06 June 2022 · Residency and Citizenship Paths · Indonesia
Bali Investor KITAS: Live and Work in Paradise
Your step-by-step legal guide from a lawyer who files these visas daily
Picture this: you finish a Zoom call, close your laptop, and instead of commuting through traffic, you walk fifty metres to a beach club for sunset. That scene isn’t a Pinterest board—it’s the everyday reality of hundreds of foreign founders and remote executives holding an Indonesian Investor KITAS.
My inbox overflows each week with questions like “Do I really need to form a company?” or “Will they check my bank statements?” This article unpacks every stage of the process in plain English, sprinkled with the hard-won tactics I’ve learned after shepherding more than 200 applications through Jakarta’s Directorate General of Immigration.
Why an Investor KITAS and not a Tourist Visa?
Indonesia’s tourist and business visit visas prohibit earning in Indonesia; violators have been fined, detained, and—yes—deported. An Investor KITAS (Index C313/314) grants:
- Multiple-entry rights for 1–2 years, renewable up to 5 years without leaving.
- Legal permission to live anywhere in Indonesia (hello, Canggu).
- The right to work for your own Indonesian limited company (PT PMA) without a work permit (IMTA) or monthly USD 100 “DKP-TKA” fee.
That last point alone saves around USD 1,200 a year compared with a standard Work KITAS. If your Instagram feed has turned into a Bali realtor catalogue, keep reading.
Eligibility Criteria
Understanding eligibility first prevents 90 % of later heartache. Let’s drill into the five pillars immigration officers look at.
1. Company Structure: You Need a PT PMA
The PT PMA (Perseroan Terbatas Penanaman Modal Asing) is Indonesia’s foreign-owned limited company. Key requirements:
- Minimum paid-up capital: IDR 10 billion (~USD 660k) on paper.
Pro tip: only 25 % must be issued initially—IDR 2.5 billion—though tax auditors may ask for evidence later. - At least two shareholders (may both be foreigners).
- A local registered address (not a coworking mailbox).
2. Share Ownership or Directorship
To qualify for the KITAS you must hold:
- ≥ IDR 1,000,000,000 in share value OR
- A director/commissioner seat (listed in the Deed of Incorporation).
If you invest less than a billion rupiah, you can still be a shareholder, but you won’t get the KITAS.
3. Clean Criminal Record
No pending warrants or INTERPOL flags. A basic police clearance from your home country usually suffices.
4. Health Insurance
Not explicit in the statute, but post-COVID every consulate asks for proof. International coverage with evacuation is safest.
5. Passport Validity
Minimum 18 months for a 2-year KITAS, 12 months for a 1-year. Immigration staff reject expired soon passports without mercy.
Pull-quote:
“A valid passport is cheaper than an appeal—renew it before you apply.”
Required Documents Checklist
Nothing torpedoes a case faster than missing paperwork. I give clients this spreadsheet; copy-paste it into your favourite tracker.
| Item | Issued By | Common Pitfalls |
|---|---|---|
| Scanned passport (colour, every page) | Applicant | Cropped edges, glare |
| Passport-sized photo (4×6 cm, red background) | Applicant | White backgrounds rejected |
| CV/Resume | Applicant | Must highlight director role |
| Shareholder certificate & Deed of Establishment | Notary | Names must match passport |
| SKDP (domicile letter) & NIB (business registry) | OSS system | Typos in address |
| Tax ID (NPWP) for company | Tax office | Non-active status |
| Bank reference or capital statement | Bank | Must list IDR or USD equivalent |
| Health insurance card/policy | Insurer | PDF must show validity dates |
| Police clearance (if requested) | Home authority | Notarised + apostilled |
Costs and Processing Times
Let’s talk numbers. Expect two separate buckets: corporate and immigration.
Corporate Set-Up (PT PMA)
- Notary & Legalisation: USD 850–1,200
- Capital deposit (optional upfront): your share of at least IDR 2.5 billion
- Virtual or physical office rent: USD 1,500–3,000 annually
Immigration Fees
| Item | Index | Govt Fee (IDR) | Typical Agent Fee (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telex Approval | C313 | 1,500,000 | 150 |
| Limited Stay Visa (Embassy) | C313 | Varies by embassy | 120 |
| KITAS e-card & MERP | C313 | 3,000,000 | 250 |
| Biometrics | – | 500,000 | Included |
Total government outlay: ~USD 350 for 1 year, ~USD 650 for 2 years. All-in with lawyers/agencies: USD 1,200–1,800, depending on speed.
Processing Times
- PT PMA establishment: 10–14 working days
- Visa Telex approval: 3–7 working days
- Embassy stamping: 2–5 working days
- Arrival & conversion to KITAS: 7–10 working days
Expect 4–6 weeks from “Let’s do this” to holding your e-KITAS.
Application Steps (and Where They Go Wrong)
Below is the same roadmap I walk clients through during onboarding calls—roadblocks included.
Step 1: Set Up the PT PMA
- Reserve company name (AHU system).
- Draft Articles of Association with a notary.
- Obtain NIB (Business Identification Number) via OSS online.
- Register for tax (NPWP) and BPJS social security.
⚠️ Roadblock: Foreign words like “Consulting” or “Solutions” can trigger name rejections. Choose a Bahasa-friendly name or include a dictionary definition page in your upload.
Step 2: Secure RPTKA Exemption Letter
Investor-directors are exempt from the standard Expatriate Placement Plan (RPTKA), saving weeks. Your lawyer submits the PT PMA documents on the MOL website and downloads the exemption letter.
⚠️ Roadblock: If your job title looks operational (“Marketing Lead”), officers may insist on a RPTKA. Stick to “Director” or “Commissioner.”
Step 3: Apply for Visa Telex (Persetujuan Visa)
Submit via the Online Visa Approval System (visa-online.imigrasi.go.id):
- Personal data form
- Company documents
- Payment through SIMPONI portal
Within 3–7 days you receive a Telex PDF sent to the Indonesian embassy you selected.
⚠️ Roadblock: Choosing an embassy that doesn’t handle KITAS (looking at you, small Caribbean posts) will bounce the file. Double-check with the consulate before submission.
Step 4: Embassy Visit & Sticker
Book a slot, pay the sticker fee, and hand over:
- Passport
- Printout of Telex
- Return/onward ticket (some embassies)
- Recent bank statement
⚠️ Roadblock: Dress code is real. Applicants in beach shorts have been told to come back tomorrow.
Step 5: Arrival in Indonesia
You’ll receive a 30-day Entry Visa. Don’t plan island hopping yet—your first goal is converting it to a KITAS.
- Land at the international terminal; immigration stamps “ITAS 30 days.”
- Within 7 days, visit the local Kantor Imigrasi for biometrics.
- Pay the KITAS and MERP fee.
⚠️ Roadblock: Immigration offices in Bali cap daily biometrics quotas. Arrive at 7 a.m. to grab a ticket or drive to Singaraja office for shorter queues.
Step 6: Download Your e-KITAS
Within 4–5 working days you receive an email link to your e-KITAS PDF. Print multiple copies; hotels and banks will ask for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sponsor dependants (spouse, kids)?
Yes. Hold your Investor KITAS first, then file for Limited Stay Permits (C317) under “Family Union.” Budget an extra USD 200 per dependant.
Do I pay Indonesian personal income tax?
If you stay more than 183 days in any 12-month period—yes. Indonesia taxes worldwide income. Many expats use foreign tax credit strategies; see our Tax optimisation guide for scenarios.
Can I freelance or work for another company?
No. The KITAS ties you to the company listed. Moonlighting can invalidate your permit.
How soon can I apply for permanent residency (KITAP)?
After 4 consecutive years on KITAS under the same company and position.
Is an Investor KITAS better than the new Digital Nomad visa?
The 5-year “Second Home” visa bars you from local work and requires USD 130k parked in an Indonesian bank. If you plan to operate a business, the Investor KITAS offers more flexibility.
Pro Tips from the Trenches
- Two directors = Two KITAS – Each foreign director/commissioner can apply without increasing capitalisation. This is handy for co-founders.
- Split capital injections – Wire in tranches aligned with revenue to avoid idle funds flagged by tax auditors.
- Virtual office now, upgrade later – A flexible lease meets the legal address rule; you can shift to a villa office post-approval.
- Mind regional politics – Immigration in Jakarta and Bali processes thousands of expats; remote provinces may “lose” files. Keep HQ in a major city for smooth renewals.
Comparing Paths: Bali vs the World
Bali attracts surfers with laptops, but it isn’t the only relocation game. Europe’s talent route, the Austria Red-White-Red Card overview, offers a path to EU permanent residence, albeit with German classes instead of sunset Bintangs.
If you’re chasing tax-free salaries and skyscrapers rather than palm trees, weigh Indonesia against the Gulf hubs in our Dubai vs Doha career opportunities comparison. Spoiler: Bali wins on weekends, Dubai on earnings.
Common Myths—Busted
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| “I can use a nominee shareholder and skip the PT PMA.” | Illegal. Stricter audits post-Omnibus Law. |
| “The capital requirement is only IDR 170 million.” | That figure applies to local PT, not foreign-owned. |
| “I must live in Jakarta to hold a KITAS.” | Live anywhere; the company’s registered address determines your immigration office. |
| “Once I have a KITAS, I never need to report.” | Annual tax and manpower reports are mandatory—even if dormant. |
Renewal and Exit Strategy
KITAS renewal is simpler—no embassy visit—but mark calendars early.
- File 2 months before expiry.
- Update company financial statements; immigration may request proof of activity (sales invoices, tax filings).
- Pay fees (same as initial, minus sticker).
- Biometrics again if moving province.
Exiting Indonesia? Cancel the KITAS before departure, or risk re-entry trouble later. The process takes three working days and costs nothing except agent courier fees.
Life After Approval: Practicalities
Opening a Bank Account
BCA, Mandiri and CIMB accept KITAS holders. Bring:
- Passport & KITAS print
- NPWP (personal tax ID)
- Minimum deposit (~USD 100)
Expect to sign fatwa-thick paperwork entirely in Bahasa. A bilingual friend is gold.
Driving Legally
Foreign licences are valid for 30 days. Long term, convert to a local SIM A (cars) or SIM C (motorbikes); police love checkpoint fines.
Healthcare
BIMC and Siloam hospitals accept international insurance. For day-to-day, local clinics charge USD 10 per visit.
Everyday Costs
A modern one-bedroom near Canggu beach: USD 750/month.
Coworking desk: USD 120/month.
Flat white: USD 2.50.
All the more reason to finalise that term sheet and get moving.
Key Takeaways
- Form a PT PMA, invest at least IDR 1 billion, hold a director/commissioner title.
- Budget ~USD 3–5k all-in for company plus first-year KITAS.
- Total timeline: 4–6 weeks if paperwork is spotless.
- Renewal is straightforward but annual tax filings are non-negotiable.
- Dependants welcome, moonlighting forbidden, sunsets encouraged.
Ready to Trade Cubicles for Coconut Trees?
Thousands have done it; you can too. Start by mapping your personal timeline, budget and compliance checkpoints. BorderPilot crunches the regulatory data across 170+ jurisdictions—including Indonesia—so you don’t miss a requirement or a deadline.
Create your free relocation plan today and let’s get your Investor KITAS stamped before the next swell rolls in.