Choose a home around your daily routine, not only the view. Test journeys, utilities and connectivity before a long lease, and plan immigration and local administration alongside the move.
Compare the areas against your routine
Try the actual journeys at the hours you expect to make them. Avoid choosing a property based only on map distance or a holiday visit.
| Area | Questions to ask before choosing |
|---|---|
| Mataram and nearby areas | How close do you want to be to urban services, schools, healthcare and offices? |
| Senggigi and the west coast | How will you balance a coastal setting with regular travel to Mataram or elsewhere? |
| Kuta and South Lombok | Does the exact location support your work, school and service needs throughout the year? |
| North Lombok and the Gilis | How will transfers, supplies and access to mainland services fit your routine? |
| Quieter inland or rural areas | Have you checked road access, utilities, connectivity and travel after dark? |
Before you sign a rental agreement
If you plan to host paying guests or operate a business from the property, check those permissions separately. A residential lease does not settle commercial licensing.
- Visit at different times to assess noise, access and surroundings.
- Check water supply, electricity arrangements and who pays each bill.
- Test fixed internet and a mobile backup at the property.
- Confirm the lessor's authority and the permitted use of the property.
- Read deposit, repair, renewal and termination terms.
- Ask about seasonal access, drainage and local emergency arrangements.
Organize the first weeks
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Before arrival
Confirm the appropriate immigration route, temporary accommodation and the documents you will need.
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Settle the essentials
Check the house, connectivity, transport, payment arrangements and practical access to healthcare.
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Complete the relevant administration
Check immigration and local population-registration steps for your status and address, including Dukcapil documentation where applicable.
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Review the longer-term plan
Confirm schooling, business or employment arrangements before making larger commitments.
A few checks make daily life easier
Driving and transport
Confirm the driving authorization, vehicle documents, insurance and rental conditions that apply to you.
Banking and payments
Ask the chosen bank about eligibility and required documents. Keep company and personal accounts appropriately separate.
Healthcare and family
Check the services you need, insurance coverage, emergency arrangements and realistic travel times before choosing a location.
Work and connectivity
Test the connection at your prospective home. Review the correct immigration and working arrangement, including E33G eligibility for overseas employment.
Where Perwira Visa can help
We can help connect the administrative questions around your move: immigration, employment, business and property arrangements. For specialist matters, identify the appropriate professional and agree the scope before proceeding.
For the first conversation, explain who is moving, where you are now, what you intend to do and the intended timeframe.
Questions & answers
Which part of Lombok should I live in?
Choose around your daily routine. Compare access to work, schools, healthcare, shops and transport, then test actual journeys. Mataram, the west coast, South Lombok and the Gilis offer different living patterns. Try the area before making a long-term property commitment.
Should I rent before committing to a property?
For newcomers, a short rental can make it easier to assess access, internet, water, noise and daily travel. Visit a prospective home at different times and ask about seasonal conditions. This is a practical way to learn the area before negotiating a longer agreement.
Is an ITAS the only document I need after moving?
Immigration and local population administration are separate systems. Foreign residents may need to complete relevant Dukcapil registration, including SKTT where applicable, as well as address or other updates. Check the steps relevant to your status and place of residence after arrival.
How should I check internet before renting?
Test the connection at the actual property, ideally at the hours you expect to work. Ask which provider and package are active, check upload as well as download performance, and test a mobile backup. Coverage elsewhere in the same town does not confirm the connection at that house.
Should I send my passport with the first enquiry?
You can begin with a description of your plans, nationality, current location and immigration status. Do not send identity documents through the general enquiry form. The appropriate document list and a suitable transfer method can be agreed after the initial discussion.
Official references
Source links checked 24 September 2026. Confirm the current requirements for an individual application or transaction.
General information, not a decision on individual eligibility or a substitute for appropriate professional advice.