A guide to Indonesian work permits
As Southeast Asia’s second largest economy, Indonesia is an attractive choice when it comes to expanding your business overseas. Over the last 10 years, Indonesia has seen steady growth and is set to become the fourth-largest economy in the world by 2050.
It's fast growing economy presents various opportunities in a variety of sectors. These include construction, energy, mining and manufacturing.
Different types of visas in Indonesia
The government of Indonesia provides Visa exemptions?to nationals of 169 countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and Singapore. For the rest, an extendable tourist visa on arrival or multiple entry visa can be obtained to visit Indonesia.
For individuals who are planning to work in Indonesia, the process is more complex.
Previously, in order for a foreign employee to enter Indonesia for work, they would need an individual work permit (IMTA). This has now been replaced with a Notification from the Ministry of Manpower.
Once an employee or business has obtained a notification, they can apply for an Indonesian visa. International workers will be issued a?Visa Telex (visa index 312), which allows them to?work and?travel to Indonesia.?
There are two types of visas for foreign nationals who intend to live and work in Indonesia.
Izin Tinggal Terbatas?or?Electronic?ITAS?(e-ITAS)
This grants employees the right to stay in Indonesia and open up a bank account. They can also stay in the country and after three years apply for permanent residency. Before applying for the ITAS the employee must get an Visa Izin Tinggal Terbatas (VITAS) - an Indonesian limited-stay permit visa.
Kartu Izin Tinggal Tetap?(KITAP)
Employees can also apply for a permanent residence permit (KITAP). This is only available to staff who have held an ITAS for three consecutive years or more.
The employer needs to apply for the ITAS on behalf of its employees. Alternatively they can partner with a?global mobility company to oversee the process of obtaining Indonesian visas and work permits for the organisation.
How to apply for an Indonesian work visa (ITAS)
As of 2021, the process of applying for a work visa in Indonesia is as follows:
1. Submit a RPTKA to the Ministry of Manpower
In order to employ a foreign national in Indonesia,?the sponsor company in Indonesia?must get?a?formal approval from the government before making a visa application.??
The sponsor company must?submit a Foreign Manpower?Placement?Plan?(RPTKA) to the Ministry of Manpower?(Article 42 Manpower Act number?13-year?2003). Without this, the government will not issue the?IMTA and e-Visa notification?to your employee.?
However, there are some exceptions to the rule.
If the employee works in any of the following roles, they won’t need to apply for an RPTKA:
Once the RPTK has been issued, the expat employee should apply for the?Confirmation of the Duration of Work Authorization. Upon approval of the confirmation letter by the Ministry of Manpower, the DPKK fees should be paid within three days.
Referred to as?Dana Pengembangan Keahlian dan Keterampilan or?Expertise and Skills Development Fund,?DPKK is paid directly to Indonesia's Department of Manpower (DEPNAKER) in accordance with the Manpower Act No.13 Year 2003).
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2. Apply for an IMTA
When the RPTKA has been approved and a copy of the DPKK has been uploaded online, you’ll need to apply for a working permit (IMTA) for your employee.
To do this, you will need to provide the following information about the applicant:
This part of the work permit processing time usually takes three to five working days for the information to be processed and approved by the Ministry of Manpower.
Your employee’s IMTA will be valid for a minimum of one year; this can be extended depending on how long the RPTKA is valid for (up to two years).?
3. Apply for an ITAS
Once the?IMTA?has been approved, the next step is to apply for your?Electronic Visa or e-Visa (type C312 for working visa).This can be done at the Indonesian Immigration office in the expat employee's intended city of residence.
The e-Visa?will be sent to the sponsor company by email once it's approved. The expats will enter the country with the E-Visa.?When all the paperwork for the e-visa is complete, you will be issued the ITAS or Resident’s Permit.
Upon arrival in Indonesia, the expat employee will receive a Stay Permit & Re-Entry sticker on their passport.
Indonesian work visa requirements
There are a number of requirements the employee and employer will need to demonstrate in order to obtain an Indonesian work permit.
The employer must provide:
The employee on the other hand, should provide these documents:
Age requirements for a work permit in Indonesia
Though foreign workers are generally eligible for a Indonesian work permit at any age, some industries do have specific rules surrounding age limitation.
For example, as regulated by the Indonesian Ministry of Energy, employees in the oil and gas industry,?need to be aged between 30 and 55 to work in the country.
However, age restrictions are not applicable to the highest-level position in your organisation, such as directors or commissioners.
Extending Indonesian visas and work permits
If you want to extend an employee’s Indonesian work permit, you will only need to pay the second-year DPKK. The bill will be sent by the Ministry of Manpower one month before the notification is due to expire.
Any workers holding a permit valid for less than two years can submit a new work permit application or extension at least two months before the notification expires.
Professional Manager (Procurement Specialist) Currently in Career Transition
3 年I lived and worked there for two years the sponsor companies engage professional agents to complete the process my involvement was to provide my docs and attend with the agents for photos and official docs.
General Manager People and Culture at Ruah Community Services | Past President, Rotary of Elizabeth Quay
3 年Great blog series Nic!