Rules for Tourists in Bali 2026: Dos, Don'ts and Penalties

Rules on foreign tourist behaviour in Bali are now set by Bali Governor's Circular No. 7 of 2025 on the New Order for Foreign Tourists, issued 24 March 2025, which replaced Circular No. 4 of 2023. It lists 14 obligations and 9 prohibitions, enforced by the provincial civil service police (Satpol PP) and Bali Police (source: Bali provincial government media centre, checked September 2026). These are the points visitors most often miss.

Before you land

• Pay the foreign tourist levy online at lovebali.baliprov.go.id. Visitors who have not paid can be refused entry to tourist sites. How to pay and the QR receipt are explained in our IDR 150,000 tourist levy article.
• Make sure your accommodation is licensed. The circular requires tourists to stay in properties with a business licence. Unlicensed villas rented through social media groups are exactly what it targets.
• Carry a valid driving licence (an International Driving Permit or an Indonesian licence) if you plan to drive a car or ride a scooter.

Obligations while in Bali

• Respect the sanctity of temples, sacred objects (pratima) and religious symbols, and the customs and ceremonies you meet on the road.
• Dress modestly at holy sites, tourist attractions, public places and while moving around Bali. Swimwear is for beaches and pools, not minimarts or temples.
• Behave politely in sacred areas, attractions, restaurants, shops and on the road.
• Use a licensed tour guide when visiting tourist attractions.
• Change money only at official outlets (banks or Bank Indonesia-licensed money changers showing the BI QR logo), pay in rupiah and use QRIS for digital payments.
• Follow traffic law: helmets, signs, vehicle capacity, and no driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Details in our Bali scooter rental and riding rules.
• Rent cars only from licensed rental businesses with registered vehicles.
• Follow the specific rules at each attraction and activity (opening hours, restricted zones, beach flags).

Prohibitions spelled out in the circular

• Entering a temple's utama mandala and madya mandala (inner and middle courtyards) except to pray in Balinese ceremonial dress, and entering while menstruating. Full etiquette in our temple etiquette guide.
• Climbing sacred trees.
• Climbing sacred structures, or taking photos in immodest clothing or naked at holy sites.
• Littering and polluting lakes, springs, rivers, the sea and public places.
• Using single-use plastic: plastic bags, styrofoam, plastic straws and plastic bottles.
• Using abusive language, causing disturbances or acting aggressively towards officials, residents or other tourists, including on social media.
• Spreading hate speech or false information.
• Working or running a business without official permission.
• Taking part in illegal trade in plants, animals, cultural artefacts, sacred objects or drugs.

What are the penalties?

The circular itself only says offenders will be "dealt with firmly and sanctioned or prosecuted under the law". In practice, penalties come from other laws:

• Deportation by Immigration for foreigners judged to endanger public order or to disregard the law (Immigration Law), often with an entry ban.
• Traffic: under Law No. 22 of 2009, driving without a licence carries up to 4 months' detention or a fine of up to IDR 1,000,000; riding without a helmet up to 1 month or IDR 250,000.
• Unpaid levy: refused entry to attractions.
• Working without a permit and drug offences lead to criminal and immigration proceedings.

Residents can report violations to the provincial government's WhatsApp hotline 0812-8759-0999.

Is bottled water under 1 litre really banned?

Yes, but the ban targets producers and sellers, not tourists. Bali Governor's Circular No. 9 of 2025 on the Clean Bali from Waste Movement prohibits producing and distributing single-use plastic bottled water under 1 litre, with a 1 January 2026 deadline. A legal challenge by producer CV Tirta Taman Bali was dismissed by the Denpasar Administrative Court (21 May 2026) and the Mataram Administrative High Court (15 July 2026), and the ruling became final on 29 July 2026 when no cassation was filed.

What it means for you: 600 ml bottles are getting scarce in minimarts, cafés and hotels. You will not be fined for carrying a bottle from the airport, but a refillable bottle is far more practical, and many hotels and cafés have water refill stations. Plastic bags, styrofoam and plastic straws were already banned for businesses under Bali Governor Regulation No. 97 of 2018, so bring your own shopping bag.

What is not a rule yet

The plan to check foreign tourists' savings balances sits in a draft regional regulation on Quality Bali Tourism Business Management that the Governor submitted to the Bali legislature (detikBali, 6 April 2026). As of our September 2026 check, no record of it being passed was found, so it does not apply at arrivals. Check baliprov.go.id before you fly, since the bylaw could be passed at any time.