Immigration Visa and Work Permits Indonesia, Among the most frustrating issues for foreigners of living in Indonesia are the obtaining and maintaining of visas and work permits.
Indonesia is well known as a large country in the world and has many islands that spread from Sabang to Merauke. In every island live people from different ethnics with different languages, religions, lifestyles, cultures and different customs. Those different cultures unite and become Indonesian culture.
The amount of red tape and bureaucracy in involved in obtaining certain of these visas can be quite extraordinary. These are the most common types of visas currently available in Indonesia:
- Visa-On-Arrival (VOA)
- Tourist Visa
- Single Entry Social Visa (Sosbud)
- Single Entry Business Visa (Business)
- Multiple Entry Social Visa (MESV)
- Multiple Entry Business Visa (MEBV)
- Temporary Residence Visa (KITAS)
- Retirement Visas
- Permanent Residence Visa (KITAP)
Other specialised visas for diplomatic staff, NGOs, journalists and artists are also available. All of these visas have their own special requirements, however common to all of them is the requirement that passports have at least six month’s validity past the expiry of the issued visa. Thus, a 12-month Temporary Residence Visa would require a validity of at least 18 months at the time of application.
Laws, regulations, procedures and requirements for Indonesian visas and work permits change constantly. (You may wish to re-read that last sentence.) For qualified and up-to-date advice, consult a trusted and qualified agent that specializes in such matters.
Visas
- Visa Kunjungan (Social/Cultural, Business) valid for 60 days: USD 45
- Visa Kunjungan Beberapa kali Perjalanan (SosBud 12 months): USD 100
- Visa Tinggal Terbatas 6 months: USD50
- Visa Tinggal Terbatas 12 months: USD100
- Visa Tinggal Terbatas 24 months: USD175
- Visit visa/business visa extension: Rp. 250,000 per extension, 30 days.
- Izin Tinggal Terbatas (ITAS) or extension:
6 months: Rp. 350,000
1 year: Rp. 700,000
2 years: Rp. 1,200,000
Visitor's Visa on Arrival (Visa on Arrival):
This type of visa is granted for 30 days and is extendable for another 30 days, but cannot be converted into another type of visa.Visas on arrival are granted to citizens of certain foreign countries on arrival at immigration checkpoints for the following purposes:
- Government tasks;
- Educational Activities;
- Social and cultural activities;
- Tourism;
- Business;
- Family Matters;
- Journalism; or
- For a layover before continuing their journey to another country
As their name implies, Visa-On-Arrival (VOA) are issued directly upon arrival into Indonesia. They are mainly used by tourists. VOA can only be issued to citizens of the following countries:
Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Laos, Lativa, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States.
The VOA costs US$25 for a 30-day visa, and US$10 for a 7-day visa, which must be paid in cash.
Having paid the fee for the visa, visitors can then proceed to a special immigration counter where passports will be stamped with the VOA. You may sometimes be asked to produce an onward or return trip ticket.
It must always be remembered that a VOA cannot be extended under any circumstances. Before it expires, you must leave the country. Many people wanting to extend their visit to Indonesia simply get a cheap flight to Singapore and return to Indonesia often on the same day. There is no problem with Indonesian immigration authorities with you doing this, as long as they do not suspect that you are illegally working here.
VOAs are only issued through these international gateways:
By Air: Bali, Balikpapan, Jakarta, Kupang, Lombok, Medan, Makasar, Manado, Mataram, Padang, Pekanbaru, Solo, Sulawesi, Surabaya and Yogyakarta
By Sea: Batam, Bintan (Tanjung Uban), Medan (Belawan), Sumatra (Sibolga), Dumai, Padang (Teluk Bayar), Bali (Padang Bai), Jayapura, Bitung, Semarang (Tanjung Mas), Kupang (Tenau), Pare Pare, Tanjung Pinang (Bintang Pura) and Makassar.
Short Visit Visa Exemption This type of visa is granted for 30 days, is non-extendable and cannot be converted into another type of visa. Visa exemptions are granted to citizens of certain foreign countries at immigration checkpoints based on a reciprocal benefit principle for the following purposes:
- Tourism;
- Government Tasks;
- Business Visit;
- Social and cultural activities.
Multiple Visit Visa:This type of visa is non-extendable and cannot be converted into another type of visa. Multiple Visit Visa is granted to foreign citizens for multiple journeys to Indonesia, valid for 1 (one) year for visits of not more than 60 days. Multiple Visit Visas are granted for the following purposes:
- Tourism;
- Business visits;
- Family Matters.
Although Multiple Entry Social Visas are a theoretical possibility under current regulations, in the past year the immigration has made obtaining such visas difficult or impossible. Normally, they are valid for 12 months from the date of issuance at the embassy, and are for visits of a maximum 60 days duration.
Visas such as these must be processed by the Immigration Office in Jakarta. Once processed -- usually taking three to five working days -- a "telex" of the visa approval letter is sent to the Indonesian embassy where you wish to pick up the visa. You then take a copy of the telex, your passport and passport photos to the Indonesian embassy on the approval letter, where the pre-approved visa will be stamped into the passport. This process can take up to three working days, and from the Embassy varies from US$100 to US$150.
Tourist Visa
Embassy-issued Tourist visas are valid for 60 days, and are not extendable.
Citizens of countries that are not on the VOA or Visa Free lists are required to apply for a tourist visa at an Indonesian Embassy/Consulate before entry to Indonesia.
Also, tourists from any country wanting to stay in Indonesia for longer than allowed by the VOA may also wish to consider this type of visa.
Single Entry Social Visa (Sosbud)
The Social Visa, or what was formally known in Indonesia as a sosial-budaya (social-cultural) visa, or sosbud, is issued for the purposes of:
Visiting family members/relatives in Indonesia
Visiting social organization in the same field of endeavor
Exchange visits for education and training in Indonesia
To give a lecture or join a non-commercial seminar/conference in social, cultural or governmental fields, with permission of a related agency/institution/department
This visa is issued by an Indonesian embassy/consulate upon production of a letter from a sponsor from within Indonesia, and is for an initial period of 60 days upon entry. Unlike VOA or tourist visas, sosbud visas can be extended within the country. Four 30-day extensions can be obtained, giving a total possible stay of six months.
Single Entry Business Visa (Business)
Business visas are issued for the following purposes:
- To discuss matters within the framework of trade transactions
- To make on the spot observations and to discuss trade terms for import-export business
- Any business activity where person is not engaged as an employee
- To attend international shows/exhibitions
- To attend meetings held by a head office or representative in Indonesia
- To discuss with Indonesian enterprises matters related to capital or commodity production by overseas enterprise
- To investigate commercial possibilities within the framework of capital investment with prospective partners in Indonesia
- To make a journalistic visit with the permission of a related agency/institution/department
- To make a film for non-commercial purposes with the permission of a related institution
This visa is issued by an Indonesian embassy/consulate upon production of a letter from a sponsor from an Indonesian company, and is for an initial period of 60 days upon entry. Unlike VOA or tourist visas, sosbud visas can be extended within the country. Four 30-day extensions can be obtained, giving a total possible stay of six months.
Multiple Entry Business Visa (MEBV)
Multiple Entry Business Visa (MEBV) are commonly used by people backwards and forwards doing business in Indonesia. It is strongly stressed that the MEBV does not entitle you to work in Indonesia. The term "work" is defined very broadly by immigration officials, thus great care should be taken when describing your activities while here. The word "work" should be temporarily expunged from your vocabulary. MEBV are valid for 12 months from the date of issuance at the embassy, and are for visits of maximum 60 days duration.
Visas such as these must be processed by the Immigration Office in Jakarta. Once processed -- usually taking three to five working days -- a "telex" of the visa approval letter is sent to the Indonesian embassy where you wish to pick up the visa. You then take a copy of the telex, your passport and passport photos to the Indonesian embassy on the approval letter, where the pre-approved visa will be stamped into the passport. This process can take up to three working days, and from the Embassy varies from US$100 to US$150.
The IMTA - Ijin Mempekerjakan Tenaga Kerja Asing
The processes of obtaining proper documentation to live and work in Indonesia can seem like an endless maze of bureaucracy. New laws and regulations, lack of posted regulations, irregular application of existing regulations, vested interests and other matters complicate what one would think would be a relatively smooth processing of paperwork for foreigners to live and work in Indonesia.
Working in Indonesia is not without its challenges; however it can also be one of the most rewarding places to work as it can offer an excellent work / life balance and job satisfaction. This "Work Permit" is the authorization given to a company to employ a foreigner. If you are not holding an IMTA, you are not working legally in Indonesia.
If a company wants to employ foreigners, the company must submit an Expatriate Placement Plan, RPTKA - Rencana Penempatan Tenaga Kerja Asing- to the Manpower Department if the employing company is a domestic company; or to the BKPM (Investment Coordinating Board if the company is a foreign investment company. In foreign investment/PMA companies, work permits for senior positions (such as Director held by foreigners are for three years and can be renewed just before expiration. (Note: Director's positions held by foreigners is only applicable for foreign investment/PMA companies). Other position slots in the RPTKA are only for one year and can be renewed annually, usually up to a fixed number of years.
Based on the approval of the RPTKA (Expatriate Placement Plan TA-01 is issued, and then a work permit, Izin Kerja Tenaga Asing (IKTA is issued by the Manpower Ministry (Kementerian Tenaga Kerja or Kemenakertrans after your arrival and the issuance of the ITAS card and have paid your annual DPKK.
Small Indonesian companies incorporated as a CV are not allowed to hire expats. So-called "medium companies" are only allowed to hire two expats. In larger companies there is no limitation to the number of expats hired, as long as the ratio of 1 expat : 1 local expert as a counterpart is followed.
To summarize:
The IMTA is ssued through the Department of Manpower and must be approved through several ministries.
- It is issued by the government to/through a sponsoring company for an individual.
- Work Permits are only issued to companies that require a specific position to be reserved for an expatriate when there is currently not an Indonesian qualified to fill that same position.
- IMTA may be issued for short-term periods and up to a maximum of a 12-month period.
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