Bali Tourists May Need Proof Of Funds

• Bali may require tourists to show proof of funds by 2026 for "quality tourism".
• Rule aims to attract financially secure tourists who respect local culture.
• Overtourism strains Bali, leading to visa misuse & environmental issues.

If Bali is on your travel list, there’s a new rule you may want to keep an eye on. The island’s government is planning a regulation that could require

foreign tourists to show proof of sufficient funds before entering Bali, part of a larger push to promote what officials are calling “quality tourism.” The proposal, which is currently in draft form, is expected to be sent to the regional legislature and could come into effect sometime in 2026.

New Rules That Bali Is Planning To Enforce

According to the draft regulation, foreign tourists may be asked to show:

• Bank statements from the last three months
• Details of their length of stay
• Information about planned activities
• A return ticket, as is already required

The idea is not to set a fixed minimum bank balance. Instead, officials would assess whether a traveller has enough funds based on how long they plan to stay and what they intend to do in Bali. For example, someone visiting for a short holiday would not be judged by the same standards as a traveller planning a long stay with multiple activities.

Why Is Bali Introducing This Rule?

Bali Governor Wayan Koster has said the aim is to move away from mass tourism and focus on visitors who are financially prepared and respectful of local laws and culture. “One aspect of quality tourism is the amount of money in visitors’ savings accounts over the past three months,” he said at a recent tourism event in Gianyar.

Officials believe financially secure tourists are more likely to spend on local hotels, restaurants, transport, markets and experiences—directly supporting Bali’s small businesses and local economy.

Bali Dealing With Overtourism

Concerns about overtourism have been mounting in Bali in recent years. Its reopening after the pandemic was a significant milestone. The island’s economy surged with travellers. But with it came a surge in tourism-related development, resulting in increased traffic, pollution, and strain on local resources. Data from Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism shows that foreign arrivals in Bali have exceeded pre-pandemic levels. This has severely affected the infrastructure and led to environmental degradation. In 2025 alone, over 7 million foreign tourists arrived in Bali by air, the highest in the island’s history.

However, the surge has also brought challenges. Authorities have raised concerns over unruly tourist behaviour, visa misuse, violations of local laws and customs and increased pressure on law enforcement. Last month, Bali Immigration deported Bonnie Blue for allegedly misusing her visa after authorities said she planned to film adult content on the island, an activity not permitted under her entry permit.