In a YouTube video amassing over 100.000 views, Australian internet personality Julian Petroulas gives his audience a virtual tour of his dreamy Bali villa. Standing in a spacious, pool-filled backyard, he shares his “favorite thing to do” in Bali: setting up an outdoor cinema during the golden hour of sunset.
Petroulas then shifts focus to a sprawling 1,1-hectare plot of land he said to be his own. He outlines ambitious plans to transform the lush greenery into a leisure paradise. His vision? “A nightclub, paddle courts, a hotel, a gym, a strip club,” and a grand villa reserved exclusively for models.
“Fifty models,” he specifies in the video.
“I’ve owned a lot of villas here in Bali over the years,” he said in the video, and this upcoming 1,1 hectare project is set to be an addition to the investment portfolio he often discusses online.
However, there’s a big pulsing issue: According to Indonesian immigration authorities, Petroulas doesn’t own any villa. Nor land. Nor the legal standing to do so.
As a tourist, his visa status doesn’t permit property ownership in Indonesia.
Viral Claims Spark Backlash
Petroulas attracted attention on social media after he boasted about acquiring 1,1 hectares of land in Canggu, which he described as a prime location surrounded by green zones, a river, lush landscapes, and stunning sunsets.
He also claimed that his Bali-based ventures, including villa investments, had been highly profitable despite his lack of prior experience in real estate.
Petroulas also claimed to have turned down multiple collaboration offers, citing misalignment with his vision.
Barred from the Country
Following his viral claim land ownership in the popular tourist area of Canggu, North Kuta, Badung, Bali. Indonesian Directorate General has barred Petroulas from entering Indonesia
Officials determined his statements misrepresented the legalities surrounding foreign ownership and harmed Bali’s tourism image.
“Based on this matter, JP [Julian Petroulas] has been added to the Immigration Directorate General’s blacklist. As of November 21, 2024, JP is no longer permitted entry into Indonesia,” said Acting Director General of Immigration Saffar Godam in a statement on Thursday.
Immigration Investigation Debunks Ownership Claims
According to Immigration records, Petroulas visited Indonesia from June 17 to July 7, 2024, and again under a visa-on-arrival (VoA) from July 20 to August 8, 2024. Godam emphasized that this visa type does not authorize foreigners to own land or property in Indonesia.
“Investors will think twice about investing in Indonesia if inaccurate information continues to circulate,” said Godam.
After verifying Petroulas’ claims, Immigration authorities concluded that he neither owns the land nor any villas or restaurants in Bali, as stated in his viral video.
The incident underscores Indonesia’s firm stance on foreign ownership regulations.
Immigration officials stress that misleading claims by foreign nationals could harm the country’s reputation as a stable destination for business and tourism.
