Loading Zantara...
Zantara AI
AI Immigration Advisor
Topics
Zantara AI
AI Immigration Advisor
Bali Zero handles visas, company setup, tax and property compliance in Indonesia. Ask us directly on WhatsApp.
Chat with Bali Zero on WhatsAppChanging jobs in Indonesia when you hold a KITAS isn't as simple as updating your employment contract. Your KITAS is legally tied to your sponsor—the company or individual that applied for your work permit on your behalf. When you switch employers, you're changing sponsors, which means you need a completely new KITAS.
The good news: you don't have to leave Indonesia. The onshore transfer process (called "Altus" processing) allows you to stay in-country while your old KITAS is cancelled and your new one is processed. The bad news: it's expensive (IDR 36 million for onshore vs IDR 34.5 million for offshore), bureaucratically complex, and leaves you in a legal gray area for 2-4 weeks.
This guide walks you through every step of the KITAS transfer process in 2026, from notifying your old employer to collecting your new KITAS sticker from immigration.
Your KITAS sponsor is the legal entity responsible for your stay in Indonesia. For working foreigners, this is typically:
The sponsor's name appears on your KITAS card and in immigration records. They are legally responsible for your compliance with immigration law, including:
Unlike some countries where work permits are portable, Indonesian KITAS is sponsor-specific. Immigration law treats each sponsor relationship as a distinct legal arrangement. When you change jobs:
There's no "transfer" button in the system. It's a full cancellation + full re-application process.
You have two options for processing your new KITAS:
What it is: Your new KITAS is processed while you remain physically in Indonesia. Uses special "Altus" immigration processing.
Pros:
Cons:
Best for: Directors, senior employees, or anyone who cannot afford to leave Indonesia for 1-2 weeks.
What it is: You exit Indonesia on your old (cancelled) KITAS, then re-enter on a new visa sponsored by your new employer.
Pros:
Cons:
Best for: Employees who need to visit home anyway, or those who prefer a clean legal reset.
| Item | Onshore (Altus) | Offshore (Exit/Re-Entry) |
|---|---|---|
| Working KITAS Processing | IDR 36,000,000 | IDR 34,500,000 |
| Cancellation (RPTKA/IMTA/Wajib Lapor) | IDR 3,500,000 | IDR 3,500,000 |
| Flight Costs | IDR 0 | IDR 3,000,000 - 8,000,000 |
| Total Estimated Cost | IDR 39,500,000 | IDR 38,000,000 - 46,000,000 |
Pricing via Bali Zero (2026 rates). Offshore flights assume Bali-Singapore-Bali or similar short exit. Actual flight costs vary by route and timing.
Provide written notice per your employment contract (typically 30 days). Clearly state your end date. Your old sponsor cannot legally cancel your KITAS until your employment formally ends.
Timing tip: Negotiate your end date to align with your new job start date. Ideally, you want minimal gap between old KITAS cancellation and new KITAS approval.
Your old employer must cancel:
This is done through the Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker) online system. Processing takes 3-7 business days.
Documents required:
Cost: Typically included in your IDR 3,500,000 cancellation fee if using Bali Zero or similar agent.
Your sponsor must cancel your Wajib Lapor registration at the local immigration office. This formally removes your registered address from immigration records.
Processing: Same-day or 1-2 days, depending on local immigration office workload.
Finally, your old sponsor files a formal notification with Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi (Directorate General of Immigration) stating your employment has ended and your KITAS sponsorship is terminated.
Critical: This step is non-negotiable. If your old sponsor doesn't formally cancel, immigration sees you as still employed, which blocks your new sponsor's application and creates legal complications.
Your new employer must obtain a new RPTKA from Kemnaker. This proves they have a legitimate foreign worker position and you meet the qualifications.
Documents required:
Processing: 7-14 business days.
Cost: Typically IDR 3-5 million, handled by your agent or HR department.
With RPTKA approved, your new sponsor applies for your E23 Limited Stay Visa at the Directorate General of Immigration.
For Onshore (Altus) Processing:
For Offshore Processing:
Processing: 7-14 business days for onshore; 10-20 days for offshore (depends on embassy).
Once approved:
Validity: Typically 1-2 years, matching your RPTKA duration.
Within 7 days of receiving your new KITAS, register your address (Wajib Lapor) at the local immigration office. This is legally required and checked during KITAS extensions.
| Stage | Duration | Who's Responsible |
|---|---|---|
| Resignation notice | 0-30 days | You |
| Old sponsor cancellation (RPTKA/IMTA/Wajib Lapor) | 3-7 days | Old sponsor |
| New sponsor RPTKA application | 7-14 days | New sponsor |
| New KITAS application & approval | 7-14 days (onshore) / 10-20 days (offshore) | New sponsor + Immigration |
| Total estimated time | 2-4 weeks (from resignation to new KITAS) | - |
Critical gap period: Between old KITAS cancellation and new KITAS approval, you're technically in limbo. Stay in Indonesia, don't travel, and keep low profile. Overstay penalties (IDR 1 million/day) could theoretically apply if processing drags beyond 60 days, though in practice immigration grants leniency during legitimate transfer processes.
If you're resigning as a director of one PT PMA to become an employee at another company:
Why it matters: E25B is for company leadership; E23 is for employees. Immigration checks company registration to verify your title matches your KITAS type.
If you own multiple PT PMAs and want to transfer your KITAS from Company A to Company B:
It's still a full cancellation + re-application. Immigration doesn't care that you own both companies. Each PT PMA is a separate legal entity, so you must:
Alternative: Keep your KITAS with Company A and work "on secondment" to Company B. Legally complex; consult a lawyer.
If your previous employer refuses to cancel your KITAS (e.g., you left on bad terms):
Delays: Uncooperative sponsors can add 2-4 weeks to the process. Your new sponsor's application will be blocked until the old KITAS is cleared.
If you transfer mid-tax-year (Indonesia's tax year = calendar year), you may need to file:
Withholding: Both employers withhold PPh 21 (income tax) from your salary. Ensure you receive tax documentation (Form 1721-A1) from your old employer to avoid double taxation or missing deductions.
If your KITAS transfer involves leaving Indonesia for more than 183 days total in a calendar year, you may lose Indonesian tax residency status. This has implications for:
Consult a tax advisor if your transfer involves extended time outside Indonesia.
If you hold a working KITAS (E25B or E23) and your spouse/children have dependent KITAS (E31), they must also transfer when you do.
Costs (via Bali Zero):
Timeline: Dependent KITAS typically processes 1-2 weeks after your working KITAS is approved.
Mistake: Resigning before your new sponsor's RPTKA is approved.
Result: You're unemployed in Indonesia with no legal sponsor. If your old KITAS is cancelled and your new one isn't ready, you're technically overstaying.
Fix: Time your resignation so your old KITAS cancels within 1-2 weeks of your new RPTKA approval.
Mistake: Leaving Indonesia after your old KITAS is cancelled but before your new one is approved (onshore processing).
Result: You can't re-enter Indonesia. Your old KITAS is invalid, and your new one isn't issued yet.
Fix: If you must travel, choose offshore processing and coordinate with your new sponsor to ensure visa approval before you exit.
Mistake: Leaving Indonesia immediately after resignation without confirming cancellation is complete.
Result: Old KITAS remains active in immigration records, blocking your new sponsor's application. You're stuck abroad waiting.
Fix: Use an agent (like Bali Zero) who coordinates both cancellation and new application. Get written confirmation from old sponsor that cancellation is filed.
Mistake: Only budgeting for new KITAS processing (IDR 34.5-36M) and forgetting cancellation (IDR 3.5M), dependent KITAS (IDR 11-13.5M each), flights, and miscellaneous fees.
Result: Cash flow problems mid-process; delays if you can't pay agent fees on time.
Fix: Budget IDR 45-55 million total for single applicant, plus IDR 14-17M per dependent.
KITAS transfers are legally doable without an agent, but practically difficult. Immigration offices prioritize agent applications (they're familiar faces with complete documentation). DIY applications often face:
Recommended agents:
Agent fees: Typically IDR 8-12M above government costs, but includes document prep, immigration liaison, and troubleshooting.
Technically no. Your IMTA (work permit) is sponsor-specific. Working without valid IMTA is illegal and can result in deportation and ban from Indonesia.
Practically: Many people do "soft start" (onboarding, training, admin tasks) while waiting for KITAS approval, avoiding client-facing or official work until IMTA is in hand. This is a legal gray area; proceed with caution.
Your KITAS is tied to your sponsor's company registration, not your residential address. You can:
Some agents can handle out-of-province processing remotely. Confirm with your agent if your sponsor is in a different province.
Yes, but it's a full re-application. If you're married to an Indonesian citizen:
Cost: Spouse KITAS onshore is typically IDR 11-13.5M, cheaper than working KITAS.
Your new KITAS validity matches your RPTKA duration, typically:
After expiry, you extend (not transfer) unless you change sponsors again.
Transferring KITAS between sponsors in Indonesia is bureaucratically complex but entirely manageable with proper planning. The key is timing: coordinate with both your old and new employers to minimize the gap period between cancellation and approval.
Onshore processing (IDR 36M) is best if you cannot leave Indonesia; offshore processing (IDR 34.5M + flights) is better if you want a clean legal break and can afford to travel.
Budget 2-4 weeks and IDR 40-50 million total (including cancellation, agent fees, and miscellaneous costs). Use a reputable agent to navigate immigration bureaucracy, and ensure your old employer cooperates fully with cancellation.
If you're planning a KITAS transfer in Bali or elsewhere in Indonesia, contact Bali Zero for expert guidance and transparent pricing. We handle the entire process—from old sponsor cancellation to new KITAS collection—so you can focus on your new job.
Last Updated: February 17, 2026 AI Confidence Score: 0.89 Sources: Immigration Law No. 6/2011, Manpower Regulation No. 8/2021, Bali Zero internal case data (2024-2026)