Indonesian Visas, Page 1
List of Most Common Immigration Fees as per Peraturan Pemerintah nomor 38 tahun 2009Visas
- Visa Kunjungan (SosBud, 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
2. Izin Keimigrasian
- Sosbud Visa/business visa extension: Rp. 250,000 per extension, 30 days.
- Izin Tinggal Terbatas or extension:
6 months: Rp. 350,000
1 year: Rp. 700,000
2 years: Rp. 1,200,000
3. Izin Masuk Kembali (for KITAS/KITAP holder)
Single exit: Rp. 200,000
Multiple exit for 6 months: Rp. 600,000
Multiple exit for 1 year: Rp. 1,000,000
Multiple exit for 2 years: Rp. 1,750,000 (for holders of KITAP only)
4. Overstay fine : Rp. 200,000 per day
Source: Peraturan Pemerintah nomor 38 tahun 2009 - see article IV to IX for immigrations related fees
The above fees are the official ones as of 9/2008. If you keep all your papers in order and are up to date with all necessary document renewals and taxes/fees, and follow the proper procedures, then that it is what you will pay if you do the paperwork yourself (in person). Service companies may charge you in between 3 to 10 times the official fees to cover their services. Considering the hassle of dealing with a new bureaucracy in a foreign language, this fee may be worth it. Long-timers who speak fluent Bahasa Indonesia may be able to (and choose to) handle the bureaucracy themselves.
VITAS - Temporary Stay Permit Visa (Visa Izin Tinggal Terbatas)VITAS - This is the sticker visa put in a foreigner's passport in a Indonesian Embassy/Consular Office abroad which will give the person the right to an ITAS (which they apply for after arrival in Indonesia).
Once the TA01 recommendation has been approved, the VITAS must be applied for, for the working spouse and his dependent family, at the Indonesian Immigration office in the intended city of residence. Upon approval, the Indonesian Immigration office will send a telex approval to the Indonesian Embassy where the foreigner and his dependent family want to pick up the approval and to get the VITAS/VBS stamped into their passports.
This VBS visa stamp permits your entry into Indonesia. Within 7 days of your arrival in Indonesia, you and your dependent family members must go to the Immigration office to report your arrival "lapor diri" and complete the necessary paperwork. Failure to do this within 7 days will constitute a violation of your status, a legal hassle that can only be overcome through a visit to the courts and will incur large fines. So don't delay your initial trip to the Immigration office to report your arrival. At the immigration office, you will be called to take a full set of fingerprints and to sign various documents and provide at least four 2 x 3 cm color photographs.
Note - the V stands for Visa ...!
- Visa Kunjungan (SosBud, 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
2. Izin Keimigrasian
- Sosbud Visa/business visa extension: Rp. 250,000 per extension, 30 days.
- Izin Tinggal Terbatas or extension:
6 months: Rp. 350,000
1 year: Rp. 700,000
2 years: Rp. 1,200,000
3. Izin Masuk Kembali (for KITAS/KITAP holder)
Single exit: Rp. 200,000
Multiple exit for 6 months: Rp. 600,000
Multiple exit for 1 year: Rp. 1,000,000
Multiple exit for 2 years: Rp. 1,750,000 (for holders of KITAP only)
4. Overstay fine : Rp. 200,000 per day
Source: Peraturan Pemerintah nomor 38 tahun 2009 - see article IV to IX for immigrations related fees
The above fees are the official ones as of 9/2008. If you keep all your papers in order and are up to date with all necessary document renewals and taxes/fees, and follow the proper procedures, then that it is what you will pay if you do the paperwork yourself (in person). Service companies may charge you in between 3 to 10 times the official fees to cover their services. Considering the hassle of dealing with a new bureaucracy in a foreign language, this fee may be worth it. Long-timers who speak fluent Bahasa Indonesia may be able to (and choose to) handle the bureaucracy themselves.
VITAS - Temporary Stay Permit Visa (Visa Izin Tinggal Terbatas)VITAS - This is the sticker visa put in a foreigner's passport in a Indonesian Embassy/Consular Office abroad which will give the person the right to an ITAS (which they apply for after arrival in Indonesia).
Once the TA01 recommendation has been approved, the VITAS must be applied for, for the working spouse and his dependent family, at the Indonesian Immigration office in the intended city of residence. Upon approval, the Indonesian Immigration office will send a telex approval to the Indonesian Embassy where the foreigner and his dependent family want to pick up the approval and to get the VITAS/VBS stamped into their passports.
This VBS visa stamp permits your entry into Indonesia. Within 7 days of your arrival in Indonesia, you and your dependent family members must go to the Immigration office to report your arrival "lapor diri" and complete the necessary paperwork. Failure to do this within 7 days will constitute a violation of your status, a legal hassle that can only be overcome through a visit to the courts and will incur large fines. So don't delay your initial trip to the Immigration office to report your arrival. At the immigration office, you will be called to take a full set of fingerprints and to sign various documents and provide at least four 2 x 3 cm color photographs.
Note - the V stands for Visa ...!
To summarize the VBS:
KITAS = Kartu Izin Tinggal Terbatas (Temporary Stay Permit Card). This is the yellow card that Imigrasi will give you after the ITAS has been granted.
KITAS can be issued for a variety of reasons:
- A VBS is a temporary stay permit issued before the KITAS or Resident’s Permit.
- The VBS is stamped in the foreigner's passport by Immigration on arrival.
KITAS = Kartu Izin Tinggal Terbatas (Temporary Stay Permit Card). This is the yellow card that Imigrasi will give you after the ITAS has been granted.
KITAS can be issued for a variety of reasons:
- for foreign investors (PMA owner)
- for foreign experts - most of the expats have this kind of KITAS. They theoretically have skills that Indonesians don't have. Thus they are called tenaga ahli/expert.
- for foreign researchers who come for research, usually with an agreement of an Indonesian university
- for dependant foreign spouse/kids, sponsored by a foreigner, holder of a KITAS himself/herself or being an Indonesian citizen
- for religious clerics (foreign priests/imam, etc.)
- for retired foreign citizens
- for former Indonesian citizens, returning to Indonesia in the framework of repatriation to get back their citizenship
When all the paperwork on your Vitas visa is done, you will be issued a Limited Stay Permit - Kartu Izin Tinggal Terbatas, better known as a KITAS card for the working expatriate and each dependent for a one year period. The KITAS is the residency permit card which is issued by a KanIM in Indonesia, based on the VBS/VITAS Visa.
In order to avoid the risk of losing the original KITAS card and the resulting hassle, many expatriates keep the original at home in a safe place and carry only a photocopy.
With your KITAS you will also receive a Buku Pengawasan Orang Asing, or buku POA (Foreigner's Control and Supervision book). It's a similar size as a passport. The Buku Pengawasan Orang Asing tracks changes in your immigration status. All changes of address, marital status, new children, etc. need to be notified to the Immigration Office and recorded in this book within a timely period.
This is a valuable document and should be kept safely. The KITAS card and POA book allow you to live in Indonesia for one year and may be renewed annually, allowing you to stay up to six years.
In order to avoid the risk of losing the original KITAS card and the resulting hassle, many expatriates keep the original at home in a safe place and carry only a photocopy.
With your KITAS you will also receive a Buku Pengawasan Orang Asing, or buku POA (Foreigner's Control and Supervision book). It's a similar size as a passport. The Buku Pengawasan Orang Asing tracks changes in your immigration status. All changes of address, marital status, new children, etc. need to be notified to the Immigration Office and recorded in this book within a timely period.
This is a valuable document and should be kept safely. The KITAS card and POA book allow you to live in Indonesia for one year and may be renewed annually, allowing you to stay up to six years.
True Cost of KITAS VisaThe cost of the KITAS issuance is Rp 350.000 for a 6 months KITAS, Rp 700.000 for a 1 year KITAS, and Rp 1.200.000 rupiah for a 2 years KITAS
Advice from one applicant on documents needed to apply for a KITAS without paying any bribes:
ITAP/KITAP - Permanent Stay Permit/Card ITAP = Izin Tinggal Tetap (Permanent Stay Permit). This is the immigration status/permit by itself. It is evident by the stamp that the immigration office stamps into your passport.
KITAP = Kartu Izin Tinggal Terbatas (Permanent Stay Permit Card). This is the blue card that immigration will give you after the ITAP has been granted.
KITAP can also be issued to foreign investors, CEOs or to workers in fields that require a specific skill. However, others, who don't fall under these categories, can also obtain a KITAP as well, with persistence and knowing the regulations. Special provisions are also available for foreign nationals to get an ITAP if they are married to an Indonesian.
Official cost for a KITAP application - Rp 3,000,000, Extension Rp 2,000,000
Who can apply for a KITAP?Indonesian Law is, in fact, quite clear. But as in many cases in Indonesia, this is more a problem of getting the right text of law with all of its amendments to clearly understand who can apply for to a KITAP. Once you get the right context, everything becomes very clear and the only remaining difficulty is to explain the law to the ones who are supposed to know it: the Immigration officials, who in many cases seemingly ignore the law. Once you get past the lower echelons, things are much smoother, because at the higher levels (i.e., KanWil or DitJen), they know the law regarding KITAP issuance.
Concerning KITAP, here are the two main sources that you need to keep in mind:
1. Pasal 49, Peraturan Pemerintah nomor 32 tahun 1994 corrected by its second amendment as stated in the Peraturan Pemerintah nomor 38 tahun 2005:
(1) Izin Tinggal Terbatas dapat dialihkan statusnya menjadi Izin Tinggal Tetap.
(2) Pengalihan status sebagaimana dimaksud pada ayat (1) dapat diberikan atas dasar permintaan orang asing yang bersangkutan, dengan syarat telah berada di wilayah Negara Republik Indonesia sekurang-kurangnya 2 (dua) tahun berturut-turut sejak tanggal diberikannya Izin Tinggal Terbatas.
Basically, it means that (1) an ITAS can be transformed in an ITAP and that (2) this transformation of status can be given after a demand of the foreigner with the condition that he/she has already stayed a minimum of two full successive years in Indonesia since the date that his/her ITAS has been issued.
2. Pasal 72, Keputusan Menteri Kehakiman nomor M.02-IZ.01.10 tahun 1995 corrected by its second amendment as stated in the Peraturan Menteri Hukum dan Hak Asasi Manusia nomor M.01-IZ.01.10 tahun 2007:
(1) Izin Tinggal Terbatas dapat dialihstatuskan menjadi Izin Tinggal Tetap, kecuali Izin Tinggal Terbatas Kemudahan Khusus Keimigrasian;
(2) Alih status Izin Tinggal Terbatas menjadi Izin Tinggal Tetap sebagaimana dimaksud dalam ayat (1) dapat diberikan kepada orang asing dalam rangka:
a. menanamkan modal;
b. bekerja sebagai tenaga ahli langka;
c. bekerja sebagai pimpinan tertinggi perusahaan;
d. melaksanakan tugas sebagai rohaniwan;
e. menggabungkan diri dengan suami atau istri warga negara Indonesia;
f. menggabungkan diri dengan orang tua bagi anak sah pemegang paspor asing dari seorang warga negara Indonesia;
g. menggabungkan diri dengan suami atau istri pemegang Izin Tinggal Tetap;
h. menggabungkan diri dengan orang tua pemegang Izin Tinggal Tetap bagi anak yang berumur di bawah 18 (delapan belas) tahun dan belum kawin;
i. memperoleh kembali kewarganegaraan Republik Indonesia berdasarkan Undang-Undang Nomor 12 Tahun 2006 tentang Kewarganegaraan Republik Indonesia; atau
j. wisatawan lanjut usia mancanegara.
(3) Alih status Izin Tinggal Terbatas menjadi Izin Tinggal Tetap harus memperhatikan aspek kemanfaatan orang asing tersebut bagi pembangunan nasional dan aspek kemanusiaan.
Pasal 59 (regarding extensions)
(1) A Permanent Residence Permit is issued for a period of 5 (five) years and may be extended for an unlimited period insofar as the permit has not been cancelled.
(2) The holder of a Permanent Residence Permit for an unlimited period as intended in paragraph (1) must report to an Immigration Office every 5 (five) years and is not subject to a fee.
This is the article of law which lists the category of KITAS holder that could be entitled to be issued a KITAP. They are:
a. investors
b. rare foreign experts
c. top foreign manager of a company
d. foreign churchmen with religious duties
e. foreign spouse joining an Indonesian husband or wife more info
f. legitimate child who holds a foreign passport joining an Indonesian parent
g. foreign spouse of a foreigner holding a KITAP
h. legitimate unmarried foreign child (under 18 years old) joining a foreign father/mother who is a KITAP holder.
i. Former Indonesian willing to regain Indonesian citizenship as per Citizenship law number 12/2006
j. Retired foreigner
However, belonging to one of the above categories may not be enough. If you read point (3), it says that the change of status (from ITAS to ITAP) must consider the benefits that this foreigner brings to the nation in terms of national development and must consider the human aspects. This is for the very least highly subjective, and apart for the one belonging to the category e.), f.), g.), h.) and i.) it may well remain a demand without automatic approbation.
If your change of status is accepted, you will receive a KITAP which allows you to remain in indonesia for five years - which may be worth all the paperwork hassles.
*definition of “retired” is given in Keputusan Menteri nomor M.04-IZ.01.02 Tahun 1998 tentang Pemberian Visa dan Izin Keimigrasian Bagi Wisatawan Lanjut Usia Mancanegara
If you think you may qualify or be interested in a KITAP status someday, you might want to save all the documents you receive from the immigration office/s throughout the years, as they will help you to prepare your application.
Service Visa (Dinas)Service Visas are given to foreign citizens bearing service passports, on assignment to Indonesia for diplomatic purposes. They are working in Indonesia under official government entities such as UN bodies, aid organizations, etc. Visa Dinas are directly handled by the Indonesian government department who employees the expats and they apply direct to Menlu to process the visa. Private agents are not allowed to handle this type of visa.
Visa on Arrival - VOA (Izin Kunjungan Saat Kedatangan)The Visa on Arrival are for persons who are visiting Indonesia for a short period (30-60 days) as a tourist, for business, or to attend a conference or meeting. This visa is NOT for expatriates intending to work and live for an extended period of time. The VOA is a single entry visa; it terminates when you leave the country and you must get a new VOA on your next visit.
Remember that both the date of arrival and the date of departure will count as one day each in the 30 day stay limit. Overstaying your visa is a punishable offense and you WILL incur a fine for each day you overstay.
211 is the index for a visit visa (non-working purpose) that can be issued for various reasons including governmental, business, tourism and socio cultural (sosbud), and allows you to stay for a maximum 60 days. Of these types, only the tourist VOA can not be extended, the others can.
To emphasize, we will repeat - no employment of any kind, paid or unpaid, is allowed on a visit visa!
Once the visa is issued, you have 3 months (90 days) to use it to enter Indonesia. Once you arrive, it's good for 30/60 days (see what's stamped in your passport!). If you want to renew it, start the process at least 7-10 days before it expires.
On some Garuda Indonesia medium-long haul flights, there is an “Immigration Onboard” program through which an Indonesian immigration officer will process your Visa on Arrival before you leave the departure airport. At the time you arrive in Jakarta, you can skip the Visa on Arrival counter and head straight to Immigration counter. In these cases, the Visa on Arrival is payable in local currency at the departure airport (e.g. for flights departing from Sydney, you can pay with AUD instead of USD).
Pay-for-visa-on-arrival (VOA) is open for citizens from these nations:Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brasil, Bulgaria, Canada, People's Republic of China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Surinam, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Timor Leste, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America.
The cost of the 30-day (only) VOA is US$10 for a 7-day visa or US$25/person for a 30-day visa. The fee must be paid in cash; no credit cards are accepted for visa fees on arrival at the airport. If you don’t have cash, the staff will hold your passport and let you visit an ATM. But ideally you should bring USDs or order the visas before you arrive through a commercial "Meet and Assist" service provider so you won’t need cash or have to queue for it.) Indonesian Rupiah and limited other currencies may be accepted, but the exchange rate to USD is not a favorable rate. Any change due will be converted into Indonesian Rupiah before being paid to you.
Visitors from countries with visa-on-arrival facility will have to go to a special counter to have their passports stamped with the on-arrival visa before going to the immigration clearance desk.
Visa purchasing takes 15-30 minutes per applicant, depending on the number of persons applying. Payment counters, a bank counter, and a money changer have been set up to process payments. Passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of arrival. Payment must be made on arrival. An onward or return trip ticket must be shown on arrival.
The VOA visa is extendable for one 30-day period (only). To extend the VOA, go to the nearest immigration office, accompanied by a "sponsor" (Indonesian friend/family member you are visiting). Present your passport, ticket showing departure from Indonesia, fill in a few forms and submit with copies of relevant documents. Sponsor may be required to write a short letter of sponsorship. Return the next day and pay Rp 250,000, get a photo taken, and pick up your passport. After this, it takes 3 days to process your application.
Download the official regulation - Visa Kunjungan Saat Kedatangan - (M.HH-01-GR.01.06 TAHUN 2010)
The visa on arrival facility is only available at the following international gateways:
Airports
Read more information about Airport Arrival and Departure Information for Jakarta's International Airport
Extension of VOATo extend your Visa on Arrival requires a visa to the immigration office (2-4 visits are required). The extension application requires:
Advice from one applicant on documents needed to apply for a KITAS without paying any bribes:
- Fotocopy of RPTKA and IMTA (2x each)
- Fill out the three forms obtained at the immigration office (if I remember correctly form 22, 23 and 26). One of the forms is the “surat permintaan dan jaminan” and has to have a meterai tax stamp (Rp 6,000) on it. Forms and folder should be free.
- Surat permohonan (sponsor letter) (2x)
- Fotocopy of the KTP of the sponsor (2x)
- Fotocopy of all nonempty pages of the Buku Pengawasan Orang Asing (2x) and original book
- Fotocopy of *all* pages of the passport (2x) and original
- Fotocopy of KITAS (2x) and original
- When receiving the new KITAS, paying the fee of Rp. 700,000 for which you will get a receipt. This is actually the only fee to be paid. When I was asked to pay additional “administrative fees”, I always asked for a receipt, and if there was none, I did not pay and that did work very well.
- You may also be asked to pay Rp 55,000 for the photos/fingerprints.
ITAP/KITAP - Permanent Stay Permit/Card ITAP = Izin Tinggal Tetap (Permanent Stay Permit). This is the immigration status/permit by itself. It is evident by the stamp that the immigration office stamps into your passport.
KITAP = Kartu Izin Tinggal Terbatas (Permanent Stay Permit Card). This is the blue card that immigration will give you after the ITAP has been granted.
KITAP can also be issued to foreign investors, CEOs or to workers in fields that require a specific skill. However, others, who don't fall under these categories, can also obtain a KITAP as well, with persistence and knowing the regulations. Special provisions are also available for foreign nationals to get an ITAP if they are married to an Indonesian.
Official cost for a KITAP application - Rp 3,000,000, Extension Rp 2,000,000
Who can apply for a KITAP?Indonesian Law is, in fact, quite clear. But as in many cases in Indonesia, this is more a problem of getting the right text of law with all of its amendments to clearly understand who can apply for to a KITAP. Once you get the right context, everything becomes very clear and the only remaining difficulty is to explain the law to the ones who are supposed to know it: the Immigration officials, who in many cases seemingly ignore the law. Once you get past the lower echelons, things are much smoother, because at the higher levels (i.e., KanWil or DitJen), they know the law regarding KITAP issuance.
Concerning KITAP, here are the two main sources that you need to keep in mind:
1. Pasal 49, Peraturan Pemerintah nomor 32 tahun 1994 corrected by its second amendment as stated in the Peraturan Pemerintah nomor 38 tahun 2005:
(1) Izin Tinggal Terbatas dapat dialihkan statusnya menjadi Izin Tinggal Tetap.
(2) Pengalihan status sebagaimana dimaksud pada ayat (1) dapat diberikan atas dasar permintaan orang asing yang bersangkutan, dengan syarat telah berada di wilayah Negara Republik Indonesia sekurang-kurangnya 2 (dua) tahun berturut-turut sejak tanggal diberikannya Izin Tinggal Terbatas.
Basically, it means that (1) an ITAS can be transformed in an ITAP and that (2) this transformation of status can be given after a demand of the foreigner with the condition that he/she has already stayed a minimum of two full successive years in Indonesia since the date that his/her ITAS has been issued.
2. Pasal 72, Keputusan Menteri Kehakiman nomor M.02-IZ.01.10 tahun 1995 corrected by its second amendment as stated in the Peraturan Menteri Hukum dan Hak Asasi Manusia nomor M.01-IZ.01.10 tahun 2007:
(1) Izin Tinggal Terbatas dapat dialihstatuskan menjadi Izin Tinggal Tetap, kecuali Izin Tinggal Terbatas Kemudahan Khusus Keimigrasian;
(2) Alih status Izin Tinggal Terbatas menjadi Izin Tinggal Tetap sebagaimana dimaksud dalam ayat (1) dapat diberikan kepada orang asing dalam rangka:
a. menanamkan modal;
b. bekerja sebagai tenaga ahli langka;
c. bekerja sebagai pimpinan tertinggi perusahaan;
d. melaksanakan tugas sebagai rohaniwan;
e. menggabungkan diri dengan suami atau istri warga negara Indonesia;
f. menggabungkan diri dengan orang tua bagi anak sah pemegang paspor asing dari seorang warga negara Indonesia;
g. menggabungkan diri dengan suami atau istri pemegang Izin Tinggal Tetap;
h. menggabungkan diri dengan orang tua pemegang Izin Tinggal Tetap bagi anak yang berumur di bawah 18 (delapan belas) tahun dan belum kawin;
i. memperoleh kembali kewarganegaraan Republik Indonesia berdasarkan Undang-Undang Nomor 12 Tahun 2006 tentang Kewarganegaraan Republik Indonesia; atau
j. wisatawan lanjut usia mancanegara.
(3) Alih status Izin Tinggal Terbatas menjadi Izin Tinggal Tetap harus memperhatikan aspek kemanfaatan orang asing tersebut bagi pembangunan nasional dan aspek kemanusiaan.
Pasal 59 (regarding extensions)
(1) A Permanent Residence Permit is issued for a period of 5 (five) years and may be extended for an unlimited period insofar as the permit has not been cancelled.
(2) The holder of a Permanent Residence Permit for an unlimited period as intended in paragraph (1) must report to an Immigration Office every 5 (five) years and is not subject to a fee.
This is the article of law which lists the category of KITAS holder that could be entitled to be issued a KITAP. They are:
a. investors
b. rare foreign experts
c. top foreign manager of a company
d. foreign churchmen with religious duties
e. foreign spouse joining an Indonesian husband or wife more info
f. legitimate child who holds a foreign passport joining an Indonesian parent
g. foreign spouse of a foreigner holding a KITAP
h. legitimate unmarried foreign child (under 18 years old) joining a foreign father/mother who is a KITAP holder.
i. Former Indonesian willing to regain Indonesian citizenship as per Citizenship law number 12/2006
j. Retired foreigner
However, belonging to one of the above categories may not be enough. If you read point (3), it says that the change of status (from ITAS to ITAP) must consider the benefits that this foreigner brings to the nation in terms of national development and must consider the human aspects. This is for the very least highly subjective, and apart for the one belonging to the category e.), f.), g.), h.) and i.) it may well remain a demand without automatic approbation.
If your change of status is accepted, you will receive a KITAP which allows you to remain in indonesia for five years - which may be worth all the paperwork hassles.
*definition of “retired” is given in Keputusan Menteri nomor M.04-IZ.01.02 Tahun 1998 tentang Pemberian Visa dan Izin Keimigrasian Bagi Wisatawan Lanjut Usia Mancanegara
If you think you may qualify or be interested in a KITAP status someday, you might want to save all the documents you receive from the immigration office/s throughout the years, as they will help you to prepare your application.
Service Visa (Dinas)Service Visas are given to foreign citizens bearing service passports, on assignment to Indonesia for diplomatic purposes. They are working in Indonesia under official government entities such as UN bodies, aid organizations, etc. Visa Dinas are directly handled by the Indonesian government department who employees the expats and they apply direct to Menlu to process the visa. Private agents are not allowed to handle this type of visa.
Visa on Arrival - VOA (Izin Kunjungan Saat Kedatangan)The Visa on Arrival are for persons who are visiting Indonesia for a short period (30-60 days) as a tourist, for business, or to attend a conference or meeting. This visa is NOT for expatriates intending to work and live for an extended period of time. The VOA is a single entry visa; it terminates when you leave the country and you must get a new VOA on your next visit.
Remember that both the date of arrival and the date of departure will count as one day each in the 30 day stay limit. Overstaying your visa is a punishable offense and you WILL incur a fine for each day you overstay.
211 is the index for a visit visa (non-working purpose) that can be issued for various reasons including governmental, business, tourism and socio cultural (sosbud), and allows you to stay for a maximum 60 days. Of these types, only the tourist VOA can not be extended, the others can.
To emphasize, we will repeat - no employment of any kind, paid or unpaid, is allowed on a visit visa!
Once the visa is issued, you have 3 months (90 days) to use it to enter Indonesia. Once you arrive, it's good for 30/60 days (see what's stamped in your passport!). If you want to renew it, start the process at least 7-10 days before it expires.
On some Garuda Indonesia medium-long haul flights, there is an “Immigration Onboard” program through which an Indonesian immigration officer will process your Visa on Arrival before you leave the departure airport. At the time you arrive in Jakarta, you can skip the Visa on Arrival counter and head straight to Immigration counter. In these cases, the Visa on Arrival is payable in local currency at the departure airport (e.g. for flights departing from Sydney, you can pay with AUD instead of USD).
Pay-for-visa-on-arrival (VOA) is open for citizens from these nations:Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brasil, Bulgaria, Canada, People's Republic of China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Surinam, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Timor Leste, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America.
The cost of the 30-day (only) VOA is US$10 for a 7-day visa or US$25/person for a 30-day visa. The fee must be paid in cash; no credit cards are accepted for visa fees on arrival at the airport. If you don’t have cash, the staff will hold your passport and let you visit an ATM. But ideally you should bring USDs or order the visas before you arrive through a commercial "Meet and Assist" service provider so you won’t need cash or have to queue for it.) Indonesian Rupiah and limited other currencies may be accepted, but the exchange rate to USD is not a favorable rate. Any change due will be converted into Indonesian Rupiah before being paid to you.
Visitors from countries with visa-on-arrival facility will have to go to a special counter to have their passports stamped with the on-arrival visa before going to the immigration clearance desk.
Visa purchasing takes 15-30 minutes per applicant, depending on the number of persons applying. Payment counters, a bank counter, and a money changer have been set up to process payments. Passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of arrival. Payment must be made on arrival. An onward or return trip ticket must be shown on arrival.
The VOA visa is extendable for one 30-day period (only). To extend the VOA, go to the nearest immigration office, accompanied by a "sponsor" (Indonesian friend/family member you are visiting). Present your passport, ticket showing departure from Indonesia, fill in a few forms and submit with copies of relevant documents. Sponsor may be required to write a short letter of sponsorship. Return the next day and pay Rp 250,000, get a photo taken, and pick up your passport. After this, it takes 3 days to process your application.
Download the official regulation - Visa Kunjungan Saat Kedatangan - (M.HH-01-GR.01.06 TAHUN 2010)
The visa on arrival facility is only available at the following international gateways:
Airports
- Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport, Banda Aceh
- Kuala Nama Airport, Medan, North Sumatra
- Sultan Syarif Kasim II, Pekanbaru, Riau
- Minangkabau International Airport, Padang, West Sumatera
- Hang Nadim Airport, Batam, Riau
- Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport, Palembang, South Sumatera
- Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta
- Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport, Jakarta
- Juanda International Airport, Surabaya, East Java
- Adi Sucipto International Airport, Yogyakarta
- Adi Sumarmo International Airport, Surakarta (Solo)
- Husein Sastranegara International Airport, Bandung, West Java
- Ahmad Yani International Airport, Semarang, Central Java
- Ngurah Rai International Airport, Denpasar, Bali
- Selaparang International Airport, Mataram, Lombok
- El-Tari Airport, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara
- Hasanuddin International Airport, Makassar, South Sulawesi
- Sam Ratulangi Airport, Manado, North Sulawesi
- Sepinggan International Airport, Balikpapan, East Kalimantan
- Supadio International Airport, Pontianak, West Kalimantan
- Sekupang; Citra Tritunas; Nongsa; Marina Teluk Senimba; Batam Centre, Batam, Riau Islands
- Bandar Bintan Telani Lagoi; Bandar Sri Udana Lobam, Tanjung Uban, Riau Islands
- Sri Bintan Pura, Tanjung Pinang, Riau Islands
- Tanjung Balai Karimun, Tanjung Balai Karimun, Riau Islands
- Belawan, Belawan, North Sumatera
- Sibolga, Sibolga, North Sumatera
- Yos Sudarso, Dumai, Riau
- Teluk Bayur, Padang, West Sumatera
- Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, DKI Jakarta
- Tanjung Mas, Semarang, Central Java
- Padan Bai, Karangasem, Bali
- Beno, Badung, Bali
- Bitung, Bitung, North Sulawesi
- Soekarno-Hatta, Makasar, South Sulawesi
- Pare-Pare, Pare-Pare, South Sulawesi
- Maumere, Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara
- Tenau, Kupang, Nusa Tenggara Timur
- Jayapura, Jayapura, Papua
Read more information about Airport Arrival and Departure Information for Jakarta's International Airport
Extension of VOATo extend your Visa on Arrival requires a visa to the immigration office (2-4 visits are required). The extension application requires:
- 2 forms ("Formulir untuk perpanjangan pertama visa Sosbud" and "Formulir Perubahan Data Orang Asing") and a folder. Forms and folder should be free.
- a Rp 6,000 meterai tax stamp (you can purchase from the post office), or you can use two Rp 3,000 stamps
- a sponsor's letter "Surat Permintaan dan Jaminan" saying that they'll cover your expenses while you are in Indonesia (typed - but no translation is required)
- copy of the sponsor's KTP (identity) card
- photocopies of your outbound air ticket
- your departure card (that you received on arrival)
- original and photocopy of passport front/signature page, and original visa page, and the pages of any subsequent extensions
- black pen
- Rp 250,000 to cover the official cost of the extension. This is paid for each extension. During the extension where you pay for the digital fingerprints and photo, the cost is Rp 265,000 (that time only).
The process:
1st trip - About 7-10 days before the original VOA expires, go toVisa Kunjungan counter at the nearest Kantor Imigrasi with your sponsor and pick up 2 forms and a folder. If you have all needed documents and photocopies (see above) and your sponsor with you, it will save a trip as you could fill the forms out, have them signed, and submit them at the same time. Be prepared to wait if you want to accomplish all of this in the first visit. Forms and folder should be free.
2nd trip - You will receive a slip of paper with a date about 3-6 days later, when you go back just to pay the Rp 250,000, and take digital photo/fingerprints (in one extension process only). You will receive a recipt for your payment detailing what it was for. If you want to wait, you can return to the visa kunjungan counter and give them the copy of the slip and wait for the passport. Or you can take care of this step the next day.
3rd trip - The next day you go back to pick up your passport and new visa.*
The need for a local sponsor, and all the trips is a reason why people use agents, but it isn't necessary as one can take care of the process themselves.
Extensions past the first and second will require additional paperwork. You will need to get an approval letter issued by the Kantor Wilayah Immigrasi (this will be at a provincial office/not a local immigration office, depending on where you live), allowing these further extensions.
Sample Sponsor/Extension Letter
*Note, one person experienced the above 3 visit procedure actually only took 2 visits because he came with all documents in hand at the first visit (Ciawi Immigration Office).
Free Visa for Short Visit (BVKS)Visa-free facility is granted to the citizens of 12 countries whose governments extend visa free facility to Indonesian nationals would continue to enjoy short visa-free stays. Included in the 12 countries and administrative districts that are granted the 30-day visa-free facility are:
Other CitizensCitizens of other countries not on the visa on arrival or visa free lists will be required to apply for a visa overseas - in their home country - before entering Indonesia. Citizens of any country wishing to stay more than 30 days must also apply for an appropriate visa (cultural visit or business visit) at their nearest Indonesian Embassy or Consulate before traveling to Indonesia.
Tour agents are able to arrange express handling for groups at no additional charge by presenting the completed immigration cards, passports and applicable visa fee. Passengers who overstay their visa period for a short period of time can be processed immediately at the airport by paying Rp 200,000 for every day they overstayed their 30-day visa (as per PP 38/2009). Airlines that experience technical difficulties or delayed flights can apply for their passengers to be exempted from paying any overstay penalties.
To avoid the long wait at airports to apply for a visa on arrival, and if you want to stay for 60 days, you must apply for a visit visa at the Indonesian consular office in your home country. The consular office at Indonesian embassies (outside of Indonesia) can issue a 60-day visit visa.
Note: A tourist VOA on arrival can NOT be transformed in a SosBud visa, or a semi-permanent stay visa, or any other form of visa.
Beware ... of the 30-day counting trap! The way they immigration officials count the 30-day period is: you arrive on the 1st day with, for instance, a 30-day visa, and you must leave on the 30th day (not the 31st or the first of the next month, as you might think). This is actually their policy for how to count the days. and, after getting burned once and learning my lesson, I see their point and follow their definition of 30 days.
If you want to stay in Indonesia LONGER than 60 days, you must leave the country and re-enter on a new VOA/visit visa. People commonly fly to Singapore or Timor for this. There is no stipulation on the time you must stay outside Indonesia, in fact, you can return the same day if you want and be issued a new visa upon your arrival in Indonesia.
Visa Kunjungan Sosial Budaya (SosBud)Persons coming to Indonesia for short term stays (longer than 60 days allowed on VOA), not as tourists and not for business, should apply for another category of visa - the Visa Kunjungan Sosial Budaya or SosBud (Social/Cultural Visit Visa or SosBud) at an Indonesian consular office overseas. A letter of invitation/sponsorship from a sponsor in Indonesia is required. This can be an Indonesian citizen or a foreigner with a Temporary (KITAS) or Permanent (KITAP) Resident permit. You should also have a photocopy of the sponsors ID card (KTP or KITAS/KITAP) to present along with the letter. This visa status is used by persons coming to study, for research, training programs or to visit family members (for example, expat college age children who want to stay longer than a VOA visa would allow).
The letter of invitation/sponsorship must include:
So, in list form, you need:
- a letter of sponsor which invites to stay in Indonesia (see above bulleted list for contents of letter).
- a photocopy of the Indonesian sponsors KTP/paspor RI or a copy of the expat sponsor's KITAS and passport.
- a copy of your airline ticket (return trip)
- your passport
- a couple of pics
- fill out the form that the Indonesian Embassy will provide to you
- pay the visa fee (60 days: USD 45 or 12 months USD 100)
If, after 60 days, the guests want to stay longer, you will have to apply for a visa extension for them. Be careful, as you must apply for the extension in the same wilayah (district) as the address stated by your sponsor's KTP (Identity card). This means that if the KTP of your sponsor has been issued in Makassar, you must apply for all extensions in Makassar and are not allowed to apply for an extension in Bali.
Visa extension are granted for 30 days each. You can extend your sosial budaya visa up to 4 times for a total maximum stay of 180 days. The two first extensions will be granted by the Kantor Imigrasi, while the two last will require a prior approval from the Kantor Wilayah before issuance by the Kantor Imigrasi. Each extension has a legal fee of Rp 250.000. They may ask you to buy the forms for anything between Rp 10,000 to 30.000. Though this last fee has no legal basis, it is customary.
Extensions are not guaranteed. You can only submit a “permohonan” (request). However, if you do follow the procedures carefully, you will minimize the chance of a refusal. If they decide to refuse it (they may threaten you with that in order to get some additional money from you), ask your sponsor to request a Surat Keterangan Penolakan remitted to him, stating the reasons why the immigration department refused the extension. This is the law; they must list the reasons why they refused you the extension. If they do refuse, go with your sponsor to the Kantor Wilayah and ask to talk to the Kepala Divisi Keimigrasian. If you have initiated the procedure of the extension no later than 7 days before the expiration of your visa, if you have submitted all of the requested documents, if you don't do anything illegal (working), if you have submitted a copy of your onward ticket, and if you have proven that you or your sponsor have enough money to pay for your expenses, the Imigrasi usually won't risk your sponsor filling a complaint to the Kantor Wilayah (district office).
Regulations necessitate a 3-working day processing for these visas in Singapore, Bangkok, or your home country ... but from some reports, this process only takes ONE working day in Kuala Lumpur. Wherever you choose to process the application, be sure to allow the correct amount of time.
Some expats have reported to us that 'facilitating agencies' can in fact still process visas in one working day in Singapore, and that the staff in the Consular section at the Singapore embassy can refer you to these companies. Of course, the fees are significantly higher than the usual method.
List of Visa Agents for Indonesia in Singapore
Important Note: While some cultural and education activities are covered by this class of visa, paid employment for any Indonesian legal entity is not allowed to holders of this class of visa, Sosial Budaya. You can be in Indonesia on a variety of visas, but you cannot legally work on a sosbud visa - even if your employer is processing your IMTA. You can not work legally while waiting for the work permit unless the government issues a special permit to allow you to work on a non-work visa.
1st trip - About 7-10 days before the original VOA expires, go toVisa Kunjungan counter at the nearest Kantor Imigrasi with your sponsor and pick up 2 forms and a folder. If you have all needed documents and photocopies (see above) and your sponsor with you, it will save a trip as you could fill the forms out, have them signed, and submit them at the same time. Be prepared to wait if you want to accomplish all of this in the first visit. Forms and folder should be free.
2nd trip - You will receive a slip of paper with a date about 3-6 days later, when you go back just to pay the Rp 250,000, and take digital photo/fingerprints (in one extension process only). You will receive a recipt for your payment detailing what it was for. If you want to wait, you can return to the visa kunjungan counter and give them the copy of the slip and wait for the passport. Or you can take care of this step the next day.
3rd trip - The next day you go back to pick up your passport and new visa.*
The need for a local sponsor, and all the trips is a reason why people use agents, but it isn't necessary as one can take care of the process themselves.
Extensions past the first and second will require additional paperwork. You will need to get an approval letter issued by the Kantor Wilayah Immigrasi (this will be at a provincial office/not a local immigration office, depending on where you live), allowing these further extensions.
Sample Sponsor/Extension Letter
*Note, one person experienced the above 3 visit procedure actually only took 2 visits because he came with all documents in hand at the first visit (Ciawi Immigration Office).
Free Visa for Short Visit (BVKS)Visa-free facility is granted to the citizens of 12 countries whose governments extend visa free facility to Indonesian nationals would continue to enjoy short visa-free stays. Included in the 12 countries and administrative districts that are granted the 30-day visa-free facility are:
- Brunei Darussalam
- Cambodia
- Chile
- Ecuador
- Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region)
- Macau SAR (Special Administrative Region)
- Malaysia
- Morocco
- Myanmar
- Laos
- Peru
- Philippines
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Vietnam
Other CitizensCitizens of other countries not on the visa on arrival or visa free lists will be required to apply for a visa overseas - in their home country - before entering Indonesia. Citizens of any country wishing to stay more than 30 days must also apply for an appropriate visa (cultural visit or business visit) at their nearest Indonesian Embassy or Consulate before traveling to Indonesia.
Tour agents are able to arrange express handling for groups at no additional charge by presenting the completed immigration cards, passports and applicable visa fee. Passengers who overstay their visa period for a short period of time can be processed immediately at the airport by paying Rp 200,000 for every day they overstayed their 30-day visa (as per PP 38/2009). Airlines that experience technical difficulties or delayed flights can apply for their passengers to be exempted from paying any overstay penalties.
To avoid the long wait at airports to apply for a visa on arrival, and if you want to stay for 60 days, you must apply for a visit visa at the Indonesian consular office in your home country. The consular office at Indonesian embassies (outside of Indonesia) can issue a 60-day visit visa.
Note: A tourist VOA on arrival can NOT be transformed in a SosBud visa, or a semi-permanent stay visa, or any other form of visa.
Beware ... of the 30-day counting trap! The way they immigration officials count the 30-day period is: you arrive on the 1st day with, for instance, a 30-day visa, and you must leave on the 30th day (not the 31st or the first of the next month, as you might think). This is actually their policy for how to count the days. and, after getting burned once and learning my lesson, I see their point and follow their definition of 30 days.
If you want to stay in Indonesia LONGER than 60 days, you must leave the country and re-enter on a new VOA/visit visa. People commonly fly to Singapore or Timor for this. There is no stipulation on the time you must stay outside Indonesia, in fact, you can return the same day if you want and be issued a new visa upon your arrival in Indonesia.
Visa Kunjungan Sosial Budaya (SosBud)Persons coming to Indonesia for short term stays (longer than 60 days allowed on VOA), not as tourists and not for business, should apply for another category of visa - the Visa Kunjungan Sosial Budaya or SosBud (Social/Cultural Visit Visa or SosBud) at an Indonesian consular office overseas. A letter of invitation/sponsorship from a sponsor in Indonesia is required. This can be an Indonesian citizen or a foreigner with a Temporary (KITAS) or Permanent (KITAP) Resident permit. You should also have a photocopy of the sponsors ID card (KTP or KITAS/KITAP) to present along with the letter. This visa status is used by persons coming to study, for research, training programs or to visit family members (for example, expat college age children who want to stay longer than a VOA visa would allow).
The letter of invitation/sponsorship must include:
- the full names and addresses of your visitors
- their passport numbers
- describe the purpose of their visit
- principal addresses during their visit and estimated duration
- guarantee that the sponsor will cover all living expenses, transportation costs and any other costs incurred during the visitors time in Indonesia.
So, in list form, you need:
- a letter of sponsor which invites to stay in Indonesia (see above bulleted list for contents of letter).
- a photocopy of the Indonesian sponsors KTP/paspor RI or a copy of the expat sponsor's KITAS and passport.
- a copy of your airline ticket (return trip)
- your passport
- a couple of pics
- fill out the form that the Indonesian Embassy will provide to you
- pay the visa fee (60 days: USD 45 or 12 months USD 100)
If, after 60 days, the guests want to stay longer, you will have to apply for a visa extension for them. Be careful, as you must apply for the extension in the same wilayah (district) as the address stated by your sponsor's KTP (Identity card). This means that if the KTP of your sponsor has been issued in Makassar, you must apply for all extensions in Makassar and are not allowed to apply for an extension in Bali.
Visa extension are granted for 30 days each. You can extend your sosial budaya visa up to 4 times for a total maximum stay of 180 days. The two first extensions will be granted by the Kantor Imigrasi, while the two last will require a prior approval from the Kantor Wilayah before issuance by the Kantor Imigrasi. Each extension has a legal fee of Rp 250.000. They may ask you to buy the forms for anything between Rp 10,000 to 30.000. Though this last fee has no legal basis, it is customary.
Extensions are not guaranteed. You can only submit a “permohonan” (request). However, if you do follow the procedures carefully, you will minimize the chance of a refusal. If they decide to refuse it (they may threaten you with that in order to get some additional money from you), ask your sponsor to request a Surat Keterangan Penolakan remitted to him, stating the reasons why the immigration department refused the extension. This is the law; they must list the reasons why they refused you the extension. If they do refuse, go with your sponsor to the Kantor Wilayah and ask to talk to the Kepala Divisi Keimigrasian. If you have initiated the procedure of the extension no later than 7 days before the expiration of your visa, if you have submitted all of the requested documents, if you don't do anything illegal (working), if you have submitted a copy of your onward ticket, and if you have proven that you or your sponsor have enough money to pay for your expenses, the Imigrasi usually won't risk your sponsor filling a complaint to the Kantor Wilayah (district office).
Regulations necessitate a 3-working day processing for these visas in Singapore, Bangkok, or your home country ... but from some reports, this process only takes ONE working day in Kuala Lumpur. Wherever you choose to process the application, be sure to allow the correct amount of time.
Some expats have reported to us that 'facilitating agencies' can in fact still process visas in one working day in Singapore, and that the staff in the Consular section at the Singapore embassy can refer you to these companies. Of course, the fees are significantly higher than the usual method.
List of Visa Agents for Indonesia in Singapore
Important Note: While some cultural and education activities are covered by this class of visa, paid employment for any Indonesian legal entity is not allowed to holders of this class of visa, Sosial Budaya. You can be in Indonesia on a variety of visas, but you cannot legally work on a sosbud visa - even if your employer is processing your IMTA. You can not work legally while waiting for the work permit unless the government issues a special permit to allow you to work on a non-work visa.