Moving to Bali With Your Family

Families are often drawn to Bali for lifestyle reasons, but they stay because of the balance it offers.

Common reasons families choose Bali include:

• A slower pace of life and more family time together
• Access to international and alternative schooling 
• Outdoor living and a strong focus on wellbeing
• Affordable household support and childcare
• Established expat family communities

With the right planning, Bali can offer a fulfilling and sustainable family lifestyle.

For many families, schooling is the starting point. The school you choose often influences where you live and how your daily routines take shape.

Bali offers a wide range of options, including:

• International schools (IB, Cambridge, Australian and more)
• Alternative education (Montessori, Waldorf, nature-based learning)
• Homeschooling communities and more

We help families understand the differences, choose the right school, navigate application timelines, and choose areas that make everyday life easier.

Bali School and Education Guide

Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions a family makes—and it often shapes where you live and how your family settles into life in Bali. That’s why education is a key part of the relocation journey we support.

Our team personally tours schools across the island and stays closely connected with principals, teachers, and expat parents. From this firsthand experience, we created the Bali School & Education Guide (2025/26) to help families make confident, informed choices.

Inside the guide, you’ll find:

• A searchable database and map of 80+ schools across Bali

• Clear curriculum comparisons with practical pros and cons

• Transparent fee structures and enrolment policies

• Insights from expat parents who’ve been through the process

School Consultations

For families who want clarity without months of research—or the risk of choosing the wrong school—this guide provides a strong starting point.

For more personalised support, you can book a 1-hour School Deep Dive with Simone, founder of Our Year in Bali. This private video consultation cuts through the overwhelm and focuses on what truly fits your child and your family.

You’ll receive tailored school recommendations, guidance on neighbourhoods and commuting, and access to our trusted school network—so you can move forward with clear direction and a realistic shortlist.

Choose the level of support that suits you—start with the guide for clarity, or book a deep dive for personalised guidance.

Visas are often one of the most confusing parts of moving to Bali, particularly when relocating with children. Options can vary, and you need to consider the length of stay, work situation, and whether you’re planning short-term living or a longer chapter in Bali.

We help families make sense of this early on, starting with an understanding of your specific situation. During our Free Discovery Call and within our Bronze Membership, we take the time to explain the most suitable visa pathways for your family, so you can make informed decisions before moving forward.

Once there is clarity on the right approach, we work closely with trusted, long-term visa agents who support the application process and provide detailed guidance throughout. Choosing the right visa agent in Bali can feel like a minefield — with big differences in pricing, service levels, and communication. That’s why we warmly introduce families to our preferred, vetted team, known for competitive rates, excellent service, and clear communication. With the right preparation, many visas can be guaranteed and processed in under two weeks.

Together, we help families with:

• Understanding the most suitable visa options for parents and family (dependents), based on your situation
  
• Clarifying what documentation is required for children, including passports, birth certificates, and supporting paperwork written in English
  
• Helping you understand timelines, costs, and what can (and can’t) be done while in Indonesia
  
• Planning ahead for renewals, extensions, and longer-term stays so there are no surprises
  

Our goal is to make the process feel manageable and transparent. Rather than overwhelming you with options, we focus on what will genuinely work for your family in the long run.

Access to reliable healthcare is a priority for families, especially when children are involved. 

We help families understand:

• The differences between local clinics, international hospitals, and specialist providers
  
• Health insurance options and what coverage is most important for families
  
• Where families typically go for pediatric care, routine appointments, and emergencies
  
• Practical health considerations in Bali, including common preventable issues such as Bali belly, how to reduce risk, and what to do if it occurs
  
• Vaccinations commonly recommended for families relocating to Bali and how to plan these before arrival
  
• Awareness and prevention around dengue, including seasonal considerations and everyday precautions

Having the right information early can make a big difference to peace of mind once you arrive.

Where you live will shape your family’s daily rhythm — from school drop-offs and activities to how connected and settled you feel. Bali can be very difficult to commute and we assist families with babies through to teenagers.

We support families by:

• Helping you choose areas that align with school locations, lifestyle preferences, and commute times
• Explaining the differences between short-term and long-term rentals, including what’s typical in Bali
• Highlighting common issues families encounter when securing housing and how to avoid them

One of the biggest questions families ask before relocating to Bali is whether the lifestyle they’re dreaming of is actually sustainable long-term. The answer is yes — but the cost depends entirely on how and where you live.

From housing and schooling to healthcare, groceries, transport, and household support, family budgets in Bali vary widely based on location, lifestyle choices, and length of stay. While Bali can offer significantly better value than many Western countries, rising prices and upfront costs mean smart planning is essential.

Our comprehensive Cost of Living in Bali breakdown helps families understand realistic monthly and annual expenses, where you can save, where you’ll likely spend more, and how to avoid outdated “Bali is cheap” assumptions. Whether you’re budgeting for international school fees, a nanny, or a year-long lease, this guide gives you clarity and confidence before you move.

One of the biggest adjustments for families moving to Bali is realising how much support is available in daily life.

Many families choose to hire a nanny or household helper, either full-time or part-time. This can make a significant difference to work-life balance, especially during the early months of settling in.

We help families understand:

• The typical role of a nanny in Bali and the support they usually provide
• Salary expectations and working arrangements
• Cultural considerations and clear communication
• How to hire responsibly and legally

We’ve also put together a detailed guide that walks families through the process.

In many relocations, one parent leads the move while the other may be navigating changes to their social life, work, or sense of routine. This is a normal part of relocating as a family.

Bali offers a wide range of options for partners and remote-working parents, including co-working spaces, flexible work environments, interest-based groups, fitness and wellness communities, and social networks that make it easier to build connection and purpose beyond school drop-offs.

With the right introductions and support, both parents can find their rhythm and feel settled in their own way.

A common concern for families is whether they’ll feel connected and supported once they arrive — especially in the early months.

In Bali, community often forms naturally through everyday life. School networks and parent groups quickly become familiar faces. Sports clubs, hobbies, and after-school activities create regular touchpoints for children and parents alike. Family-friendly cafes, events, shared routines, and online groups all play a role in helping families find their people.

Over time, these small, consistent interactions add up. For many families, friendships form quickly and support networks develop in ways that feel natural rather than forced. It’s common to hear families say that friends in Bali begin to feel like family.

Every family’s move to Bali is unique. Some relocate with young children, others with teenagers, remote work commitments, or big schooling decisions ahead. While guides and planning tools are essential, many families tell us that hearing from those who have already made the move makes everything feel more real.

Our Family & Expat Stories share the experiences of families who are also Our Year in Bali clients. These are real families we’ve supported through the relocation process — from early planning and school selection to settling into daily life on the island.

Inside these stories, you’ll find honest insights into schooling, family routines, work-life balance, community, and the realities of living in Bali long-term. They go beyond the highlights to show what life is truly like once you arrive.

If you’re considering moving to Bali with children, these stories can help you picture what’s possible and feel more confident about the journey ahead.

Families work with us at many different stages of their journey — from early research through to settling into everyday family life in Bali.

Each year, we support hundreds of families as they navigate the practical realities of relocating, including visas, housing, schooling, healthcare, and household support. Every family’s situation is different, which is why we offer three tailored Relocation Memberships, starting from $375 USD, designed to support you at every stage of your move.

While it’s ideal to begin planning 12 months in advance, it’s never too late to start — even if timelines have shifted or decisions need to be made quickly. Our memberships provide clarity, structure, and trusted guidance so your family can move forward with confidence and peace of mind.