A guide to Indonesian visas and work permits

How to get a working permit in Indonesia

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, oil and gas, mining and metals, and electronics.

If you’re planning to mobilise your workforce in Indonesia, you must take several considerations into account.

Different types of visas in Indonesia

Indonesia offers several visa and stay‑permit options depending on the purpose and length of stay.

Short‑term visits (tourism and business)

Indonesia provides limited visa‑free entry, primarily for ASEAN nationals, while many other travellers enter using an electronic Visa on Arrival (e‑VOA) or an appropriate visit visa.

• Visit visas may be issued as single‑entry or multiple‑entry visas
• These visas are intended for tourism, meetings, training, or short‑term business activities
• They do not permit employment or income‑generating work

Travellers should always confirm the correct visa type and eligibility via Indonesia’s official eVisa portal before travelling.

Visas and permits for working in Indonesia

For foreign nationals who intend to live and work in Indonesia, the process is more complex and involves both manpower approval and immigration authorisation.

Work authorisation (manpower stage)

Previously, foreign employees were required to hold an individual IMTA (work permit). This system has now been abolished and replaced by an electronic Notification (Notifikasi) issued by the Ministry of Manpower, following approval of the employer’s RPTKA (Foreign Manpower Utilisation Plan).

Work visa (entry visa)

Once the employer has obtained:

• An approved RPTKA, and
• A valid Notification,

they can apply for the foreign employee’s Indonesian work visa.

Foreign employees are issued a Limited Stay Visa for work purposes (historically referred to as C312), which allows them to enter Indonesia for employment.

Stay permits for foreign employees

Foreign nationals who live and work in Indonesia must also hold a valid stay permit.

Izin Tinggal Terbatas (ITAS / e‑ITAS)

The ITAS (Limited Stay Permit) is the primary permit held by foreign employees.

An ITAS allows the holder to:

• Reside legally in Indonesia
• Work for the sponsoring employer
• Open a local bank account
• Obtain tax and administrative registrations where required

An ITAS is issued after entry into Indonesia using the work visa and is typically valid for 6 or 12 months, depending on the approved employment period.

It can be extended as long as the employment and sponsorship continue.

Note: Before an ITAS is issued, the employee must first obtain the Limited Stay Visa (VITAS), which is the entry visa that converts into the ITAS upon arrival.

Kartu Izin Tinggal Tetap (KITAP)

Foreign nationals who meet specific long‑term residency criteria may become eligible for a KITAP (Permanent Stay Permit).

A KITAP:

• Grants long‑term residence status
• Is available only after holding an ITAS for a qualifying continuous period, which varies depending on the individual’s status (e.g. employee, spouse, investor)
• Is not automatic and requires a separate application and approval

Eligibility rules and timelines depend on the category of stay and must be assessed on a case‑by‑case basis.

How to apply for an Indonesian work visa (ITAS)

In 2018, Indonesia introduced a revised foreign manpower framework to simplify and accelerate work permit processing. This reform replaced the standalone IMTA with an electronic notification system and integrated manpower and immigration workflows.

The latest Indonesian work permit process follows the steps below:

Document collection and initial preparation

The process begins with the collection of personal and company documents required for manpower approval and immigration processing.

This preparatory stage is employer-led and typically takes approximately 7 working days, depending on document readiness and role complexity.

Submit RPTKA to the Ministry of Manpower

Before a foreign national can legally work in Indonesia, the sponsoring company must obtain approval to employ foreign labour from the Ministry of Manpower (Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan / Kemnaker).

This approval is known as the Rencana Penggunaan Tenaga Kerja Asing (RPTKA) and is a mandatory prerequisite for work authorisation and visa issuance.

What is the RPTKA?

The RPTKA is a government-approved plan that outlines:

• Why a foreign worker is required
• The approved job title and position
• Employment duration
• Work location
• Knowledge transfer plan to local employees (where applicable)

Who applies?

The employer or Indonesian sponsor company submits the RPTKA application electronically via the TKA Online system managed by the Ministry of Manpower.

RPTKA approval typically takes around 14 working days, subject to role and sector.

RPTKA exemptions

An RPTKA is not required for limited categories of foreign nationals, including:

• Directors or commissioners who are also shareholders
• Diplomatic and consular officers
• Certain government-designated assignments

These exemptions are strictly defined and do not apply to standard employee roles.

Data verification and individual approval

Once the RPTKA is approved, the employer proceeds with individual-level data submission for the foreign employee through the Manpower system.

At this stage, the Ministry of Manpower verifies and uploads:

• Employee personal and passport details
• Job title and position (must match the RPTKA)
• Qualifications and experience

This step formally links the approved role, employer, and individual employee.

Notification (Notifikasi) issued and levy payment

Indonesia no longer issues IMTA (Izin Mempekerjakan Tenaga Kerja Asing) as a standalone permit.
IMTA has been abolished and replaced by an electronic Notification (Notifikasi) system.

The Notification now serves as the official work authorisation for foreign employees.

What happens at this stage?

Once the employee data is approved, the Ministry of Manpower issues:

• An electronic Notification (Notifikasi)
• A Notification barcode for payment of statutory levies

The Notification is automatically transmitted to the Immigration system for visa processing.

Paying the DKP TKA (DPKK) levy

The employer must pay the Dana Kompensasi Penggunaan Tenaga Kerja Asing (DKP TKA / DPKK), which includes:

• USD 100 per month per foreign worker
• Paid in advance for the approved employment duration
• Paid directly by the employer to the Indonesian government

Once payment is confirmed, the Notification becomes valid, allowing the process to move to Immigration.

E‑Visa issued (Immigration department)

Following Notification validation and payment, Immigration issues a Limited Stay E‑Visa.

• Processing typically takes around 7 working days
• The E‑Visa document (C‑312) is emailed to:
  • The sponsor company
  • The expatriate

The foreign national must be outside Indonesia when the E‑Visa is issued.

Entry into Indonesia

The expatriate enters Indonesia using the E‑Visa and receives an Arrival Visa 312 endorsement at immigration clearance.

Post‑arrival permit issuance

After entry, Immigration finalises the stay and travel permits by issuing:

• E‑ITAS (Electronic Limited Stay Permit Card) to the sponsor company
• MERP (Multiple Entry and Re‑Entry Permit) stamped in the passport

These documents authorise the expatriate to:

• Reside legally in Indonesia
• Work for the sponsoring company
• Travel in and out of Indonesia during the permit validity period

Important notes for employers and HR teams

• All information must be fully consistent across Manpower and Immigration systems (job title, location, duration, passport details).
• Inconsistencies are one of the most common causes of delays or rejections.
• Requirements and processing may vary slightly by industry, role, or assignment length, especially for project-based employment.

Extending Indonesian visas and work permits

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Foreign employees who wish to continue working in Indonesia must ensure that both manpower and immigration approvals remain valid. Extensions are not automatic and must be initiated by the sponsoring employer before the existing permits expire.

What needs to be extended?

In Indonesia, a “work permit” is not a single document. An extension typically involves renewing:

• The RPTKA (Foreign Manpower Utilisation Plan), and

• The employee’s ITAS (Limited Stay Permit), which is linked to the work visa

If either approval expires, the employee must stop working immediately until the extension is completed.

RPTKA and work authorisation extensions

To continue employing a foreign national beyond the approved period, the employer must apply to extend the RPTKA via the Ministry of Manpower’s TKA Online system.

As part of this process:

• The Ministry reassesses whether the role, job title, work location, and employment duration remain compliant

• Any changes to company details or employee information must be disclosed

• The employer must pay the DKP TKA (foreign worker compensation fund) for the extended period, calculated at USD 100 per month per foreign worker, paid in advance

The levy is not automatically invoiced and should be treated as part of the extension workflow rather than a passive renewal.

ITAS (limited stay permit) extension

Once the manpower approval is extended, the employer proceeds with the ITAS extension through Indonesia’s immigration system.

An ITAS can be renewed as long as:

• The employment relationship continues

• The RPTKA remains valid

• The sponsoring company remains compliant

Extensions must be submitted before the ITAS expiry date to avoid overstay penalties, work disruption, or forced exit from Indonesia.

When to start the extension process

Employers should begin preparing extensions well in advance of expiry.

As a general guideline:

• Extensions are typically initiated 30–60 days before expiry
• Short-term permits often require a full reassessment, rather than a simple rollover

• Late applications increase the risk of gaps in work authorisation

Employees are not permitted to work while an expired permit is pending renewal.

Using an Employer of Record (EOR) for your visa and work permit needs

Managing extensions requires coordination across manpower, immigration, payroll, and compliance systems. For many organisations, particularly those without a local HR or legal presence, this can be complex and time consuming.

Many organisations choose to partner with a global mobility provider or Employer of Record (EOR) to manage Indonesian visas and work permits compliantly, reduce administrative burden, and minimise regulatory risk. 

Get in touch with us today to learn how we can support your Indonesian workforce through compliant hiring, visa management, and long-term mobility solutions.