weeks slower.
   • Scan every document into one folder; you will upload each of them at least twice.

2. Days 30 to 60

   Cut the ties at home

   • Give notice on your rental or set the sale in motion.
   • Book the one-way flight and arrange health cover that starts the day you land in Bali.
   • Tell the Netherlands tax and registration authorities you are leaving: residency, not address, decides what you owe.
   • Sell or export the car, freeze or port the pension.

3. Days 60 to 90

   Land and activate

   • Entry formalities, medical and biometrics inside the first week where the visa route requires them.
   • Get the Indonesia residence or ID card, then open a local bank account: nothing else works before that.
   • Sign the rental, register the address, connect utilities.
   • Convert or re-sit the driving licence, and register with a local doctor.