Guides · Work visas
KITAS requirements for foreign employees in Indonesia
Updated 30 October 2026 · 6 min read · Facts as of October 2026
Anyone employed in Indonesia needs an E23-series limited-stay visa, which becomes a limited-stay permit (ITAS, commonly called a KITAS) on arrival. The employer must first obtain work-permit approval (RPTKA) and the Manpower notification. The KITAS is issued for up to two years and can be renewed twice.
The employer goes first
A work KITAS cannot be applied for by the employee alone. The Indonesian employer must first have its foreign-worker plan approved (the RPTKA) and then file the Manpower notification for the specific hire. Only then can the visa itself be applied for. Most delays in work-visa cases come from this stage, so we start with the company.
The five steps
- Company consultation. We confirm the right category (E23 for employees, E23A inside a Special Economic Zone, E25 for commissioners and executives, E25B for directors named in the company deed) and list the documents.
- RPTKA and Manpower notification. We prepare the employer's work-permit planning and the notification for your hire.
- Visa issuance. The E23 visa is applied for and issued before you travel.
- Arrival and conversion. On arrival the visa is converted into the ITAS/KITAS.
- Re-entry permit and renewals. A multiple re-entry permit (MERP) lets you leave and return; the KITAS is renewed before expiry.
How long it lasts
A work KITAS is issued for up to two years and can be renewed twice. After three consecutive years on a KITAS you may be eligible for permanent residence (KITAP).
Government fees
| Permit | Government fee (IDR) |
|---|---|
| KITAS (ITAS), 1 year | 2,000,000 |
| KITAS (ITAS), 2 years | 4,000,000 |
Official government fees as of October 2026. Our service fee is quoted separately.
Bringing your family
Your spouse and children can apply under the E31 family categories alongside or after you, as dependents of a KITAS holder (E31B for a spouse).
Approval is not guaranteed
Visa approval is at the discretion of the immigration and Manpower authorities. Our role is to make sure the application is complete, accurate and compliant, which is the best protection against a refusal.
Visa For Indonesia is a private visa-assistance service, not the Indonesian government. Rules, fees and eligibility change; the figures below are correct as of October 2026 and you can always check or apply directly at evisa.imigrasi.go.id.