Work Permit and KITAS in Indonesia
Living in Indonesia and working in Indonesia are two different permissions, granted by two different ministries. This page explains what each one requires in 2026, which KITAS applies to your situation, and the errors that get applications rejected.
On this page
Two permissions, not one
Foreign workers in Indonesia need two separate things, and conflating them is the source of most confusion.
The work permit comes from the Ministry of Manpower. It begins with an RPTKA β a foreign worker utilisation plan filed by the employing company, stating the position, its duration, and why a foreign national is needed for it. The RPTKA belongs to the company, not to you.
The stay permit comes from Immigration. That is the KITAS β a limited stay permit tied to a specific sponsor and a specific purpose.
You cannot lawfully work on a stay permit alone, and a work permit without a stay permit does not let you remain in the country. Both are required, in that order, and the first depends on a company that is already properly established.
Which KITAS applies to you
| Index | Who it is for | Key condition |
|---|---|---|
| E23 | Foreign employee working for an Indonesian company | Employer files RPTKA; position must be one open to foreign nationals |
| E28A | Foreign shareholder in an Indonesian company | Shareholding of at least Rp 1 billion in the company; does not by itself permit working |
| E31 series | Spouse or child of an Indonesian citizen | Sponsored by the Indonesian family member |
| E33 series | Retirement, remote work, second home and similar | Each sub-index has its own conditions; none of them permits local employment |
The distinction that catches people out is E28A versus E23. An investor KITAS establishes your position as a shareholder. It does not make you an employee, and it does not authorise you to hold an operational role in the company. If you own the business and intend to run it day to day as a director, you need the work route, with the RPTKA that goes with it.
The second trap is any arrangement where you work in Indonesia while holding a visa that does not permit it β remote-work indexes used to service Indonesian clients, business visas used for actual work, tourist visas used for "just supervising the setup". Enforcement has become noticeably less relaxed, and the consequences fall on both the individual and the sponsoring company.
How the process runs
- The company must exist and be compliant. A valid NIB, tax registration, and a business activity consistent with the position being filled. Applications from companies with lapsed filings stall here.
- RPTKA submission to the Ministry of Manpower β position, duration, location, justification, and the Indonesian counterpart being trained where required.
- DKPTKA payment. The foreign worker compensation levy, USD 100 per month of the permit, paid by the employer. A two-year permit means USD 2,400 up front.
- Visa approval and entry. The applicant enters on the approved visa index.
- KITAS issuance β biometrics and reporting at the immigration office, after which the electronic KITAS is issued.
- Ongoing obligations β company reporting to Manpower, immigration reporting, and renewal before expiry.
Realistic timeline: 4 to 8 weeks from a complete RPTKA file to KITAS in hand, assuming the sponsoring company is in order. When it is not β a lapsed LKPM, an expired licence, a KBLI code that does not match the job title β the delay comes from fixing the company, not from immigration.
Bringing family
A KITAS holder can sponsor a dependent KITAS for a spouse and children under 18. Dependents may live and study in Indonesia. They may not work β a dependent who wants to take a job needs their own work permit and their own sponsoring employer.
Apply for dependents alongside the principal application where possible. Adding them afterwards means a second round of the same process, and in practice a second set of fees.
Why applications get rejected
The company is not clean. Overdue LKPM reports, an expired sector licence, or tax registration that does not match the address. Immigration and Manpower both look at the sponsor, not only at the applicant.
The position does not fit the company's KBLI codes. A company registered for consulting cannot readily justify a foreign chef.
The position is on the restricted list. Certain roles β human resources, legal affairs, and several others β are closed to foreign nationals regardless of qualifications.
Document mismatches. Passport name spelled differently across documents, a passport with under 18 months validity, a degree certificate that cannot be verified. Small, avoidable, and responsible for a large share of the delays we are asked to unpick.
How we work
We handle the RPTKA filing, the visa application, the KITAS issuance, and the reporting obligations that follow β and, where the sponsoring company itself is the obstacle, the compliance work needed to make the application viable. Because we also set up and maintain PT PMAs, that fix usually happens in the same conversation rather than through a referral.
We work in English, Mandarin, and Indonesian. Our office is in Gading Serpong, Tangerang, and we are open seven days a week β though most clients never visit, because the whole process runs over WhatsApp and email.
Prices are published at izinberes.com/harga.md. If your situation turns out not to need a consultant, we will say so.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a work KITAS and an investor KITAS?
A work KITAS (E23) is sponsored by an employer and requires RPTKA approval from the Ministry of Manpower; it permits you to work in a specific position. An investor KITAS (E28A) is based on shareholding of at least Rp 1 billion and establishes you as an investor β it does not by itself authorise you to work in an operational role.
Can I get a KITAS without a company sponsoring me?
Only through routes not tied to employment β family sponsorship through an Indonesian spouse, or the E33 series covering retirement, remote work and similar. None of those permits you to work for an Indonesian employer.
How long does the whole process take?
Roughly 4 to 8 weeks from a complete RPTKA submission to KITAS issuance, provided the sponsoring company's own compliance is in order. Delays are far more often caused by the company's records than by immigration processing.
How much is the DKPTKA levy?
USD 100 per month of permit validity, paid by the employer. A one-year permit is USD 1,200 and a two-year permit USD 2,400, payable up front.
Can my spouse work on a dependent KITAS?
No. A dependent KITAS allows residence and study but not employment. A spouse who wants to work needs their own work permit with their own sponsoring employer.
I own the company. Do I still need RPTKA?
If you hold an operational position such as director and actually perform that role in Indonesia, yes. Ownership and the right to work are separate permissions.
What happens if I work on a tourist or business visa?
It is a violation of the stay permit conditions, with consequences ranging from fines and deportation to an entry ban, and sanctions for the company involved. It is also the single most common thing we are asked to help unwind after the fact.
Do you handle KITAS renewals and reporting?
Yes, including the periodic reporting obligations to Manpower and Immigration that continue for as long as the permit is active.
Tell us your situation, not your visa type
Most people arrive asking for a specific KITAS they read about, and about a third of the time it is the wrong one for what they actually intend to do. Describe the situation β who employs you, who owns the company, how long you intend to stay, whether family is coming β and we will tell you which route fits, including when the answer is that you do not need us.