Can You Kiss or Show Affection in Public in Bali?

Holding hands, hugging, or a quick kiss with your partner in public in Bali is not illegal and is almost never an issue. What is punished is displaying nudity or sexual activity in public: Article 406 of the new Criminal Code (Law 1/2023, in force since 2 January 2026) carries up to 1 year in prison or a fine of up to Rp10 million.

Where the line falls depends on the place and the setting, so the full answer is in the questions below. Rules checked on 24 October 2026.

What exactly does the new Criminal Code ban?

Article 406 of Law 1/2023 covers anyone who violates decency in public, or in front of people present against their will. The official elucidation, as quoted by Hukumonline (updated 11 February 2025), defines this as displaying nudity, genitals, or sexual activity that goes against the values held by the community at that time and place.

Two other provisions are heavier:

• Article 414(1)(a), new Criminal Code: an obscene act in public, toward a person of the same or a different sex, carries up to 1 year 6 months in prison or a category III fine (Rp50 million).
• Law 44/2008 on Pornography: Article 10 bans exhibiting yourself in public in a way that depicts nudity or intercourse; Article 36 sets up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to Rp5 billion. This matters if the scene is filmed and posted.

Our guide to the new Criminal Code for tourists covers the other articles that changed this year.

So is kissing on the beach or in a restaurant fine?

A short kiss, a hug, or holding hands in Seminyak, Canggu, or Nusa Dua does not meet the elements of Article 406. Hukumonline's analysis says a hug without sexual intent is not a decency offence, while a kiss still depends on context. Trouble starts when a kiss turns into a long make-out session, groping, or being half-undressed where many people can see.

A practical test: if you would feel awkward doing it in front of other people's families back home, don't do it in Bali. In villages, traditional markets, and streets used by locals, the standard is stricter than at a beach club.

Has any tourist been arrested this year?

Yes. On 26 August 2026, Badung Police detectives arrested BA, a 27-year-old Australian, at Ngurah Rai Airport before he could fly home. According to Gebrak.id (27 August 2026), BA and a woman he had met at a beach club allegedly committed an indecent act in front of a resident's house in Gang Family, Jalan Pantai Berawa, Tibubeneng, apparently while drunk. The video went viral, and police charged him under Articles 406 and/or 407 of the new Criminal Code.

The pattern matches other cases: police act on sexual conduct filmed in the open, not on couples sharing a kiss.

What about temples and sacred sites?

The rules are much stricter there. Bali Governor's Circular No. 4 of 2023 on the new code of conduct for foreign tourists requires modest dress and polite behaviour at sacred sites, attractions, restaurants, and on the street. The same circular bans climbing sacred trees and behaving disrespectfully at holy places, including taking photos in revealing clothes or nude.

A case often cited: in April 2023 a Russian tourist posed with his trousers down on Mount Agung. According to Tempo, he first underwent a customary cleansing ceremony at Besakih, then was deported under Article 75(1) of Immigration Law 6/2011. In May 2022, a Russian couple who posed naked at a sacred tree in Tabanan were also deported. Inside a temple, even a kiss that would be normal on the beach is best saved for later. More etiquette is in our guide to visiting Balinese temples.

Who usually steps in first?

Before the police, it is usually the pecalang (customary village security) or temple managers who step in. Each customary village has its own rules (awig-awig), and offences at a sacred site can mean paying for a purification ceremony. If you are told off, apologise and stop. Arguing that "this is normal in my country" nearly always makes it worse, especially when someone is filming.

What about your hotel room?

A private hotel room or villa is not "in public", so Article 406 does not apply. The new Criminal Code's articles on sex outside marriage and cohabitation are complaint-based offences that only a spouse, parent, or child can report. Details are in our article on unmarried couples sharing a room. A balcony facing the street or a shared pool still counts as a place others can see.

The other duties and bans for foreign visitors are listed on our Bali rules page.

FAQ

Can same-sex couples hold hands in Bali?

The new Criminal Code does not criminalise sexual orientation. Articles 406 and 414 apply equally to every couple and concern indecent or obscene acts in public. In tourist areas like Seminyak, holding hands rarely draws attention, but attitudes in villages can be more conservative.

Can we do a pre-wedding shoot with kissing poses in Bali?

On beaches and at tourist spots it is generally fine if you are fully dressed. At temples or sacred trees, romantic poses can breach Governor's Circular 4/2023, so ask the site managers first.

Are Japanese, Korean, or Russian tourists treated differently?

No. Criminal law and the Governor's circular apply to everyone in Bali. For foreigners, a criminal conviction can also be followed by deportation and an entry ban.