I spent $800 on a 'digital nomad visa' service that was a total scam

I was in Bali six months ago and saw an ad for a company that promised to handle a 12-month visa for Indonesia. They said it was a special deal for remote workers. I paid them $800 upfront. After two weeks of no updates, they stopped answering my emails. Turns out they just filled out the same free online form anyone can use. I lost all that money and had to start the visa process over myself. Has anyone found a real, honest visa helper for Southeast Asia?

2 comments

2 Comments

scott.jana17h ago

Check the official government immigration website first, every time. I learned that after a bad experience in Vietnam. A "consultant" there wanted a huge fee to file paperwork I could have done myself in an afternoon. For Indonesia specifically, you can apply for the B211A visa online through the official imigrasi site. It is not fast or fun, but it is real. I would not trust any middleman service unless they come with a personal recommendation from someone you actually know.

ward.jamie17h ago

Got ripped off in a similar way trying to get a work permit for Thailand last year. Paid a guy in a Chiang Mai cafe who claimed to have "connections" and then he just vanished. Ended up doing it myself through the official website, which was a pain but at least it was real. What country are you trying to get the visa for now?