The legal framework governing Visit Visas in Indonesia is primarily established by Law No. 6 of 2011 concerning Immigration (the “Immigration Law”) and its implementing regulations, most notably Government Regulation No. 31 of 2013 as amended, and Minister of Law and Human Rights (MOLHR) Regulation No. 22 of 2023 concerning Visas and Stay Permits. Under Article 34 of the Immigration Law, a Visit Visa (Visa Kunjungan) is one of four types of visas issued by the Indonesian state to foreign nationals.

According to Article 38 of Law No. 6 of 2011:

“Visa kunjungan diberikan kepada Orang Asing yang akan melakukan perjalanan ke Wilayah Indonesia dalam rangka kunjungan tugas pemerintahan, pendidikan, sosial budaya, pariwisata, bisnis, keluarga, jurnalistik, atau singgah untuk meneruskan perjalanan ke negara lain.” (A visit visa is granted to foreigners who will travel to the Indonesian Territory for the purpose of government duty, education, socio-cultural, tourism, business, family, journalism, or transit to continue travel to another country.)

The scope of activities permitted under a Visit Visa was significantly expanded by MOLHR Regulation No. 22 of 2023 to include pre-investment activities, medical treatments, and international exhibitions. Article 39 of Law No. 6 of 2011 stipulates that Visit Visas are categorized into Single-Entry and Multiple-Entry variants.

Single-Entry Visit Visas (Index C)

Single-entry visit visas are designed for foreign nationals intending to enter Indonesia for a specific duration and a single stay. Under the current nomenclature established by the Directorate General of Immigration, these are generally classified under the “C” Index (e.g., C1 for Tourism, C2 for Business).

1. Validity and Duration of Stay Pursuant to Article 18 of MOLHR Regulation No. 22 of 2023, a single-entry visit visa is granted for a maximum stay of 60 days or 180 days, depending on the specific sub-index and the applicant’s requirements. The visa itself must be used to enter Indonesia within 90 days of its issuance.

2. Extension Provisions Foreigners holding a 60-day single-entry visit visa may apply for an extension of their Visit Stay Permit (Izin Tinggal Kunjungan or ITK). According to Article 48 of MOLHR Regulation No. 22 of 2023, extensions are granted for:

  • A maximum of 60 days per extension.
  • A total cumulative stay not exceeding 180 days.

3. Purpose-Specific Sub-Categories The single-entry visa is subdivided into numerous categories based on the activity, including but not limited to:

  • Tourism and visiting friends/family.
  • Business meetings, purchasing goods, or attending seminars.
  • Medical assistance and humanitarian work.
  • Journalism (subject to specific approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
  • Transit to a third country.

Multiple-Entry Visit Visas (Index D)

Multiple-entry visit visas allow foreign nationals to enter and exit Indonesia multiple times within a specified period without the need to apply for a new visa for each trip. These are classified under the “D” Index (e.g., D1 for Tourism, D2 for Business).

1. Validity and Stay Limits Under Article 20 of MOLHR Regulation No. 22 of 2023, multiple-entry visit visas are issued with a validity period of:

  • 1 year;
  • 2 years; or
  • 5 years.

Despite the multi-year validity of the visa, each individual stay is strictly limited. Article 21 of the same regulation specifies that for each entry, the holder is granted a stay permit for a maximum of 60 days or 180 days. Unlike the single-entry visa, the stay permit derived from a multiple-entry visa generally cannot be extended beyond the duration granted at the port of entry, requiring the holder to leave the country and re-enter to “reset” the stay period.

2. Permitted Activities The multiple-entry visa is primarily intended for business travelers, frequent tourists, and government officials. Article 22 of MOLHR Regulation No. 22 of 2023 restricts the use of multiple-entry visas to non-work activities, specifically:

  • Business discussions, negotiations, and contract signings.
  • Attending international conferences or exhibitions.
  • Inter-company coordination by foreign directors or commissioners.

Sponsorship and Guarantee Requirements

The Indonesian immigration system operates on a sponsorship basis (Penjaminan). Article 63 of Law No. 6 of 2011 requires every foreigner in Indonesia to have a guarantor (Penjamin) who is responsible for the foreigner’s activities and stay.

1. Types of Guarantors

  • For business-related visit visas (C2, D2), the guarantor must be a legal entity (PT, PT PMA, or Representative Office) incorporated in Indonesia.
  • For family or social visits, the guarantor may be an Indonesian citizen.

2. Guarantee Exceptions and Immigration Deposits MOLHR Regulation No. 22 of 2023 introduced a significant shift in the guarantee mechanism. Under Article 14, certain visit visa categories (notably tourism and pre-investment) allow foreign nationals to substitute a local sponsor with an “Immigration Guarantee” (Jaminan Keimigrasian). This involves the payment of a mandatory deposit or proof of sufficient funds (typically USD 2,000 or equivalent) to ensure the foreigner has the financial means to stay and depart.

Application and Issuance Procedure

The issuance of visit visas is centralized through the electronic visa (e-Visa) system managed by the Directorate General of Immigration.

1. Procedural Steps

  • Submission of application via the official pendaftaran visa portal by the foreigner or their guarantor.
  • Verification of required documents, including a passport valid for at least 6 months (for 60-day stays) or 18 months (for multiple-entry visas).
  • Payment of Non-Tax State Revenue (Penerimaan Negara Bukan Pajak or PNBP) fees.
  • Approval and electronic issuance of the visa to the applicant’s email.

2. Statutory Fees Fees for visit visas are regulated by Government Regulation No. 28 of 2019 concerning Types and Rates of PNBP at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. Current rates include:

  • Single-entry visit visa (60 days): IDR 1,500,000 or IDR 2,000,000 (depending on sub-category).
  • Multiple-entry visit visa (per year): IDR 3,000,000.

Conversion of Visit Stay Permits

While visit visas are intended for temporary stays, the law allows for the conversion of a Visit Stay Permit (ITK) into a Limited Stay Permit (ITAS) under specific conditions. Article 52 of Law No. 6 of 2011 and Article 100 of MOLHR Regulation No. 22 of 2023 provide that an ITK may be converted if the foreigner’s status changes (e.g., marriage to an Indonesian citizen or appointment as a company director). This process must be initiated through the local Immigration Office (Kantor Imigrasi) and requires approval from the Director General of Immigration.

Prohibitions and Restrictions

Holders of both single and multiple-entry visit visas are strictly prohibited from engaging in “work for hire” or taking up local employment. Article 122 of Law No. 6 of 2011 imposes criminal sanctions on any foreigner who deliberately misuses their stay permit to perform activities inconsistent with the intent of the visa granted. For visit visas, this is interpreted as any activity involving a local wage-earning relationship or the sale of goods and services within the Indonesian domestic market.

Sources

  1. Law No. 6 of 2011 concerning Immigration (Undang-Undang Nomor 6 Tahun 2011 tentang Keimigrasian)
  2. Government Regulation No. 31 of 2013 concerning Implementing Regulations of Law No. 6 of 2011 (Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 31 Tahun 2013)
  3. Minister of Law and Human Rights Regulation No. 22 of 2023 concerning Visas and Stay Permits (Peraturan Menteri Hukum dan Hak Asasi Manusia Nomor 22 Tahun 2023)
  4. Government Regulation No. 28 of 2019 concerning Types and Rates of Non-Tax State Revenue at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 28 Tahun 2019)
  5. Directorate General of Immigration Official e-Visa Portal