Foreign entrepreneurs in Indonesia can apply for a business visa. What are the precise activities you can engage in?
With a business visa, entrepreneurs can come to Indonesia to conduct business activities and study the market, but employment is not allowed. Applying for a business visa is much easier than for a work permit.
In this article, we describe the conditions a foreign national need to meet to be eligible for the visa.
How Long Can You Stay in Indonesia with a Business Visa?
A business visa in Indonesia is valid for one year, and it allows a foreigner to stay in Indonesia for up to 60 days per visit. Therefore, a business visa is perfect for frequent visitors.
The visa enables up to 60 days of stay with each arrival. The key benefit is that you can use the same visa unlimited times to arrive in the country. You do not have to extend the business visa at immigration as you would for a visa on arrival or a social visa.
Business Visa Sponsorship
All business visas must be sponsored by a legal entity registered in Indonesia. Foreign and locally owned companies, as well as representative offices, can act as sponsor. As mentioned before, this visa forbids any employment. You are not allowed to get paid in Indonesia.
In case you don’t have a local sponsor or do not wish to use them, it is also possible to use an agent as a sponsoring company. Get in touch to see if we can sponsor your visa.
Requirements for a Business Visa in Indonesia
To receive a business visa in Indonesia with sponsorship by an agent, you need to provide the following information:
- Passport copy
- Bank statement showing at least US$1,500 (Rp20,930,684.3) on the account (must be a foreign account)
- Return tickets showing when you enter into Indonesia and that you leave before 60 days pass
- Indonesian embassy where you plan to pick up the visa
Note that receiving a telex takes around 20 business days. Hence, you should book your tickets no earlier than a month after starting the visa process.
Do you already have a sponsorship? If so, we need copies of all sponsor company incorporation documents and their letterhead.
Application Process for Business Visa in Indonesia
First, the sponsor company must submit a visa application online. Any small mistake means a delay or rejection of the application. It takes five to 20 working days for Indonesian Immigration to process the invitation and issue a telex. The next step is converting telex to a visa in an Indonesian embassy abroad.
Applying for the Business Visa in an Indonesian Embassy
Once you get the telex, you must take it to an Indonesian embassy abroad. If you are already in Indonesia the common embassy locations are Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, but you can choose any Indonesian embassy for this process. Note that you will get your actual visa in the embassy. If you have the approved invitation then there won’t be any reason for the embassy to reject the visa.
The embassy in Singapore will take about three working days to process your visa. It may take longer, for some embassies even ten to 15 business days. Thus, avoid delays and check with the embassy in advance. Start the business visa invitation and application process at least two weeks before the expected arrival to Indonesia.
Nationalities That Cannot Apply for a Business Visa
Indonesian immigration does not approve business visa invitations for the following nationalities:
- Afghan
- Guinean
- Israeli
- Iraqi
- North Korean
- Cameroonian
- Liberian
- Nigerian
- Somali
Note that having a residence permit or a company in another country won’t ease the process. For example, if you have an Afghanistan passport but you’ve been conducting business in Malaysia for years, you still qualify as an Afghan national.
As of 2018 Pakistani Nationals are Eligible for an Indonesian Business Visa
Recently Pakistani nationals were taken out of the clearance house list. This means that for the first time in 13 years, Pakistani passport holders are eligible for a business visa given they meet the other requirements.
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