Maybe you are planning a music video in Ubud, a short film on the cliffs of Uluwatu, or a brand campaign shoot in Bali. Before you book flights and gear, it's important to know which visa is suitable for your production trip. Many searches for a content creator visa for Bali end on a tourist visa, and that is the wrong answer for filming projects.
"Bali visa" is a search phrase, not a visa category. Visitors to Bali use Indonesian visas issued under Indonesia's immigration authorities. For film and video production, Immigration lists a dedicated visit visa: the C14 Film Production Visit Visa. This guide explains what it covers, the requirements, and how to apply.
Summary
The B1 Visa on Arrival (including its online version, the e-VOA) and the C1 visit visa are for tourism and limited business visits. Neither lists filming or production work among its permitted activities.
The C14 Film Production Visit Visa covers film productions in Indonesia, including films, music videos, reality shows, documentaries, TV and radio programs that use locations in the country.
The C14 requires an Indonesian sponsor and a permit from the relevant government agency responsible for the filming location.
Initial stay: up to 60 days from the date of arrival. Immigration states that the sponsor can apply for extension online, several times, up to 180 days in total.
SPUN Global offers the C14 as its Indonesia Single Entry Filming Visa.
Why doesn't a tourist visa cover a film shoot?
The B1 Visa on Arrival allows you to travel for tourism, family visit, and attend meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions. The e-VOA information page states this more explicitly. The visa "is granted only for Tourism, Government visits, Business Meetings, Goods Purchasing, or Transit purposes. Request for other visa types is required to submit an e-VISA Application."
The C1 visit visa covers tourism, attending meetings and exhibitions, business discussions and site visits. Filming and production are not included in either visa's list of permitted activities.
Both visas also carry the same restriction. Visa holders may not sell goods or services, or receive payment or similar compensation for their work, from individuals or companies in Indonesia.
Note that the B1 Visa on Arrival is only available to citizens of the countries on Immigration's Visa on Arrival list. If your passport is not on it, you need to apply for a visa before you travel.
Read also: Indonesia Visa on Arrival Guide: Eligible Countries + How To Apply
What counts as a filming or production trip?
Immigration does not define "content creator" activity. Instead, it lists the activities covered by the C14: "film, music video, reality show, documentary, television program, radio program, and other similar activities that use locations in Indonesia".
In practice, a trip involving a crew, a client or label brief, a shooting schedule and Indonesian locations matches that description. Holiday photos and videos you take for personal use, however, are not production work.
Some situations are not clear-cut, for example, a holiday that turns into a paid brand shoot. If your plan involves the two, confirm the right visa with SPUN Global or with your Indonesian sponsor before you travel.
Indonesia's visa list also mentions a C5A Content Creator Visa, but its details have not yet been officially published. It's best to wait for further updates before making any plans based on this visa.
What is the C14 Film Production Visit Visa?
| Aspect | C14 Film Production Visit Visa |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Films, music videos, reality shows, documentaries, TV and radio programs using locations in Indonesia; tourism and visiting friends and family are also allowed |
| Entry | Single entry |
| Permitted stay | Up to 60 days from arrival |
| Extension | Several times, up to 180 days in total, applied for online by the sponsor on evisa.imigrasi.go.id |
| Sponsor | Required; the sponsor applies through evisa.imigrasi.go.id |
| Special requirement | Permit from the relevant government agency for using the filming location |
| Visa validity | 90 days from issue, which is the period in which you can enter Indonesia |
Visa validity is different from your permitted length of stay. The 90 days, counted from the date of issue, is the window in which you must use the visa to enter Indonesia. Your stay is counted from the day you arrive.
Like the tourist visas, the C14 does not allow you to sell goods or services, or receive payment, from individuals or companies in Indonesia.
Do I need a filming permit as well as the visa?
Yes. The location permit is part of the C14 application itself. Immigration requires a permit from the relevant government agency authorizing the use of the filming location. SPUN Global's C14 page also states that filming permits from the relevant ministries are mandatory.
Immigration does not specify a single issuing agency, because it depends on where you shoot. Ask your Indonesian sponsor which permit your chosen locations require, and which authorities issue them, before you confirm a shoot date.
Documents a production crew should prepare
According to Immigration, the C14 application requires the following documents, for each foreign crew member:
An application letter and the sponsor's statement letter
A passport valid for at least six months (12 months for travel documents other than a national passport)
Proof of sufficient funds for the stay: the last three months of bank statements in the applicant's or the sponsor's name
A recent color photo, 3 cm x 4 cm with a red background, taken within the last year
A permit from the relevant government agency for the filming location
Each crew member requires their own visa. One person's C14 does not cover the rest of the team.
How a document check reduces (not eliminates) rejection risk
A document review can help reduce the risk of rejection by identifying missing or inconsistent information before submission. However, the final approval decision rests with the relevant Indonesian authorities.
An approved visa also does not guarantee entry into Indonesia. The immigration officer at your point of entry makes the final decision.
How to apply for the C14 through SPUN Global
SPUN Global is a trusted online visa platform that handles applications for the C14, offered as the Indonesia Single Entry Filming Visa. According to SPUN Global's page, it is an electronic visa with no appointment and no physical documents, and processing takes 10 to 14 working days. Here's how the process works:
Create or log in to your SPUN Global account.
Open the SPUN Global product page for the Indonesia Single Entry Filming Visa.
Pay online through the payment methods SPUN Global supports.
Upload your documents for SPUN Global's team and AI tools to review before submission.
Track your application status in your account.
Receive your visa result from SPUN Global.
Before you apply, you can contact SPUN Global to confirm how the sponsor and the location permit apply to your production, and to check your eligibility for the C14.
Whether you apply directly or use a visa service, you remain responsible for complying with the visa's validity, permitted length of stay, and conditions.
Planning a shoot in Bali? Start your C14 filming visa with SPUN Global.
Tips before you book the shoot
Secure your Indonesian sponsor first. Immigration states that the sponsor submits the C14 and any extension requests.
Arrange the location permit early. It is a mandatory document, not a step you can leave until later.
Count your length of stay from the date of arrival. Plan the shoot within the initial 60 days, or arrange an extension through your sponsor.
Apply separately for every crew member, including camera operators, sound engineers and talents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I film a paid shoot in Bali on a tourist visa?
No, the B1 and C1 do not list filming or production among the permitted activities, and both prohibit receiving payment from individuals or companies in Indonesia. For film and video productions, please use the C14.
Does a music video shoot need the C14?
Yes, Immigration lists music videos among the C14's purposes, together with films, reality shows, documentaries, TV and radio programs.
Can SPUN Global guarantee my visa will be approved?
No. A document review can help reduce the risk of rejection, but the final approval decision rests with the relevant Indonesian authorities.
About SPUN Global
SPUN Global is a trusted online visa platform. Applicants upload documents, its team checks them before submission, and applications can be tracked online.
Ready to plan your production? Apply for the Indonesia Single Entry Filming Visa. Coming for a holiday instead? See Bali visas, the e-VOA, the Single Entry Tourist Visa (C1). SPUN Global's AI document review for people who apply themselves.
