Indonesia Long-Stay Visa Options for Foreigners: Second Home, KITAS, and Residency Explained

Indonesia offers several legal pathways for foreigners planning a long-term stay, with the main options being the Second Home Visa (for those with sufficient financial capacity), various categories of KITAS (Limited Stay Permit) for employed workers, retirees, investors, and foreign spouses, and the KITAP (Permanent Stay Permit) for long-term residents who have held a KITAS continuously for several years.

How to Navigate Indonesia's Long-Stay Options: At a Glance

1. Identify which applicant profile fits your situation — employed, retired, investor, spouse, or passive resident
2. Compare the relevant permit pathways using the overview table below
3. Confirm eligibility requirements and check current fund or sponsorship thresholds with Ditjen Imigrasi
4. Gather required documents for your chosen category — most applications are submitted via evisa.imigrasi.go.id
5. Apply online, enter Indonesia on the appropriate visa, then complete the in-country ITAS registration step
6. Register with your local civil administration office (Disdukcapil) to obtain your SKTT residency certificate

[Conditions described here as of early 2026 may change without notice, so verify current visa requirements at imigrasi.go.id before applying.]

In this guide

• Who This Guide Is For
• Indonesia Long-Stay Options at a Glance
• Breaking Down the Key Pathways
• What You Will Need to Apply
• Timelines and Fees
• On the Ground: What Applicants Run Into
• Common Questions About Staying Long Term in Indonesia

Who This Guide Is For

Indonesia's long-stay immigration framework is designed for a fairly specific set of applicants. If you fall into one of these categories, you are well-placed. If you do not, the options are more limited than many people expect.

• Retirees and passive income holders who can demonstrate sufficient funds and have no intention of working locally — the Second Home Visa or Retirement KITAS are the two main routes
• Employed expatriates sponsored by an Indonesian company under a TKA Notification (the work authorisation from the Ministry of Manpower)
• Remote workers and digital nomads — the Second Home Visa is the most commonly used pathway, though it does not authorise work for Indonesian clients or employers
• Investors with registered shareholdings in Indonesian entities (typically a PT PMA)
• Foreign spouses of Indonesian nationals — eligible for a spouse KITAS with a legalised marriage certificate

Indonesia is not well-suited for foreigners who want to freelance informally, work for foreign companies while living in Bali without a proper visa basis, or maintain a long-term presence on tourist visa extensions. Indonesian immigration authorities have consistently increased enforcement activity in Bali in particular, targeting foreigners working without proper authorisation.

Indonesia Long-Stay Options at a Glance

Breaking Down the Key Pathways

The Second Home Visa

Introduced in 2022, the Second Home Visa (Rumah Kedua) was a genuine step forward for Indonesia's appeal as a long-stay destination. It is designed specifically for foreigners who want to live in Indonesia for an extended period without being employed locally, and it removes the annual sponsor requirement that made older pathways administratively burdensome.

Financial requirements: Applicants qualify through one of two routes. The first is a cash deposit of at least USD 130,000 held in the applicant's own name at a state-owned Indonesian bank — specifically BNI, BRI, or Mandiri. The second is ownership of residential property in Indonesia valued at a minimum of USD 1,000,000, held under a Hak Pakai (right-to-use) title. Leasehold agreements do not qualify. The funds or property must be maintained throughout the visa's validity; immigration retains the right to verify compliance at any time and may cancel the permit for non-compliance.

How arrival and registration works: When a Second Home Visa holder enters Indonesia, the ITAS (Limited Stay Permit) is issued directly at the airport immigration checkpoint upon arrival — there is no need to visit a local Kantor Imigrasi to convert the visa. However, within 90 days of receiving the ITAS, the holder must provide immigration with proof of the required deposit or property ownership. Missing this window results in cancellation of the permit.

Practical note: The online application process typically takes two to six weeks. Delays most often occur at the fund verification stage. Applicants who have not yet moved funds into an Indonesian state bank before applying should factor in the time to open the account and transfer the balance.

KITAS for Employment

Foreign nationals employed by Indonesian companies or foreign-invested enterprises (PT PMA) require a KITAS alongside a valid TKA Notification — the work authorisation issued by the Ministry of Manpower. The TKA Notification replaced the former IMTA (Izin Mempekerjakan Tenaga Asing) under Presidential Regulation No. 20 of 2018 and is now the current official work authorisation term. Some service providers still use "IMTA" informally; when dealing with official portals, the correct term to search for is Notification or Pemberitahuan.

The employer initiates and is legally responsible for the Notification process, which itself follows approval of an RPTKA (Rencana Penggunaan Tenaga Kerja Asing — the foreign worker utilisation plan). The full chain is: RPTKA approval → TKA Notification → work e-Visa via evisa.imigrasi.go.id → entry → ITAS issuance and KITAS activation.

The KITAS is typically issued for one or two years and must be renewed before expiry. Holders are tied to their sponsoring employer; changing jobs requires cancelling the existing KITAS and restarting the process through the new employer — a significant practical consideration for anyone in a career transition.

After receiving the KITAS, all holders — not only work KITAS holders — are required by law to register with the local civil administration office (Disdukcapil) and obtain an SKTT (Surat Keterangan Tempat Tinggal — Certificate of Domicile for Foreigners). The legal window for this registration is 14 days of KITAS issuance, though enforcement varies widely in practice and many holders complete it later without consequence. The SKTT is needed for opening bank accounts, registering vehicles, accessing BPJS, and a range of other day-to-day administrative tasks. Work KITAS holders' employers often manage this as part of onboarding; other KITAS holders must initiate it themselves.

Retirement KITAS

Foreigners aged 55 and over can apply for a Retirement KITAS (index E33F), which allows a one-year stay renewable annually up to five times. A separate Silver Hair Visa (index E33E) under the Golden Visa programme is available for applicants aged 60 and above who meet higher financial thresholds — that category is distinct from the standard Retirement KITAS.

Unlike the Second Home Visa, the Retirement KITAS requires a sponsor in the form of a licensed Indonesian retirement visa agent — typically a legal firm or immigration consultancy registered with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. Holders may not work in Indonesia. Holders must maintain a local bank account, valid health insurance covering them in Indonesia, and evidence of regular income from abroad such as pension payments or investment returns.

This pathway has been popular among foreigners living in Bali who do not have the lump-sum capital required for the Second Home Visa.

Investor KITAS

Foreigners holding a shareholding in an Indonesian company — most commonly a PT PMA — can apply for an Investor KITAS. Eligibility requires a minimum capital commitment or share ownership of at least IDR 10 billion in the Indonesian entity, as confirmed under Permenkumham No. 22 of 2023 as amended. Some recent Ministry of Investment guidance suggests lower minimum paid-up capital thresholds for certain PT PMA structures — but any such adjustment to company capital requirements does not change the separate IDR 10 billion shareholding threshold that determines Investor KITAS eligibility. Confirm current requirements with Ditjen Imigrasi or a licensed immigration consultant before relying on any specific capital figure.

The PT PMA must be in good standing, filing regular LKPM investment reports to the relevant authorities, and have completed the necessary business licensing steps. A dormant or paper company is unlikely to support a KITAS application successfully, and Indonesian authorities have intensified scrutiny of such structures, particularly in Bali.

KITAP: The Long-Term Permit

The KITAP (Kartu Izin Tinggal Tetap — Permanent Stay Permit) is the goal for many long-term residents. It is valid for five years and renewable, and removes the need for annual KITAS renewals. To qualify, applicants generally need to have held a KITAS continuously for a minimum number of years — the threshold varies by category. Spouse-sponsored KITAS holders have a faster pathway to KITAP than most other categories and can apply after two years of marriage and three consecutive years of holding a KITAS. For most other categories, five years of consistent, uninterrupted KITAS history is the foundation.

KITAP holders replace their SKTT with a KTP Orang Asing (foreigner's national identity card), which they obtain from Disdukcapil.

What You Will Need to Apply

Required Documents (Most Categories)

The following documents apply across most long-stay permit applications. Each serves a specific purpose in the Ditjen Imigrasi review process.

Valid passport — must have sufficient remaining validity; most categories require at least 6 months. This is the core identity document linking you to your visa application.

Online visa application via evisa.imigrasi.go.id — all long-stay permit applications are submitted through this portal. The sponsor (where required) must have a registered account to initiate the application on the applicant's behalf.

Sponsor letter or guarantee letter — required for all KITAS categories with a sponsor (work, retirement, spouse, investor). This document places formal legal responsibility for the applicant's presence and activities on the sponsoring entity or individual.

Proof of financial capacity — the form this takes depends on the category. For the Second Home Visa: a bank statement from an Indonesian state-owned bank or property title documents confirming the required balance or ownership. For retirement KITAS: pension statements or equivalent evidence of regular income. For investor KITAS: proof of share ownership in the Indonesian entity.

Valid health insurance with Indonesian coverage — required for retirement, Second Home, and several other categories. Confirms the applicant will not become dependent on local public health infrastructure.

Recent passport photographs — specifications (background colour, dimensions) vary by office and category. Confirm requirements before printing, as incorrect photos are a documented reason for on-the-spot file rejection.

Specific to Work-Related KITAS

• TKA Notification from the Ministry of Manpower (previously called IMTA) — the legal work authorisation document confirming the Ministry has approved the company's plan to employ this specific foreign national in the specified role
• Company deed and business licence (NIB/SIUP) of the sponsoring entity — confirms the company is legally registered and authorised to employ foreign workers
• Employment contract — establishes the role, salary, and term of employment to which the Notification refers
• Educational qualifications — typically required to match the role described in the RPTKA, demonstrating the foreign worker brings skills not locally available

Translation and Legalisation

Foreign documents must be translated into Indonesian or English by a certified sworn translator (penerjemah tersumpah). Marriage certificates issued abroad require legalisation through the Indonesian embassy or consulate in the issuing country before they are accepted by Ditjen Imigrasi.

Timelines and Fees

Processing times vary considerably between permit types, application channels, and offices. Applicants should confirm current official fees directly with the Directorate General of Immigration (Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi) at imigrasi.go.id, as the fee schedule was updated in December 2024 under PP No. 45 of 2024 and is subject to further revision.

Second Home Visa: The online application process has taken two to six weeks in reported applicant experience, with significant variance. Delays are most common at the fund verification stage. After approval and entry, the 90-day window to submit proof of deposit or property ownership is a firm deadline — missing it triggers cancellation.

Work KITAS: The full chain from RPTKA approval to KITAS activation has historically taken four to eight weeks in Jakarta under smooth conditions. Bali immigration offices manage substantially higher volumes and timelines extend further. From the employer's side, the sequence is RPTKA submission → Ministry of Manpower Notification → work e-Visa → entry → ITAS/KITAS issuance.

Retirement KITAS: Processing is handled by the sponsoring agent. Timeline from document submission to ITAS issuance is typically four to eight weeks depending on office volume.

Agent and legal service fees vary considerably — Bali-based agencies set their own service rates, which are separate from official government fees and can differ significantly between providers.

On the Ground: What Applicants Run Into

Bali deserves particular attention. The island processes a disproportionately large share of Indonesia's foreign resident applications, and the Denpasar immigration office operates under substantial and sustained pressure. Small details — the exact format of a sponsor letter, whether a document was notarised at a specific level, photograph background colour — are interpreted differently by different officers. Experienced local agents who work regularly with the Denpasar office navigate this far more efficiently than first-time applicants.

Jakarta's Ditjen Imigrasi headquarters is where unusual cases and escalations end up. For standard applications following routine pathways, Jakarta is generally more procedurally predictable than Bali.

The Second Home Visa does not authorise working for Indonesian clients or employers. Enforcement activity targeting foreigners working without proper authorisation has been consistent and well-documented in Bali, and the Indonesian authorities have been explicit that the Second Home Visa is not a work permit substitute.

Common Questions About Staying Long Term in Indonesia

Can I own property in Indonesia on a long-stay visa? Foreigners cannot own freehold land in Indonesia (Hak Milik). Long-term options include leasehold arrangements or ownership through a PT PMA structure. KITAS and Second Home Visa holders can hold a Hak Pakai (right-to-use) title on certain property types. Property ownership for foreigners in Indonesia is a complex area covered separately.

Is there a tax obligation for long-stay residents? Indonesia defines tax residency by physical presence — staying more than 183 days in a fiscal year generally makes you a tax resident. KITAS holders with local income are subject to Indonesian income tax. Second Home Visa holders earning income abroad should seek specific tax advice, as the rules interact with applicable tax treaties and individual income sources.

Can my spouse and children join me on my KITAS? Yes. Dependants of KITAS holders can apply for a dependent KITAS (KITAS Pasangan for spouses, KITAS Anak for children). The primary holder's KITAS serves as the basis for family members' applications.

What happens if I overstay my visa? Overstays carry a fine of IDR 1,000,000 per day, enforced at departure. Short overstays are typically resolved financially at the airport. Overstays beyond 60 days move from the administrative to the criminal domain and can result in detention and formal deportation procedures, as well as a re-entry ban.

Is the Second Home Visa better than the Retirement KITAS? For those with sufficient capital, the Second Home Visa offers longer validity, no sponsor requirement, and significantly less annual administrative work. The Retirement KITAS is lower-cost upfront, requires a sponsor, and must be renewed every year. Which is better depends on the individual's financial position, appetite for annual paperwork, and how long they intend to stay.

Do I need an SKTT as well as a KITAS? Yes — all KITAS holders are required by Indonesian law to register with their local Disdukcapil civil administration office and obtain an SKTT (Certificate of Domicile) after receiving their KITAS. The legal window is 14 days, though enforcement of this deadline varies considerably between cities and is not consistently applied. In practice, many KITAS holders complete the registration later without penalty. Regardless of timing, obtaining the SKTT promptly is worthwhile: it is required for bank accounts, vehicle registration, BPJS health insurance, and many other day-to-day administrative processes in Indonesia.

Sources

• Directorate General of Immigration (Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi)
• Ministry of Immigration and Correction (Kementerian Imigrasi dan Pemasyarakatan)
• Ministry of Manpower (Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan / Kemnaker)

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