This article servers as a guide to how to prepare and receive your retirement visa in Indonesia.

Indonesia Retirement Benefits for Foreigners

When settling into Indonesia for retirement, foreigner will experience plenty of benefits:

• You can live in Indonesia for years
• Enter and exit the country as often as you would like
• Get local bank account, driver, etc.

There are a few requirements for those who would like to apply for Retirement Visa in Indonesia. See if you match the criteria and where to begin the preparation of your journey:

• Age – you are at least 55 or older
• Work – there should be no plan on working in the country
• Life and health insurance – the provider can be an insurance company by your choosing, as long as it covers Indonesia
• Home – look for a place to live and sign a lease agreement for 1 year
• Maid – hire a maid or a domestic helper
• Funds – pension/deposit account requirement is USD 18,000 per year

There is also a requirement as per to the country of citizenship. Take a look at the table here:

Note that only an appointed agency (called sponsor) can apply for your retirement visa. The application goes through the Ministry of Tourism, the sponsor or their partner has to have the right to acquire a retirement visa from the ministry.

Three Stages of Retirement Visa in Indonesia

There are three simple stages of to processing your Retirement Visa in Indonesia:

1. Collect and send documents over to your agent
2. Pick up your new Retirement Visa from an Indonesian Embassy
3. Convert your visa to Temporary Residence Permit (KITAS) once you arrive to Indonesia with your visa

At this point you should also let your agent know which Indonesian Embassy you are planning to pick up the visa from. If you don’t have Indonesian embassy in your country you can obtain your visa from another country such as Singapore.

1. Prepare Documents for Your Retirement Visa Agent

There are companies out there that promise to deliver your retirement visa with less documentation than the list we have combined here. However, the gap in your documentation might be used against you if unforeseeable problems come up.

Take the extra precautions not to run into trouble months or years down the line and present all the documents required:

• Copies of all passport pages. Your passport needs to be valid for at least 18 more months and have at least 6 remaining blank pages
• Letter stating you will employ a maid, will not be working in the country, and have accommodation in Indonesia
• In case you are renting, the lease agreement must include the name of the owner of the property, address of the house, and the amount of rent
• Copy of both your health insurance policy and life insurance policy
• Copy of bank account statement; or proof that you are holding a pension (and any other documentation that proves you have sufficient funds at your disposal). Minimum amount of $US 1,500 per month, to provide the applicants living expenses during the proposed stay in Indonesia (total $US 18,000 per year)
• Photographs with red background
• Sponsor letter from your agency

We will review all the documentation and will then go to the local immigration office to hand it in. They will take around two weeks to go over your application and give an approval.

2. Pick Up Retirement Visa From a Foreign Country

Once the application is approved you will get a telex visa that you have to take to an Indonesian embassy abroad. You will then go to the embassy together with your passport and pick up the visa.

Before going to the embassy please check with the embassy home page or directly with the embassy what are additional requirements besides the copy of telex, sponsor letters and passport. The most common requirements is to fill in an application and provide a passport photo. However, some embassies require additional documents.

Keep in mind that embassies have their own processing times, thus make sure to have enough time to finalise your visa on spot. One of the fastest ways is opting for Singapore. Together with a help of a local agent, you will receive your visa within one business day. Once received the visa, pack up and enter Indonesia – it is time to continue with converting.

3. Convert visa to Temporary Residence Permit (KITAS)

Once you are in Indonesia it is up to your agent to convert your visa into KITAS. The immigration office only needs you for fingerprints and photo.

As a Retirement KITAS holder, you will receive the following documents:

• A Retirement KITAS
• A certificate of registration of temporary residency (SKPPS & SKTT)
• Resort police report (STM)
• Police card (SKLD)

The above visa gives you the permission to stay in Indonesia for one year. Retirement KITAS is extendable for up to a maximum of 5 years with annual extensions. After you can apply for a permanent stay permit KITAP or instead and Exit Permit Only (EPO).

Note that if you want to visit other countries while on your Retirement Visa, you can not just be up and running. You should apply for either an Exit Re-entry Permit (ERP) that is valid for three months or the Multiple Exit Re-entry Permit (MERP), that is valid for six months. Emerhub will provide this together with Retirement KITAS so you can freely move around the country whenever you feel the need.

Retirement in Indonesia for Married Couples

There is nothing better than to celebrate a long and happy marriage with either laid back or adventurous retirement. Indonesia has it in the sleeve for you and your spouse. However, there are a few things to note down when it comes to documentation of the retirement.

The applications of the two of you are going to be launched separately. Meaning that if your main source of income is your personal pension it still needs to be for the minimal amount of $US 1,500 per person. Though, there is an excellent side to point out – you do not need two maids as well as shared assets can be used by both to prove that you have enough funds.

It could be that one of you is not a fit for the Retirement KITAS. Do not bury the thought of Indonesia just yet. As an alternative, the spouse can apply for a Dependent KITAS. Consider this as a more convenient option as process for dependent KITAS is easier. Or let’s say when you are having difficulties meeting some parts of the listed criteria as the Dependent KITAS has simpler requirements. Note that Dependent KITAS is something you can also apply for your kid when retiring if he or she is under 18 years old.

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