Indonesia Retirement Visa: A Comprehensive Guide
What is retirement visa?
Retirement visas are a type of passive income visa that has been popular worldwide since the 1980s. Typically, they are issued to retirees who have sufficient retirement funds or stable income.
In general, global retirement visas have the following characteristics:
1. Applicant Qualifications: Typically, retirement visas require applicants to be retirees, reach a certain age, or have retirement funds.
2. Restrictions on Employment: Visa holders are usually not allowed to work locally.
3. Path to Permanent Residency: After residing in the destination country for a certain period, retirement visa holders can often apply for permanent residency or even citizenship.
If you’re interested in retirement visas or passive income visas, you might want to read our informative article: ‘Global Passive Income Visa | An Incomplete Guide‘.
Indonesia Retirement Visa: An Overview
The Indonesian Retirement Visa, formally known as the Limited Stay Permit (KITAS) for seniors (Lansia), is a popular non-working residency option for foreign nationals. It offers a clear path to long-term stay in areas like Bali, but requires adherence to strict criteria and a commitment to the Indonesian lifestyle.
The Retirement KITAS is designed for older expatriates who wish to live in Indonesia without engaging in employment. The visa facilitates long-term residence, eliminating the need for frequent visa runs. Indonesia offers two main options for retirees:
1. General Retirement Visa (E33F): A one-year stay permit, renewable annually. This is the most common path.
2. Silver Hair Visa (E33E): A newer five-year stay permit for a more substantial financial commitment.
This guide focuses on the standard, annually renewable General Retirement Visa (E33F).
To qualify for the Retirement KITAS, the applicant must meet the following mandatory requirements:
Age Requirement: The applicant must be at least 55 years old.
Financial Stability: Applicants must provide official proof of a pension, fixed income, or sufficient bank funds to support themselves without working. The minimum recommended income is typically around $3,000 per month (or $18,000 per year).
No Work Pledge: The retiree must sign a statement promising not to be employed or conduct any income-generating business activities in Indonesia. Passive income from investments is generally acceptable.
Accommodation: A signed, valid lease agreement for accommodation in Indonesia must be provided, typically covering a minimum of one year.
Insurance: Applicants must possess both health insurance and life insurance that covers their stay in Indonesia.
Local Sponsor: The retiree must appoint an Indonesian-licensed travel or visa agency to act as their official sponsor for the duration of the permit.
Local Employment: A unique requirement is a signed statement confirming the intention to employ at least one Indonesian citizen as a domestic helper, driver, or other local staff member.
Visa Advantages:
The Retirement KITAS provides several key benefits for settling in Indonesia long-term:
Legal Residency: It grants official legal status to reside in Indonesia for an extended period.
Multiple Entry Permit (MERP): The KITAS includes a Multiple Exit Re-Entry Permit, allowing the holder to travel freely in and out of Indonesia as often as they wish during the permit’s validity.
Access to Services: KITAS holders can legally open bank accounts in Indonesia, obtain a local driver’s license, and access local healthcare services.
Financial Simplicity: It simplifies long-term stay logistics by eliminating the need for repeated tourist visa applications or extensions.
Application Process:
Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to apply for the Indonesia Retirement Visa (E33F KITAS Lansia).
Step 1: Document Preparation and Legalization (Offshore)
Before the application can be submitted, you must gather and prepare the required documents. Documents originating outside of Indonesia often need to be legalized.
Required Documents include:
Passport: Must be valid for at least 18 months from the planned date of entry (to secure the initial 1-year KITAS).
Proof of Funds/Income:
- Financial Solvency: A personal bank statement showing a balance equivalent to a minimum of $\text{USD }2,000$ over the last three months.
- Stable Income: Official proof of pension or stable income (e.g., pension fund statement, certified bank letter, investment dividend statements) of at least $3,000 per month .
Insurance: Proof of valid health insurance and life insurance covering your stay in Indonesia.
Accommodation: A copy of a signed lease agreement (rental contract) for accommodation in Indonesia, valid for at least one year. It should be signed by both you and the property owner.
Local Helper Statement: A signed letter promising to employ an Indonesian citizen as a domestic helper/maid.
No Work Statement: A signed statement affirming you will not work or engage in any local income-generating business activity in Indonesia.
Personal Information: A Curriculum Vitae (CV) and recent passport photographs.
Any official documents (e.g., birth certificate, marriage certificate, pension statements) issued by your home country may need to be Apostilled (if your country is a member of the Hague Convention) or Legalized by an Indonesian Embassy/Consulate in the issuing country.
Documents not in English or Indonesian must be translated by a certified translator.
Step 2: Offshore Application Submission (Visa Agent/Sponsor)
The entire application process starts while you are outside of Indonesia.
1. Engage a Sponsor: You must contract with a licensed Indonesian visa agency. This agency will be your official Guarantor/Sponsor, as required by the E33F visa regulations. They will collect all your prepared documents.
2. Sponsor Submission: The agency submits your complete digital application, including the sponsor’s guarantee letter, to the Directorate General of Immigration (DGI) in Jakarta.
3. E-Visa Approval: Once the DGI approves the application, they issue a Visa Authorization Letter (VITAS), which is typically sent as an electronic visa (e-Visa) to your email. This e-Visa is valid for entry and must be used within 90 days of its issue date.
Step 3: Onshore Visa Conversion (Arrival in Indonesia)
After receiving your e-Visa, the second stage takes place after you arrive in Indonesia.
1. Entry to Indonesia: You travel to Indonesia using the e-Visa. Upon arrival, your passport will be stamped with the initial Limited Stay Visa.
2. Immigration Appointment: Within 7 to 30 days of arrival, you must attend a mandatory appointment at the local Immigration Office (Kantor Imigrasi) in the area where you reside (e.g., Denpasar, Jakarta). Your visa agency will usually book and accompany you to this appointment.
3. Biometrics and Interview: At the Immigration Office, you will:
- Submit your passport and original documents for verification.
- Undergo a short interview.
- Provide your biometric data (fingerprints and digital photograph).
4. KITAS Issuance: After this appointment, the Immigration Office will finalize the processing. They will stamp your passport with the official Limited Stay Permit (KITAS) stamp, and you will receive the physical KITAS card and the Multiple Exit Re-Entry Permit (MERP). This final step marks the beginning of your one-year temporary residency.
Step 4: Post-KITAS Obligations (Local Registration)
Once the KITAS is issued, you have a few final administrative steps:
1. Local Police Report: You may need to obtain a Police Report Letter (Surat Tanda Melapor – STM) from the local police.
2. Civil Registry Registration: You must register with the local civil registry office (Dinas Kependudukan dan Catatan Sipil) to receive your temporary resident registration certificate (Surat Keterangan Tempat Tinggal – SKTT). This is necessary to obtain services like opening a bank account.
The total cost typically includes government fees (for the visa, KITAS, and MERP) and the agency’s service fee. The total price for the first year commonly ranges from $700$ to $1,200, depending on the agency and the processing speed selected (standard or express).
The offshore e-Visa process usually takes 5 to 14 working days. The onshore conversion and final KITAS card issuance typically take an additional 7 to 14 working days after the biometrics appointment.
Dependents:
The main retiree applicant holding the Retirement KITAS can sponsor their immediate family members for a Dependent KITAS:
Spouse: The legal spouse of the retiree can be included, regardless of their age, upon submission of a valid marriage certificate.
Children: Dependent children who are under the age of 18 may also be included on the Dependent KITAS.
No Work: As with the main visa, the Dependent KITAS is strictly a stay permit and does not grant permission to work in Indonesia.
Visa Validity:
The initial Retirement KITAS (E33F) is valid for one year. It can be renewed annually for up to four additional years, totaling a maximum of five consecutive years of temporary stay. The renewal process must be completed before the current KITAS expires.
After holding the Temporary Stay Permit (KITAS) for five continuous years, the retiree becomes eligible to apply for a Permanent Stay Permit (KITAP). The KITAP offers a much longer initial validity of five years and can be renewed indefinitely every five years thereafter. The financial and non-working requirements must still be met to apply for and maintain the KITAP.
Indonesia does not permit dual citizenship. The path to naturalization requires the applicant to have legally resided in Indonesia for five consecutive years or ten intermittent years and involves a judicial process and renunciation of the original nationality.