What is the Working KITAS and who needs one
The Working KITAS, officially classified under visa index E23 by the Indonesian Directorate General of Immigration, is the legal permission for a foreign citizen to live and work in Indonesia on behalf of a specific Indonesian sponsor. If you have signed an employment contract with a locally registered company, a PT PMA (foreign investment company), a representative office or an international organisation in Indonesia, the E23 is almost always the correct visa route.
It is the most common KITAS category for expats who move to Jakarta, Surabaya, Bali, Batam and Medan for skilled professional roles in sectors such as technology, finance, engineering, hospitality, energy, education and construction. Unlike tourist visas or the digital nomad KITAS, the Working KITAS grants the holder the legal right to earn a salary from an Indonesian employer and pay Indonesian personal income tax.
Sponsor requirements: what the employer must provide
Only an Indonesian legal entity can sponsor a Working KITAS. In practice this means one of the following entity types, registered with Indonesian tax authorities and the investment board (BKPM).
- PT PMA (Perseroan Terbatas Penanaman Modal Asing), the foreign investment company structure. Minimum paid up capital is typically IDR 10 billion.
- Local PT (limited company with Indonesian ownership) of sufficient scale.
- Representative office (KPPA) of a foreign parent.
- Recognised international organisation or diplomatic sponsor.
The sponsor must provide its articles of association, business licence (Izin Usaha or NIB), domicile certificate, tax identification number (NPWP) and the most recent company profile. The sponsor also supplies a signed guarantee letter accepting legal responsibility for the foreign worker throughout their stay in Indonesia.
The RPTKA: your Ministry of Manpower work plan
Every Working KITAS begins with the RPTKA, the Rencana Penggunaan Tenaga Kerja Asing or Foreign Worker Utilisation Plan. The RPTKA is submitted by the sponsor through the Ministry of Manpower online portal and must justify, in writing, why a foreign worker is required for a specific role that cannot easily be filled by an Indonesian candidate. The RPTKA lists the job title, duration, work location, number of foreign workers and the annual salary range for each position.
In 2026 the Ministry generally rejects RPTKA applications where the declared salary is below IDR 15 million to 20 million per month, because the role is then considered not sufficiently expert to require a foreign hire. The RPTKA must match the actual job description of the role you will perform.
IMTA notification and the DKPTKA compensation fund
Once the RPTKA is approved, the Ministry of Manpower issues a work permit notification. This replaced the older IMTA (Izin Menggunakan Tenaga Kerja Asing) physical permit in 2018, but the underlying concept is the same: confirmation that the worker is authorised to perform the job listed in the RPTKA. The notification is digital and remains linked to the specific sponsor.
Alongside the notification, the sponsor must pay the DKPTKA (Dana Kompensasi Penggunaan Tenaga Kerja Asing), the foreign worker compensation fund. This is charged at USD 100 per month per worker and is paid annually in advance. The DKPTKA is a non negotiable statutory fee, and proof of payment is required before the immigration application can move forward.
From VITAS to KITAS: the visa approval flow
With the RPTKA approved and the DKPTKA paid, the sponsor lodges the VITAS (Visa Tinggal Terbatas) application through the official eVisa portal at evisa.imigrasi.go.id. Kitas VIP prepares the full submission on your behalf, reviews the sponsor's supporting documents and monitors the case daily until approval. Once approved, the Directorate General of Immigration issues an approval telex and sends the eVisa by email.
With the eVisa in hand, the worker travels to Indonesia. Within 30 days of arrival, the VITAS must be converted into the physical KITAS at the local immigration office. This involves biometrics, photographs and fingerprints. The worker also receives supporting documents such as the MERP multiple exit re-entry permit, the STM police notification and the SKTT civil registry report.
Documents the applicant must prepare
- Passport with at least 18 months validity and at least three blank pages.
- Colour passport photograph on a plain background (Kitas VIP produces this automatically from a phone selfie, 413 by 531 pixels as required).
- Curriculum vitae in English.
- Academic and professional qualifications, translated into English if originally in another language.
- Signed employment contract with the Indonesian sponsor.
- Reference letters from previous employers, particularly for technical or specialist roles.
- Recent bank statement (usually for the last three months).
- International health and accident insurance covering the full stay.
Validity, renewal and changing jobs
A Working KITAS is usually issued for one or two years at a time, matched to the RPTKA duration. Renewals can be applied for up to 60 days before expiry and follow the same procedure as a new application with the same sponsor, with no need to leave Indonesia. A KITAS cannot be transferred between employers. If you change jobs, your new sponsor must start a fresh RPTKA and KITAS application, and your previous KITAS must be cancelled at immigration. Kitas VIP handles both the cancellation and the new application as a single case for existing clients.
Can a Working KITAS lead to permanent residence?
Yes. After holding a Working KITAS continuously for at least three years with the same sponsor, foreign workers generally become eligible to apply for a KITAP, the Indonesian Permanent Stay Permit, which is valid for 5 years at a time and can be renewed. KITAP holders have additional rights including easier property ownership structures and exemption from repeated KITAS renewals.
How Kitas VIP manages your Working KITAS
Our concierge service covers the full lifecycle of the Working KITAS, beginning with a review of the sponsor company's readiness and ending with the collection of your KITAS card in Indonesia. We work with sponsor HR teams to prepare the RPTKA, confirm the DKPTKA calculation, lodge the VITAS, coordinate your arrival, and book the in-country conversion appointment. Our in-app applicant flow uses end-to-end encryption for every document upload, and we never store your passport, contract or biometrics on unencrypted storage.
Working KITAS frequently asked questions
Can my family come with me on a Working KITAS?
Yes. Your spouse and children can apply for a dependent KITAS under index E31, which is issued alongside your Working KITAS and runs for the same duration. Kitas VIP bundles family applications into a single case at a reduced concierge rate.
How long does the full Working KITAS process take?
From a prepared sponsor with an existing RPTKA, the full VITAS to KITAS cycle typically takes between 4 and 7 weeks end to end. If the sponsor is brand new and still needs to build the RPTKA, add 2 to 3 weeks on the front end.
Does the Working KITAS require an age limit?
There is no strict maximum age for the Working KITAS itself, but many sponsors apply an internal cap around retirement age. Some sectors, such as education and technical advisory roles, routinely employ foreign workers aged 60 and above.
What taxes will I pay in Indonesia?
Working KITAS holders become Indonesian tax residents if they stay in the country for more than 183 days in any 12 month period. Residents pay progressive personal income tax on worldwide income, starting at 5 percent and reaching 35 percent. Your Indonesian employer usually withholds tax monthly. Speak to a qualified tax adviser for your specific situation.