Bali's Rules for Tourists: What Gets People Fined or Deported

Bali has an official rulebook for foreign visitors, issued by the governor in 2025, and it is more specific than most travelers expect. It covers how to dress and behave at temples, how to pay for things, how to ride a scooter and where you may stay. The rules are enforced under Indonesian law, so read them before you go.

The rulebook and where it comes from

Bali's current rules for foreign tourists are set out in Governor's Circular No. 7 of 2025, titled "New Order for Foreign Tourists While in Bali". The provincial government published it in March 2025 with a list of obligations, a list of prohibitions, and a statement that violations will be dealt with firmly under Indonesian law.

Why older lists you find online are out of date

Search results for Bali's tourist rules are full of 2023 news stories about an earlier list of "dos and don'ts". That list was real, but the 2025 circular is the current text and it adds obligations the older one did not have, including rules on payment, licensed accommodation and transport.

Rules at temples and sacred places

The temple rules in Bali's 2025 circular limit where a foreign visitor may go, and not only how to dress. Foreign tourists may not enter the inner and middle courtyards of a temple or other sanctified place unless they are there to pray, wearing Balinese traditional dress. The restriction concerns those inner courtyards, not temple grounds as a whole.

What the circular prohibits at sacred sites

The text prohibits climbing sacred trees, climbing on sacred structures, and behavior that defiles a holy place, with posing for photos in indecent clothing or unclothed given as the example. The circular also states that a person entering the sacred courtyards must not be menstruating. We report that as what the document says.

Dress and conduct

The obligations side asks visitors to honor the sanctity of temples and religious symbols, to respect local customs, and to wear modest, appropriate clothing at sacred places, tourist attractions and public areas. Our practical advice: carry a sarong and a light cover for your shoulders, so you are never caught unprepared at a temple gate.

Rules about money

Bali's circular tells foreign tourists how to exchange and spend money. Visitors are to change currency only at authorized money changers, bank or non-bank, which are identified by a license number and a Bank Indonesia QR-code logo. Payments are to be made in rupiah, and the circular tells visitors to pay using Indonesia's standard QR code.

What this means for Americans

Two points follow. First, use only licensed changers and ignore street-corner booths; the license number and logo are what to look for. Second, the instruction to pay by QR meets a practical limit: Indonesia's cross-border QR scheme covers a handful of Asian countries and the United States is not among them, so plan on cards and rupiah cash.

The tourist levy is on the list

Paying Bali's tourist levy is one of the listed obligations, and the circular attaches a specific consequence: a tourist who has not paid can be refused service at tourist attractions. The levy can be paid online before you fly.

Rules on the road

The road rules in Bali's circular apply to any foreign visitor who drives or rides. The circular requires a valid international or national driving license, obeying traffic law, wearing a helmet, not carrying more passengers than the vehicle allows, and not riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The licensing point

For Americans, the license requirement is the one that bites. The State Department says a US license alone is not recognized in Indonesia and that an International Driving Permit is required. If you plan to ride a scooter, read the licensing rules before you rent.

Hired cars

The circular also requires visitors to use roadworthy four-wheeled transport that officially belongs to a rental business or rental association. In practice, book cars and drivers through an established company or your accommodation.

Rules about where you stay and how you behave

Bali's circular requires foreign tourists to stay in accommodation that holds a license under the regulations, and it sets out a list of prohibited behavior. Visitors must not litter or pollute lakes, springs, rivers, the sea or public places, and must not use single-use plastics such as plastic bags, styrofoam, plastic straws and plastic-packaged drinks.

Conduct

The prohibitions also cover abusive language, disorderly or aggressive behavior toward officials, local people or other tourists, and spreading hate speech or false information on social media. Working or doing business without the proper official documents is prohibited, which matters to anyone tempted to take paid work on a tourist visa.

The plastics rule in practice

Our advice is simple: bring a reusable water bottle and a tote bag, and you will rarely need the items the circular bans.

How the rules are enforced

Enforcement of Bali's visitor rules runs through ordinary Indonesian law, backed by public reporting. The circular says violators will be dealt with firmly and sanctioned or prosecuted under the applicable regulations, and it asks residents to report violations by foreign tourists to a provincial WhatsApp hotline.

What the US government adds

The US Consular Agency in Bali reports a current enforcement campaign involving police, immigration, transport and tourism officials, with increased enforcement of traffic and vehicle violations, illegal work and other visa violations, and drug possession. The practical reading is simple: the rules above are being applied, so follow them.