Ways to stay legally

Work KITAS (E23 / ITAS for employment) through an Indonesian employer

Checked 13 November 2026

Who it is for

Foreign professionals hired by an Indonesian company (a local PT or PT PMA) for a specific position that the company can show needs foreign expertise. It does not suit freelancers, people without a local sponsor, or people who plan to work remotely for a foreign employer. For remote work, look at other permit types. The permit ties you to one sponsor and one job title.

Requirements

Sponsor: a registered Indonesian company (PT or PT PMA) licensed to employ foreigners. The company starts the process and files the applications. You supply your documents.
Experience and education: guides commonly cite a university degree related to the role and at least 5 years of relevant professional experience, checked at the manpower-approval (RPTKA) stage. Ask the employer to confirm the current rule for your job category.
Documents (typical): passport with long validity (agents commonly say about 18 months for a 1-year permit), CV, diplomas, reference letters proving experience, employment contract with the Indonesian company, and a passport photo. Some professions also need licences or certificates. Check with your sponsor whether diplomas need notarisation or legalisation.
Employer-side approvals: the RPTKA (foreign manpower utilisation plan) from the Ministry of Manpower. In the 2025 reform this became a feasibility assessment (HPK RPTKA) followed by attestation. The old IMTA work permit was replaced by a "Notification", but many sources still call the whole package "IMTA".
Employer levy: DKP-TKA, a skills-development fund payment.
Entry visa: a limited-stay visa for work (index C312, also called VITAS or e-Visa), issued through the immigration e-visa system.

Duration

The limited-stay visa is the entry document. The immigration authority says stay under the C312 work visa is for 6 months (180 days), 1 year or 2 years depending on the application, and that the stay permit can be extended. Community and agent guides say the entry visa is valid for about 60 days, and that you convert it to the KITAS/ITAS card after arrival. They also say permits are commonly issued for 6 or 12 months, and up to 2 years for some work permits. The validity is tied to the approved RPTKA and your contract. Extensions are filed by the employer before expiry. After long-term residence you may become eligible for a permanent stay permit (KITAP). Ask immigration for the current eligibility rules.

Cost

Employer pays:

DKP-TKA levy: USD 100 per month per foreign worker, paid upfront for the permit period (USD 1,200 for a 12-month permit). Several sources confirm this for 2025–2026.

Government fees (published by an agent, so check current figures):

Visa (VITAS): IDR 500,000.
ITAS, 1 year: IDR 3,000,000. 2 years: IDR 5,000,000.
Re-entry permit (MERP), 1 year: IDR 1,500,000. 2 years: IDR 2,000,000.

All-in with an agent: one property-industry guide estimates about USD 2,500–4,000 for a one-year permit, including the levy and agent fees. This is an estimate, not an official figure.

Timeline: sources differ. Estimates run from 4–8 weeks to 8–12 weeks from RPTKA submission to card issuance. Plan for 2–3 months. Visa approval alone is often quoted as 2–4 weeks. The process is now digital.

Allowed

Living in Indonesia for the permit period and working for the sponsoring employer in the approved position.
Entering with the work visa and converting it to the KITAS/ITAS card after arrival, using the sponsor's letter and biometrics at the local immigration office.
Travelling abroad and returning, provided you hold a valid re-entry permit (MERP) where required.
Having eligible family members come on dependent permits (dependent visa index C317, sponsored by you). Confirm the conditions with the sponsor.
Applying for an extension through your employer before the permit expires.

Not allowed

Working before the approvals and your stay permit are in place. A tourist or visit visa does not allow work.
Working for a different employer, in a different role, or doing work outside the approved RPTKA position without the permit being amended.
Staying past the validity of your permit.
Giving false documents or experience claims. Failed checks at the RPTKA stage stop the whole application.
Paying the employer's levy out of your own salary as a deduction. Sources say the DKP-TKA is the sponsor's obligation.

Risks

**Experience gap:** if you cannot document the required years of relevant experience, the employer's application can fail before the visa stage.
**Job-title mismatch:** your diplomas and experience have to match the position on the RPTKA.
**Rules changed recently:** the 2025 reform replaced the IMTA with a Notification and added the HPK and attestation steps. Older guides and some agents use outdated terms or timelines. Ask the employer for the current process.
**Sponsor dependence:** if the employment ends, your permit is tied to that sponsor. Agree in advance on cancellation, re-sponsorship and exit procedures.
**30-day deadline:** guides say you must convert the visa to the KITAS and register biometrics within 30 days of arrival. Do not miss it.
**Overstay and unauthorised work:** these can lead to fines, deportation and entry bans.
**Passport validity:** a passport with too little validity can block the application or the extension.
**Agents:** costs and quality vary. Get the fee breakdown in writing and confirm the company, not an agent's shell, is the legal sponsor.

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This is not legal advice. Rules change — check official sources or a professional before you act.