An Overview of Visas in Indonesia for Foreigners

Indonesia has a visa for every situation, from a 30-day visa-free entry to the new E33G remote worker KITAS and a retirement visa. This overview matches each option to your plan, whether you are visiting, working, freelancing remotely, or settling down for good.

There are many types of visas available in Indonesia. The purpose and the length of your stay determines the type of visa you get. 

When applying for a visa, consider the length of your stay. That is, consider whether you intend to run a business, look for work, or retire here. 

Visa Exemption

Indonesia has a visa exemption program only with ASEAN countries such as Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam.

With the visa exemption, you can stay in Indonesia for up to 30 days without having to apply for a visa. Basically, you can fly to Indonesia with just your passport and enter the country.

While the Indonesian immigration website says you need proof of onward travel, it’s not always required. Many travelers enter visa-free and are never asked to show it.

Visa exemptions do come with restrictions. They can’t be extended or changed to other visa types, and you’re not allowed to work in Indonesia with one. 

Visa on Arrival (VOA)

The easiest way to stay for 60 days or less is with the Visa on Arrival (VoA). Indonesian Immigration offers VoA to citizens of more than 90 countries. You have to pay a visa fee of IDR500,000 (~US$35) at the airport before approaching immigration. Make sure to keep the receipt. You’ll need to present it to the immigration office later if you extend your visa beyond 30 days. 

Before the end of your first 30 days, you have to visit the nearest immigration office to extend the stay for a further 30 days and show proof that you’ve paid the VoA fee. You cannot apply earlier than 14 days or more than a couple of working days before your 30 days expire.

You also need to visit the immigration office whose jurisdiction governs the area you’re staying in Indonesia.

Some expats exit the country after getting their 60-day extension, then re-enter on another VoA, pay IDR500,000 again, and apply for another extension of stay. 

We don’t recommend doing this for long-term stays. Immigration authorities may fine you for not getting the right type of visa and could reject your application to extend your stay.

That said, you can apply for the electronic VoA before visiting Indonesia right from the Indonesia Immigration website. 

Work Visa (C312) and KITAS

This is relevant for those who intend to work in Indonesia. 

A work visa allows you to stay in Indonesia for a year, and you can extend it within Indonesia. With a work visa, you also get an Indonesian work permit, or Kartu Izin Tinggal Terbatas (KITAS).

Even if you already have a source of income before moving to Indonesia, you still need to get a KITAS if you’re looking for work in the country. In addition to the work visa, your sponsor/employer has to obtain special documentation that permits them to employ you as an expat.

You can then apply for family dependent visas called KITAS-Keluarga, or Family KITAS.

There are also visas for journalists, researchers, and other types of foreign visitors.

Good to know: Biometric capture (fingerprints and a photo) must be done in person at an immigration office, so fully online extensions are no longer possible. The main exception is an extension filed from outside Indonesia through your sponsor.

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Expect slower processing in mid-2026: An anti-corruption investigation by Indonesia’s KPK into immigration offices in West Jakarta, Bali, and West Java has slowed visa processing. Work visas are taking around 7 to 11 business days instead of the usual 5, and exit permits 3 to 5 days instead of 2. KITAS biometric appointments also have less help at the counter. Apply early and build in extra time. See this Fragomen update for the latest.

Indonesia’s 2024 immigration law update (Law Number 63 of 2024) changed a few rules for foreigners. Your re-entry permit now lasts as long as your stay permit. That means one year for most KITAS holders and five years for permanent-stay (ITAP) holders, instead of the old flat two-year permit. Check that your re-entry permit still covers any travel you have planned.

The same law gave immigration officers stronger enforcement powers. An exit ban for someone with unresolved legal problems can now be extended only once, for up to six months. Entry and re-entry bans can run for up to 10 years, with a possible 10-year extension. Police can also ask hotels and villas for information about their foreign guests.

Longer Duration Visas Without Work Permits

If you don’t intend to work in Indonesia but plan to live here for a long time, you must apply for one of the following.

Social Visa (B211A and D212)

You may stay for a period of up to six months on a social visa. 

A single entry social visa is called B211A and the multiple entry is called D212. To apply for this, you need a sponsor who is either an Indonesian citizen or a holder of a valid limited stay permit. You can also contact an agent who may charge you for sponsoring and processing your visa.

You can apply online for an e-visa, then extend your stay at a local immigration office in Indonesia. You aren’t allowed to work with this visa and will pay a massive fine or get deported if you get caught doing so.

Business Visa (B211)

This business visa is issued for trips to Indonesia of up to one year, but you have to exit the country after 60 days. 

The purpose of this visa is to enable business travelers to visit Indonesia to conduct business meetings. 

You need an Indonesian company to sponsor you in order to apply for a business visa. However, note that you aren’t allowed to work in Indonesia or enjoy benefits granted to KITAS holders, such as opening a bank account, getting a driver’s license, or getting discounts on entry fees at certain public places. 

Spouse Visa (C317)

If you’re an expat married to an Indonesian citizen, you can receive a limited stay permit called KITAS (Kartu Izin Tinggal Terbatas), valid for a year. It’s renewable and, at the end of the second year, you can convert it to KITAP (Kartu Izin Tinggal Tetap), which is valid for five years. 

Retirement Visa

If you’re older than 55 and earn more than US$1,500 a month, you can get a retirement visa. It’s usually valid for one year and can be extended up to five times without having to leave the country.

Here are the main requirements. 

• age: 55 or older
• passport validity: more than 18 months validity remaining
• financial: proof that you have pension funds/bank deposits of a minimum of US$1,500 per month (or a total of US$18,000 per year)
• documents: Application, warranty from a travel agent, and sponsor/agent’s paperwork containing details of their business activity (official documents)

You might be asked to submit some of the following additional documents:

• four, passport-sized photos
• copy of every page of your passport
• health insurance certificate obtained from a provider in your country/Indonesia stating that it covers your medical expenses
• Rental lease
• documents on employed assistants/household workers, if you hire any
• resume or CV

Digital Nomad Visa

Indonesia now has a proper digital nomad option. In 2024 it launched the Remote Worker Visa, known as the E33G, a one-year KITAS for people employed by or freelancing for companies outside Indonesia. As of 2026, it requires proof of around US$60,000 in annual income, roughly US$2,000 in your bank account, and a foreign employer or client base. Foreign-earned income is not taxed in Indonesia.

There is also the older Second Home Visa, aimed mainly at high-net-worth individuals, which remains an option for those who can park a large deposit in Indonesia. Many short-term digital nomads still just use the visa on arrival, but the E33G is now the cleaner long-term route.

Read our digital nomad visa guide to find out more.

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