In short. The new code has been in force since 2 January 2026 and applies to everyone on Indonesian territory (article 4). Sex outside marriage and living together as spouses are covered by articles 411 and 412, but a case is possible only on a complaint from a husband or wife, and for people who are not married, from a parent or child. These articles name no other complainants. In 2022 the Governor of Bali promised that tourists' marital status would not be checked at check-in. Look separately at the articles on temples, public nudity, drunken disorder, defamation and false news: they are covered below.
How fines are counted. The code sets the upper limit of a fine by category (article 79): category I is 1 million rupiah, II is 10 million, III is 50 million, IV is 200 million, V is 500 million. Below we write the amounts straight away. Every figure is a maximum: the court decides the penalty itself.
Sex outside marriage, article 411. Up to 1 year in prison or a fine up to 10 million rupiah. The explanation to the law includes here the case where neither person is married to anyone. Prosecution starts only on a complaint from:
- a husband or wife, if the person is married;
- a parent or child, if the person is not married. A child here means one's own child aged 16 or over.
The complaint can be withdrawn until the court starts hearing the case.
Living together outside marriage, article 412. For two people living together as husband and wife without marriage: up to 6 months or a fine up to 10 million rupiah. The rules on complaints are the same as in article 411. The explanation says that this provision replaces regulations below the level of a law on cohabitation, if the matter is not settled by a special act.
What is known about couples in Bali. When the code was adopted, the Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster, said, as reported by Kompas TV on 12 December 2022, that marital status would not be checked at check-in to tourist accommodation, that there would be no raids by either the police or resident groups, and that guest data would stay closed. This statement was made before the code came into force. We found no newer official clarification for tourists. We also found no reports of cases against tourists under these two articles as of 7 November 2026, but that is the result of our search, and such a search proves nothing.
Our advice: if a husband, wife or parent in a conflict with you threatens such a complaint, speak to a lawyer at once. By the text of the law, that is the only way a case can begin.
Temples, ceremonies and religion. In Bali this concerns anyone who enters a temple or films a ceremony.
- Article 300. Public hostility or hatred toward a religion, or a call to violence or discrimination because of faith: up to 3 years or a fine up to 200 million rupiah.
- Article 303, part 1. Making noise near a place of worship during a service: a fine up to 1 million rupiah.
- Article 304. Publicly insulting a person performing or leading a rite: up to 1 year or a fine up to 50 million rupiah.
- Article 305. Desecrating a temple or an object used for a rite: up to 1 year or a fine up to 10 million rupiah. Damaging or setting it on fire: up to 5 years or a fine up to 500 million rupiah.
What behaviour in a temple counts as a violation in Bali is in the rules for tourists and the guide to temples.
Nudity and drunken disorder. Article 406 punishes indecency in public: up to 1 year or a fine up to 10 million rupiah. The explanation defines this as showing nudity, genitals and sexual acts, if they contradict the norms accepted in that place and at that time. Article 316: a person who is drunk in a public place and breaks order or threatens others faces a fine up to 10 million rupiah. The rules on alcohol are collected separately.
Insulting authorities and demonstrations.
- Articles 218–220. Publicly insulting the president or vice president: up to 3 years or a fine up to 200 million rupiah. Only on a written complaint from the president or vice president personally.
- Article 240. Publicly insulting the government or a state body: up to 1.5 years or a fine up to 10 million rupiah, and if it caused disorder, up to 3 years or a fine up to 200 million rupiah. Only on a written complaint from the head of that body.
- Article 256. A march or rally without notifying the authorities, if it disrupted public interests or caused disorder: up to 6 months or a fine up to 10 million rupiah.
Posts, reviews and rumours. Article 433 protects the reputation of a specific person: whoever accuses them aloud of something so that others learn of it faces up to 9 months or a fine up to 10 million rupiah. If it is written or shown in a picture publicly: up to 1.5 years or a fine up to 50 million rupiah. There is no punishment if the person acted in the public interest or out of necessity to defend themselves. A case begins only on a complaint from the injured person (article 440). By the explanation to the article, a state body or a group of people does not fall under it.
The new wording of article 263 (law No. 1 of 2026): spreading news knowing it is false, if it caused disorder, up to 6 years or a fine up to 500 million rupiah. Article 264: inaccurate or exaggerated news that the person knew would cause disorder, up to 2 years or a fine up to 50 million rupiah. The law on electronic information can also be applied to posts on the internet; we do not cover it here.
Our advice: in a review, describe what happened to you, with the date and facts, and do not call a person a criminal without a court decision. Check other people's alarming news against an official source first.
Drugs and medicines. This is a separate and the toughest topic: read the guide to drugs and medicines before you fly.
If you are summoned or detained. We have retold the law, and a specific case is handled by a lawyer.
Our advice: ask for an interpreter and a lawyer, tell your embassy or consulate what has happened, and do not sign what you do not understand. How to behave on the road is in the guide “Stopped by police”, and what immigration can do is in the review of immigration checks. Phone numbers of services are collected in emergency numbers.