As Southeast Asia’s largest economy, the tropical haven of Indonesia is an inviting destination for living and working abroad. Its comparably low cost of living and rich, diverse culture also make it an attractive market for employers seeking to hire international talent.
Before moving to Indonesia, foreign nationals must obtain a work visa, commonly referred to as a KITAS, to legally stay and work in the archipelago. Applying for a working KITAS is often a months-long process, and most of the obtainment requirements fall to the sponsoring employer.
This guide details how to obtain a KITAS work visa and key considerations for global employers interested in hiring foreign nationals or relocating talent to Indonesia.
What is a KITAS in Indonesia?
A KITAS (Kartu Izin Tinggal Terbatas) is a yellow card showing the holder has temporary immigration status in Indonesia. It allows the holder to stay in Indonesia for up to one year and is applicable for renewal.
Expatriates living in Indonesia for a limited stay receive a KITAS residence permit card when applying for various visas in the country, including a work visa.
Is a KITAS equivalent to a work visa?
While a temporary work visa in Indonesia is commonly called a KITAS, a KITAS is just a card that identifies a person as someone who is permitted to live in Indonesia. A foreign national can have a KITAS even if they are not authorized to work. Several types of KITAS include:
- Work visa KITAS
- Spouse/family visa KITAS
- Retirement visa KITAS
- Student visa KITAS
Foreign nationals who want to work in Indonesia for an Indonesian company must obtain a KITAS work visa with assistance from their sponsoring employer. In this guide, we focus specifically on obtaining a KITAS work visa.
Types of work visas in Indonesia
There are two types of work visa statuses in Indonesia: ITAS and KITAP.
ITAS (Izin Tinggal Terbatas)
An ITAS is a temporary-stay permit, which is presented as a stamp on the expat’s passport to show that the foreign resident has temporary residence status in Indonesia. Unlike a KITAS, an ITAS is not a physical card but is the immigration status itself.
An expat seeking to work in Indonesia receives the KITAS temporary-stay permit card only after Indonesian Immigration approves their immigration status and grants them an ITAS.
KITAP (Kartu Izin Tinggal Tetap)
A KITAP is a permanent-stay visa. Applicants can only obtain a KITAP if they have lived and worked in Indonesia for three years with an ITAS. A KITAP is valid for five years and is applicable for renewal.
How to get a working KITAS in Indonesia
The sponsoring employer is responsible for initiating the process of obtaining a KITAS work visa for their employee. The below steps explain how to get a work visa in Indonesia:
1. Employer applies for expatriate placement plan
The sponsoring employer in Indonesia must obtain approval from the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower to hire or relocate an employee to live and work in the country. This application is called the Expatriate Placement Plan (RPTKA).
As part of the application, the employer must explain why they want to hire a foreign national over a local Indonesian resident.
2. Employer applies for limited-stay visa and permit (VITAS/ITAS)
Once the employer’s application is approved, the employee receives a VITAS e-visa from the Indonesian Embassy/Consulate. A VITAS (Visa Izin Tinggal Terbatas) is a limited-stay digital permit allowing foreign nationals to enter and stay in Indonesia.
3. Employee travels to Indonesia with e-visa (VITAS)
With the VITAS limited-stay permit, the employee can travel to, enter, and stay in Indonesia.
4. Employee receives temporary-stay permit (ITAS)
Once the employee arrives in Indonesia with their VITAS e-visa, the Immigration Department issues the ITAS temporary stay permit. The ITAS permit is presented as a stamp on the foreign national’s passport and allows them to live and work in Indonesia for up to a year.
5. Employee applies for KITAS
After the Immigration Department issues the employee an ITAS temporary stay permit, the employee must go to an Immigration Office and apply for their KITAS.
6. Employee and employer register for SKPPS
Upon receiving a KITAS, the employer and employee must report to a local police station to receive a Certificate of Registration for Temporary Resident (SKPPS).
Once the employer and employee complete these steps, the employee has successfully obtained an Indonesian working KITAS and is allowed to work legally in Indonesia.
Required documents to obtain a working KITAS in Indonesia
The documents needed from the employer and employee to obtain a working KITAS include but are not limited to the following items.
Documents from the employer:
- Copy of the RPTKA application
- Copy of the sponsoring employer’s ID card (KTP)
- NPWP tax identification number
- Business license
- Capital registration license
- Registration letter
- Certificate of domicile
- Approval certificates and any related permits
- Authorization of deed establishment by the Department of Justice
- Blank sheet of paper with the company’s letterhead
Documents from the employee:
- Copy of their passport, which must be valid for at least 18 more months
- Copy of their resume (CV) with the company’s stamp and a signature by a company director
- Copy of their university certificate or the highest level of educational degree, translated into English or Bahasa Indonesia, with the company’s stamp and a signature by a company director
- Two passport-size color photos of the applicant
- Two passport-size color photos of any family members coming with the applicant
- Copy of family member passports coming with the applicant
- Certificate of Marriage for spouses coming with the applicant
- Certificate of Birth for children coming with the applicant
How much does a working KITAS in Indonesia cost?
The Indonesian government requires a mandatory worker levy (DPKK). The fee is US$100 per month for the length of the working visa or US$1,200 for a 12-month work permit. The sponsoring employer pays this fee in advance to the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower.
New KITAS applications also require a visa fee (PNBP) of US$150.
Considerations before obtaining a working KITAS in Indonesia
One critical consideration for obtaining a work visa in Indonesia is that applicants require sponsorship from a legally incorporated entity in the country. This requirement complicates the process for foreign companies seeking to hire expats in Indonesia or relocate talent there.
If a company has not established an entity in Indonesia but wants to hire foreign nationals, it can partner with an employer of record (EOR) instead. An EOR is a third-party organization that acts as the legal employer of your global workforce so that you can engage talent outside your home country without establishing a foreign entity.
An EOR handles everything from onboarding and payroll to visa requirements and compliance so you can reap the benefits of global mobility by testing markets in Indonesia and hiring Indonesian expats or locals without risking noncompliance with Indonesian employment and immigration laws.
Learn more: What Is an Employer of Record (EOR)?
Easily hire or relocate talent in Indonesia with Velocity Global
While Indonesian immigration requirements pose unique challenges, foreign companies can eliminate the headaches by partnering with an EOR and immigration expert like Velocity Global.
Velocity Global's integrated Global Immigration solution simplifies visa acquisition for global employers and their distributed workforce. We take care of document collection, translation, administration, and compliance so you can hire or relocate foreign talent in Indonesia and more than 185 countries with ease.
Read this global immigration success story to learn how we helped one of our clients rapidly transfer talent across borders in less than three weeks by streamlining every aspect of the immigration and visa process.
Or contact us today to discover more about how we remove the stress of global immigration so you can quickly hire and relocate top talent in Indonesia.
