Like most people, I’m willing to provide my bank account information only in a very limited number of situations. Applying for a mortgage, perhaps, or if I’m being vetted for some other major financial transaction. 

Providing bank statements to enter a tourist destination, on the other hand, would not prompt me to log into my bank account and start the printer humming — even if the vacation spot has become really popular in recent years. 

Soon, however, visitors to a major tourist haven may have no choice but to provide their bank account details to gain entry.

Here’s why that’s the case. 

An island nation is requiring travelers to share their bank account information before visiting.

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Tropical destination wants to require bank statements from tourists

According to the recent reports from ANTARA, the provincial government of Bali has decided it only wants quality tourism. The country doesn’t want just any visitors coming to the island.

And one way they plan to make that happen is to require bank statements from international tourists as a prerequisite to entry. 

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“One aspect of quality tourism is the amount of money in visitors’ savings accounts over the past three months,” Bali Governor Wayan Koster said in Gianyar on January 1, 2026. 

The governor has proposed that tourists be required to provide three months of bank statements before they would be allowed entry to Bali. 

What Bali’s government is looking for in your bank statements

According to View from the Wing, which discussed the proposed plan, there would be no specific minimum balance required in order for tourists to be allowed in. 

Instead, “required funds would be judged relative to length of stay and planned activities.” 

Foreign tourists would also be screened before entry based on:

  • The expected duration of their stay in Bali
  • The activities that they have planned during their visit

“This is to ensure everything is under control. When we travel to other countries, similar checks are applied, and we will implement the same approach, in line with policies adopted elsewhere,” Koster said. 

Why would Bali require bank statements?

Bali is focusing on quality tourism because it has seen such an influx of tourists.

Specifically:

  • 7.05 million foreign tourists came to Bali via air in 2025.
  • 71,000 foreign visitors arrived by sea.

The governor said these were the highest numbers in Bali’s history, and the numbers have been steadily climbing since the end of the Covid pandemic. 

The sudden large influx of tourists has resulted in problems, including:

  • Traffic congestion
  • Waste
  • Flooding
  • Challenges in managing the number of arrivals

“It is important to determine which foreign tourists are allowed to enter and which are not, so that visitors do not cause problems and instead contribute positively, particularly to the tourism sector,” Koster said.

“Going forward, we will focus on quality tourism, not merely on numbers, through regional regulations and improved tourism governance.”

Is Bali tourist entry requirement a done deal?

If you were considering a visit to Bali but don’t want the government combing through your bank statement to determine if you are worthy enough to enter, the good news is that the policy is not yet a done deal. 

The legislation to require bank statements is still in draft form, although the governor said it is complete and headed to the legislature with the goal of putting the new rules in place in 2026. 

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However, as Leff from View from the Wing explained, “A lot of the coverage is sloppy, calling this a ‘new regulation’ already in force. It’s been framed as Bali ‘preparing to enforce’ a ‘new regulation [which] demands…’ but it’s not yet been enacted, and may run afoul of national rules.”

It’s worth watching the news carefully to see if this requirement takes effect. If it does, you’ll have to decide if handing over your bank accounts is worth the price of entry.

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