Immigration · 5 min read
Work and residence permits, explained
The main permit types, who qualifies and what to prepare.
Indonesia separates the right to stay from the right to work. Many people only learn this after a problem, so it is worth getting clear early.
Staying is not the same as working
A stay permit such as a KITAS lets you live here. Working also needs an approved foreign worker plan from an Indonesian employer. Holding one without the other is a common and costly mistake.
What to prepare
A passport with enough validity, a clear role description, your qualifications and, for families, marriage and birth certificates. Translations take time, so start with those.
Put every expiry date in one calendar the day you receive the permit.