Work Permit Indonesia
Work Permit Indonesia application process, often referred to as KITAS, is long and bureaucratic, and it can take up to several months. Therefore, if you’re thinking of applying for an Indonesian work permit, then you likely already have a job offer. You cannot apply for an Indonesia work Visa if you do not have a sponsor (employer) in Indonesia who can help you get a work permit.
Indonesian government regulations require that foreign workers to have a minimum of 5 years of specifically work experience. If offered a job in Indonesia, be sure the employer has provided a Work Permit & Work Visa, otherwise you would be working in an illegal situation with penalties of up to 5 years in jail and a fine of up to Rp 500 million.
For an Indonesia work visa, it is the employer who has to do a lot – if not most – of the work, such as obtain authorization to hire you, your work permit, and your limited stay visa/residence permit. That’s because the process has to be done predominantly from within Indonesia. Whereas you are in charge of providing them with all the necessary documents.
How to Apply
Provided that you already have a job lined up, obtaining an Indonesia work visa involves the following steps:
- Your employer has to obtain approval to hire you from the Indonesian government. This generally means they have to prove why they’re hiring you over an Indonesian citizen. *
- This is called “Expatriate Placement Plan” (RPTKA = Rencana Penempatan Tenaga Kerja Asing).
- Your employer obtains the RPTKA from the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower.
- Your employer applies for your Indonesia work permit (IMTA = Ijin Mempekerjakan Tenaga Kerja Asing which translates to “Permission to Employ Foreign Workers”).
- This application is also submitted to the Ministry of Manpower.
- Before the application, you have to send your employer the required documents for the application, such as work and education certificates, passport copy, etc.
- The IMTA is the only authority which allows you to legally work in Indonesia.
- Your employer applies for a Limited/Temporary Stay Work Visa (VITAS) at the Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM). This is called a Temporary Stay Permit Visa (VITAS = Visa Izin Tinggal Terbatas).
- The BKPM issues a Recommendation Letter to the Indonesian Immigration Department.
- You have to apply for an Indonesian work visa (aka VITAS) at an Embassy/Consulate of Indonesia nearest you. You need photocopies of the RPTKA and IMTA.
- Once you arrive in Indonesia with the VITAS (visa), the Immigration Department will issue your ITAS (Temporary Stay Permit). The ITAS is the permit which allows you to live and work in Indonesia for up to a year (it can be extended). The VITAS is the visa which allows you to enter Indonesia.
- After the Immigration Department has issued your temporary stay permit, you have to go to an Immigration Office and apply for your KITAS.
- Misconception: Some people think KITAS stands for an Indonesia Work Visa, when in fact, the KITAS is actually just the physical card which shows you have a Temporary Stay Permit. It literally stands for Temporary Stay Permit Card. You can have a KITAS even if you don’t have the authorization to work.
- Get the Police Report Letter (STM) from the police department
- Register with your local municipality’s population office to receive a Certificate of Registration for Temporary Resident (SKPPS)
- Go to the Ministry of Manpower and apply for the IKTA (Izin Kerja Tenaga Asing) or “Foreign Workers Work Permit”.
- Before the Ministry of Manpower gives you the IKTA, your employer has to pay the Skill and Development Fund (DPKK).
- The DPKK is a monthly fee of $100 ($1,200/year) that your employer has to pay as compensation for choosing to hire a non-Indonesian.
Once you have all of these documents, then you have obtained your Indonesian Work Visa and are allowed to legally work in Indonesia.
If you will fill one of the following positions, then your company is not required to apply for an RPTKA:
- A stakeholder (members of the company’s board of directors or board of commissioners)
- As a diplomatic or consular officer
- Government work