Frequently Asked Questions: #businessvisa

Business Visas and Work Permits (KITAS) serve different purposes for foreigners in Indonesia:

Business Visa: * Intended for short-term business activities * Does not allow the holder to work or receive compensation in Indonesia * Typically valid for 60 days and can be extended up to 180 days * Suitable for activities such as: * Attending business meetings or conferences * Conducting market research * Negotiating contracts * Site visits or inspections

Work Permit (KITAS): * Required for foreigners who intend to work in Indonesia * Allows the holder to legally work and receive compensation * Usually valid for 1-2 years and can be renewed * Provides additional benefits such as: * Multiple entry and exit privileges * Ability to open local bank accounts * Option to sponsor dependents

Key Differences: * Purpose: Business Visa for temporary business activities; KITAS for long-term employment * Work Authorization: Business Visa does not permit work; KITAS allows legal employment * Duration: Business Visa is short-term; KITAS is for extended stays * Application Process: KITAS requires more extensive documentation and sponsorship from an Indonesian company * Restrictions: Business Visa holders face limitations on activities; KITAS holders have more flexibility

It’s important to note that misusing a Business Visa for employment purposes is illegal and can result in severe penalties. Always ensure you have the appropriate visa or permit for your intended activities in Indonesia.

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A Multiple Entry Business Visa (MEBV, visa index D2) for Indonesia has several requirements:

• Sponsorship: A mandatory Indonesian company sponsor is no longer required. The application is supported by an invitation or correspondence from an Indonesian government agency or private institution explaining the business relationship.

• Validity: The MEBV (visa index D2) is issued with a validity of 1, 2 or 5 years from the date of issuance.

• Stay Duration: Each entry allows for a maximum stay of 60 days; a fresh 60-day stay begins on each re-entry.

• Purpose: It is intended for business-related activities such as meetings, conferences, or exploratory business trips. It does not permit employment or receiving income in Indonesia.

• Application Process:

  • The visa is applied for online via the official portal evisa.imigrasi.go.id and issued electronically as an e-visa.
  • No embassy or consulate visit is required.

• Required Documents:

  • Valid passport with at least 6 months remaining validity
  • Recent colour photograph
  • Personal bank statement showing at least US$2,000 (or equivalent) covering the last 3 months
  • Invitation or correspondence from an Indonesian government agency or private institution explaining the purpose of the visit
  • Return ticket or onward journey ticket

• Restrictions:

  • The visa holder cannot work or receive payment from Indonesian sources.
  • They must leave Indonesia before the 60-day stay period expires, or apply for an extension.

• Extensions: Each 60-day stay can be extended twice while in Indonesia, 60 days per extension, for a maximum of 180 days per visit; the holder must then exit and may re-enter on the same visa.

• Conversion: An MEBV cannot be converted to other visa types (such as work permits) within Indonesia. The applicant must exit the country to apply for a different visa type.

It’s important to note that visa requirements can change, so it’s advisable to check the official e-visa portal (evisa.imigrasi.go.id) or a reputable visa agent for the most up-to-date information.

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This is one of the most common questions we receive from Singapore and Malaysia: an engineer or manager needs 3 days to 2 weeks at a Batam facility. The answer depends on what will actually be done there, not on the length of the stay.

Business-visit activities — meetings, negotiations, factory tours, inspections, attending training, quality checks that stop short of hands-on work — fit a business visit visa. For occasional trips a single-entry visa suffices; regular commuters should hold a Multiple Entry Business Visa, which avoids repeated applications (Okusi offers 2-year and 5-year MEBV options: VKU.D2-2-YEARS and VKU.D2-5-YEARS).

Hands-on work — repairing machinery, installing or commissioning equipment, supervising production, any activity where you do the work rather than discuss it — legally requires work authorisation (RPTKA ratification) and a work KITAS, even for a few days. Indonesian immigration and manpower rules make no de-minimis exception for short assignments, and enforcement in Batam’s industrial estates is real. Short-term RPTKA arrangements exist for temporary assignments; they still must be in place before the work starts.

The frequent mistake is entering visa-free or on a visit visa and doing installation or repair work. The consequences — fines, deportation, blacklisting — land on both the worker and the host company.

If you are unsure which side of the line your visit falls on, ask us before travelling. Okusi’s Batam office at Harbour Bay processes both business visas and full work permit packages.

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The E33G (Remote Worker, or “digital nomad”) visa is drafted around an employment relationship with a company domiciled outside Indonesia. The core requirements are:

• Proof of employment with a company outside Indonesia
• Proof of income of at least USD 60,000 per year, sourced from outside Indonesia
• A personal bank statement showing at least USD 2,000 (or equivalent) over the last 3 months
• A passport with at least 6 months’ validity

Many applicants are consultants or founders paid through their own foreign company rather than by a third-party employer. This is not automatically disqualifying, but the application must evidence a genuine, documented arrangement: an employment contract or equivalent engagement with the foreign company, salary or drawings actually flowing to you, and income records (bank statements, tax filings) that support the USD 60,000 figure. A sole director invoicing clients through a personal company will be assessed on the strength of that documentation.

Two hard limits apply regardless of structure:

• The E33G does not permit working for, or receiving payment from, any Indonesian company or client
• The visa allows a stay of up to 1 year, with multiple entries

Because owner-operator applications turn on documentation quality, Okusi Associates reviews eligibility before any application is lodged. See the VKU.REMOTE service page (_VKU.REMOTE/year).

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Indonesia offers several types of visas for foreign investors and workers:

Business Visa (Visa Bisnis) * For business-related activities such as meetings, conferences, or market research * Valid for 60 days and can be extended twice, 60 days each (maximum stay of 180 days) * Does not permit employment or receiving income in Indonesia

Investor KITAS (Kartu Izin Tinggal Terbatas) * For foreign investors in PMA companies * Valid for 1-2 years and renewable * Allows the holder to live and work in Indonesia

Work Permit and KITAS * For foreign employees working in Indonesia * Includes: - KITAS/e-ITAS (electronic Temporary Stay Permit, which includes a multiple re-entry permit) - RPTKA Ratification (Pengesahan RPTKA) — the work permit issued by the Ministry of Manpower, which replaced the IMTA in 2018 * Usually valid for 1 year and renewable

Dependent KITAS * For family members (spouse and children under 18) of KITAS holders * Allows them to stay in Indonesia but not work

Retirement Visa * For retirees aged 55 or older * Valid for 1 year and renewable * Requires proof of pension/income and health insurance

Key points: * All visas require sponsorship, either from a company or an individual * Visa regulations can change, so it’s important to check current requirements * Some visas have specific financial or investment requirements * Processing times and costs vary depending on the type of visa

For assistance with visa applications and renewals, Okusi Associates offers immigration services for foreign investors and workers in Indonesia.

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