YuSMP Travel Editorial Team
What's not allowed in Bali? A handful of rules that tourists often dismiss as a formality or local superstition carry real consequences — fines, deportation, even criminal charges. Russian travellers get fined most often for three things: breaking temple dress codes and etiquette, riding a scooter without an international licence, and overstaying a visa. We break down each rule below, with fine amounts only where officially confirmed, and general guidance where no specific figure exists in official sources. For a wider overview of the island, start with our Bali for Russian travellers guide, which covers visas, money and seasons.
Most of what follows won't affect a tourist who behaves like a respectful guest: no riding without a licence, no dragging out a visa extension, and basic awareness of local etiquette. Still, it's worth knowing the specifics in advance — especially the tourist levy and the visa overstay fine, both set out officially by the Bali governor's circular and Indonesia's immigration service.
Temples and sacred sites
At the entrance to a Balinese temple (pura), a single dress code applies: shoulders and knees must be covered, and a sarong is tied at the waist — usually handed out or rented at the gate. Climbing onto the altar area without a religious reason, sitting on offerings or shrine steps, and posing topless or in swimwear on temple grounds or at sacred trees are direct violations of the behaviour rules set out in Bali Governor's Circular SE No. 7/2025, "Tata Tertib Wisatawan Asing" (signed by Governor I Wayan Koster on 21 March 2025). The circular separately bans foreign tourists from climbing sacred mountains and trees, joining religious ceremonies without a local invitation, and behaving disrespectfully at sacred sites.
In practice, a dress-code slip at a popular temple (Uluwatu, Tanah Lot, Besakih) usually ends with staff politely but firmly asking you to cover up or leave, rather than an on-the-spot fine. But after a string of high-profile incidents involving tourists taking provocative photos at shrines, the province has tightened enforcement, and refusing a temple guard's request can escalate to a call to tourist police.
Road behaviour
The most common cause of fines and injuries among tourists in Bali is renting a scooter or motorbike without an International Driving Permit (IDP). Balinese police regularly run checks specifically in tourist hubs (Canggu, Seminyak, Ubud), and a rider stopped without an IDP and a helmet is likely to have the bike impounded until the fine is paid. Circular SE No. 7/2025 specifically requires foreign tourists to hold a valid IDP to rent and ride any vehicle on the island.
Other frequent violations include overloading a bike (more than two adult passengers), riding without a helmet, and driving under the influence — the latter is punished most severely and can lead to detention as well as a fine. The sensible move is to get an IDP in Russia before you travel (issued through traffic police departments) or to use driver-hailing apps if you don't have one.
Visa and the tourist levy
Since 2024, every foreign tourist has had to pay Bali's provincial tourism levy of 150,000 rupiah (a benchmark for 2026 — check the current amount on the official portal), paid exclusively through the official Love Bali portal before arrival or on landing. Without proof of payment, some tourist services may be refused, or you may be asked to pay on the spot — never pay an intermediary in cash at the airport outside the portal's official QR code; that's a scam risk, not part of the levy's actual process.
Visa overstays are a separate and more serious issue. According to Indonesia's regional immigration office, the fine for each day of overstay is 1,000,000 rupiah, a rate set by Government Regulation PP 28/2019. Overstay beyond 60 days doesn't just mean a bigger fine — it means deportation and a re-entry ban into Indonesia, with no option to pay your way out of it. For a full breakdown of visa types, durations and extensions, see Bali Visa for Russian Citizens: Entry Rules in 2026.
Bali visa overstay fines by duration
| Overstay length | Fine / measure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1–59 days | 1,000,000 rupiah per day of overstay | Imigrasi Surakarta (under PP 28/2019) |
| 60+ days | Deportation and an Indonesia re-entry ban, with no option to pay the fine instead | Imigrasi Surakarta (under PP 28/2019) |
It's also worth remembering the ban on working without authorisation: Circular SE No. 7/2025 explicitly prohibits foreign tourists from engaging in any paid activity on the island while on a tourist visa — from private lessons to local freelance work — this is an immigration violation, not a grey area.
Money and currency exchange
You can't pay directly in US dollars, euros or roubles for goods and services in Bali — Indonesian law requires transactions in rupiah, and currency exchange is only legal at counters licensed by Bank Indonesia, easily spotted by the Bank Indonesia QR code at the entrance and a posted official rate that shouldn't differ from bank rates by more than a few percent. Unlicensed street money changers in tourist areas run a classic scam involving a quoted rate that's worse in practice, or short-changing during the count.
For a detailed breakdown of paying by card, using QRIS QR codes, and how much cash in rupiah to carry for different situations, see How to Pay in Bali: Cards, QR Codes and Cash.
Environment and waste
Circular SE No. 7/2025 bans foreign tourists from using single-use plastic (bags, straws, styrofoam packaging) and from dumping rubbish outside bins — including into rivers, beaches and the ocean. The rule was introduced amid a serious plastic-waste problem on the island's coastline and runs alongside broader Indonesian restrictions on single-use plastic in certain regions.
In practice, tourists should avoid single-use plastic where an alternative exists and not leave litter on the beach "for someone else to deal with" — local volunteer beach patrols in popular spots like Canggu record such incidents, and the real cost isn't a fine so much as the reputational damage once footage circulates on social media.
Drugs and criminal liability
Indonesia runs one of the strictest anti-drug regimes in the world, and that's not limited to so-called "hard" substances: possession, use, and especially smuggling drugs across the island's border are criminal offences with severe consequences, up to the harshest provisions of Indonesia's narcotics law for large quantities. Exact sentences and threshold amounts depend on the substance and the circumstances of the case, and there's no sense relying on stories of "friends who got away with it" — enforcement in Indonesia on this issue is systematically harsher than in most countries tourists arrive from.
If you find yourself in a situation involving suspected possession or use of banned substances, contact the Russian Consulate General in Denpasar immediately; contact details and general consular information for Indonesia are on the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs page on Indonesia. Trying to handle it yourself with locals or "work something out" on the spot is a far bigger risk than the original violation.
What to do if you broke a rule unknowingly
The first rule in any dispute with local police is not to argue on the spot and not to try to settle it with cash — that can be treated as an attempted bribe of an official, which is legally more serious than the original dress-code or traffic violation. The second is to document everything: ask for an official receipt for any fine rather than simply handing over cash with nothing to show for it.
If the situation escalates beyond a minor violation (detention, confiscated documents, a more serious charge), contact your hotel or tour operator (larger hotels in Bali usually have experience with this) and notify the Russian Consulate General in Denpasar in parallel, using the contact details on the Russian MFA site. Don't sign documents in Indonesian without a translation or a consul present, even if the situation looks minor.
Frequently asked questions
What's the fine for overstaying a visa in Bali in 2026?
According to Indonesia's immigration service, the fine is 1,000,000 rupiah per day of overstay, a rate set by Government Regulation PP 28/2019. Overstaying beyond 60 days results in deportation and a re-entry ban, with no option to pay a fine instead.
Do I have to pay the Bali tourist levy, and how?
Yes, Bali's provincial tourist levy is mandatory for all foreign visitors and must be paid through the official Love Bali portal (lovebali.baliprov.go.id) before arrival or on landing, via the official QR code with a payment confirmation — not in cash to an intermediary at the airport.
Can I take photos at temples in a swimsuit?
No. Bali Governor's Circular SE No. 7/2025 explicitly bans this kind of photo and disrespectful behaviour on temple grounds — covered clothing is required, with shoulders and knees covered and a sarong tied at the entrance.
What happens if I ride a scooter without an international licence?
Under Circular SE No. 7/2025, foreign tourists are required to hold a valid International Driving Permit to rent or ride any vehicle on the island. When stopped without one, the bike is usually impounded until the fine is paid, and police checks in tourist areas are routine.
Can I pay in US dollars or roubles on the ground?
No, transactions in Bali must be in rupiah; currency exchange is only legal at counters licensed by Bank Indonesia and displaying its QR code. See How to Pay in Bali: Cards, QR Codes and Cash for details.
Who do I contact if I broke a rule unknowingly?
For minor issues, contact your hotel or guide; for anything more serious (detention, confiscated documents), contact the Russian Consulate General in Denpasar immediately — details are on the Russian MFA's Indonesia page.
Entry rules, levies and fines can change — before your trip, check the latest requirements on the official Love Bali portal (lovebali.baliprov.go.id) and with the Russian Consulate in Denpasar.
