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Exa: bizsquareaccounting.com
Exa: bizsquareaccounting.com
Bali Zero handles visas, company setup, tax and property compliance in Indonesia. Ask us directly on WhatsApp.
Chat with Bali Zero on WhatsAppThe KITAS — Kartu Izin Tinggal Terbatas, or Limited Stay Permit Card — is the primary legal instrument allowing foreign nationals to reside in Indones
The KITAS — Kartu Izin Tinggal Terbatas, or Limited Stay Permit Card — is the primary legal instrument allowing foreign nationals to reside in Indonesia for extended periods. Unlike a tourist visa-on-arrival, which grants a maximum of 60 days, the KITAS provides a renewable stay of six months to two years depending on the category, and forms the basis for accessing Indonesian banking, property leasing, and business activity.
Indonesia issues several classes of KITAS. The most common for working professionals is the Work KITAS (KITAS TKA), which requires sponsorship from a legally registered Indonesian entity — typically a PT PMA (foreign-owned limited liability company) or a representative office. The employer must obtain a RPTKA (Manpower Utilization Plan) approval from the Ministry of Manpower before the KITAS application can proceed. This sponsorship requirement effectively ties the permit to a specific employer and role.
For investors and company directors, the Investor KITAS is available to those holding a minimum 10% shareholding in an Indonesian entity or serving as a Commissioner or Director of a PT PMA. This category does not require a RPTKA but does mandate active company status and capital compliance with the Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM/OSS). The Retirement KITAS, available to those over 55 years of age, requires proof of a monthly pension income of at least USD 1,500 and a local sponsor — typically a licensed retirement villa or hospitality operator.
The 2022 Job Creation Law introduced the Digital Nomad Visa (Second Home Visa), which is technically a multi-entry visa but functionally operates as a long-stay mechanism for remote workers. However, it does not permit holders to earn income from Indonesian sources. The Second Home Visa, valid for five or ten years, requires proof of funds of IDR 2 billion (approximately USD 130,000) deposited in an Indonesian bank account.
Procedurally, KITAS applications are filed through the Directorate General of Immigration (Ditjen Imigrasi) via its online portal, with supporting documentation submitted through the sponsoring entity or licensed PPJK (immigration services agent). Processing times vary between 14 and 30 business days. Once approved, holders must report to the local immigration office (Kantor Imigrasi) for biometric registration and card issuance within 14 days of arrival in Indonesia.
The KITAS landscape in 2026 is more structured than it has ever been — but also more strictly enforced. Bali's immigration offices have significantly increased document scrutiny over the past 18 month
s, particularly around PT PMA compliance and RPTKA validity. Clients who previously relied on informal arrangements or umbrella sponsorship structures are finding those routes increasingly unreliable.
What we consistently see is clients underestimating the lead time. A Work KITAS tied to a new PT PMA cannot be processed until the company is fully registered, OSS-licensed, and BKPM-compliant — a process that itself takes six to ten weeks. Planning a KITAS application without first confirming your entity's standing is the single most common mistake we encounter.
For entrepreneurs and digital professionals, the Second Home Visa remains the cleanest entry point if you can meet the funds requirement, precisely because it decouples your legal stay from a specific employer. However, it carries genuine restrictions on local income — a line that Indonesian tax authorities are beginning to scrutinise more actively in 2026.
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