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Acclime helps you set up, manage & advance your business in Indonesia and beyond.
This is the most comprehensive guide on obtaining a business visa in Indonesia.
When entering Indonesia for business purposes, you must secure a business visa. However, even though it is called a business visa, there are some restrictions on the activities you can and cannot conduct.
Let’s take a look at what you will need to know about business visas in Indonesia.
What is a business visa in Indonesia?
A business visa allows foreigners to visit Indonesia in order to carry out business activities. However, this visa does not allow you to be employed by an Indonesian company or receive any salary.
Business visa’s scope of activities
- Social activities
- Tourism-related activities
- Government tasks
- Training or study for a short duration
- Collaboration in foreign marketing for Indonesia providing guidance, counselling and training
- Journalistic reporting
- Non-commercial film production
- Business negotiation
- Seminar, conference or lecture participation
- International fairs and exhibition participation
- Subsidiaries’ auditing, inspection or production quality control for up to one month
- Purchase of goods
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Types of business visas in Indonesia
When you are to travel to Indonesia for business purposes, there are three types of visas you can apply.
Visa on arrival
You can apply for a visa on arrival if you are going to stay in Indonesia for less than 30 days.
The visa on arrival can be extended for another 30 days at the Immigration Office in Indonesia only once. Your passport must have at least six months of validation and a return ticket is required.
Single-entry business visa
The maximum days of stay for a single-entry business visa is 60 days.
This type of visa should be applied at the Indonesian Embassy abroad. You are able to extend the single-entry visa for five times by applying at the Immigration Authorities in Indonesia. However, if you leave Indonesia after the single-entry visa has expired, you cannot extend it and will have to apply for a new visa.
Multiple-entry business visa
The multiple-entry business visa is valid for up to 12 months and is issued by the Immigration Office in Indonesia.
With this visa, you can enter and leave Indonesia multiple times during the 12-month period. However, you will need to regularly leave Indonesia as 60 days is the maximum allowed for each stay.
Who needs a business visa?
You will need to apply for a business visa if:
- You are from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kosovo, Liberia, Micronesia, Montenegro, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. The countries that are not included above can visit Indonesia without a visa for up to 30 days.
- You want to stay in Indonesia longer than 30 days.
Business visa document requirements
When applying for an Indonesian business visa, you should prepare the following documents:
- Completed Indonesian visa application form
- Valid passport for at least six months from the time you will enter Indonesia
- Copy of passport
- Passport size picture with the following requirements
- Dimensions: 3cm x 4cm or 4cm x 6 cm
- White background
- Taken within three months
- Face must be fully visible
- No headgear allowed unless it is for religious purposes
- Copy of round-trip or onward travel ticket
- Business visa cover letter from company, organisation or institution. The letter must include the full address and phone number of the company/organisation/institution and the number of days and entries you are requesting the visa for.
- Letter of invitation from the company, organisation or institution you will be visiting in Indonesia. The letter must include the full address and phone number of the company/organisation/institution, the number of days and entries you are requesting the visa for and explain whether they have responsibility for your accommodation and maintenance costs.
- Proof that you have paid the visa fee
- If you are applying for a multiple-entry business visa, you must have a letter of visa authorisation from the Directorate General of Immigration in Indonesia. The sponsor in Indonesia must obtain this on your behalf.
- If you are not a citizen of the country you live in, you must provide a copy of your valid residence permit/visa.
Steps for obtaining a business visa
- Contact the Embassy or Consulate of Indonesia to learn about any specific requirements. Some may require you to make an appointment or you may be able to submit the application by mail.
- Collect the required documents for an Indonesian business visa
- Pay the visa fee
- Submit the documents at the Indonesian Embassy or Consulate or submit them by mail.
- Wait for the Embassy or Consulate to process your application.
Suppose you are applying for a multiple-entry business visa. In that case, you must have a sponsor who has to apply for a Letter of Visa Authorisation from the Directorate General of Immigration in Jakarta.
Indonesian visa fees
Fees for Indonesian visas are:
- Visa on arrival: IDR 500.000
- Single-entry business visa: USD 50
- Multiple-entry business visa: USD 110
Business visa extension
If you want to extend your business visa, you must do it before the current visa expires at the Immigration Office in Indonesia.
The extension fee will be the same as the original visa fee and can apply for extension up to four times each for 30-60 days.
If you have a multiple-entry fee, you do not need to apply for extension. If you enter without a visa and stay longer than 30 days, you will have to pay a fee of approximately USD 70 for every day you overstay.
Conclusion
Business visas can only be used for certain activities. If you want to engage in business activities that the business visa does not permit in Indonesia, you may consider applying for a work permit.
Do not hesitate to contact Acclime if you need our support in obtaining a business visa in Indonesia; we have a professional immigration team willing to help you.
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Acclime helps established multinational companies and startups start and operate their business in Indonesia and beyond. By seamlessly navigating our clients through the complexities of the local regulatory systems, we maximise opportunities while ensuring compliance and good governance.
