Indonesia. That very word alone makes you think about Bali, palm-fringed beaches, maybe the Spice Islands, as well as a vibrant energy that draws millions to this country every year.
However, go and ask any expat who’s tried to stay longer than a quick holiday, and you’ll hear the same sigh: “Visas … Stay Permits …?”
The paperwork, the acronyms, just the number of different visas, the Golden visa, the surprising ‘bridging visa‘, the mysterious ‘calling country’ visa, the dreaded overstayer’s fine, the recent deportations… Yes, it can feel like stepping into a jungle of regulations.
And yet — if you just follow the paths (online or with a clear, assisting agent), and if you take the right visa track — this jungle is not a trap at all. It’s a network of trails designed to make your life as a foreigner in Indonesia not just possible but surprisingly easy. Read this article, follow the simple guidelines, and you will also conclude: “Simply lovely!”
Visit Visas (Visa Kunjungan – 52 types)
For short-term stays. Perfect for dipping your toes in:
- A-Series (Visa-Free Entry) – for tourism, family visits, transit, and official duties;
- B/F-Series (Visa on Arrival) – the 7–30 days for tourism, business, or medical visits;
- C-Series (Single-Entry Visit Visa) – for tourism, volunteering, arts, sports, training, exhibitions, film production, internships, and pre-investment surveys;
- D-Series (Multiple-Entry Visit Visa) – for frequent travellers for tourism, business, medical treatment, cultural, or investment activities.
Limited Stay Visas (Visa Tinggal Terbatas – 58 types)
For those settling down for a longer term:
- E23–E29 (Work & Investment) – for employment of general expert workers, corporate directors/commissioners, digital experts, investors (short or long term), and scientific research;
- E30 (Education) – from basic school to university and exchange programmes;
- E31 (Family Reunification) – for spouses of Indonesians, children of mixed marriages, parents of adult Indonesians;
- E32 (Repatriation) – for ex-Indonesians and their descendants;
- E33–E35A (Special Residency) – retirees, world figures, remote workers, long-term medical stays, and ‘workation’ schemes.
Special Visas (extra outside the above groups)
- Bridging Visa – keeps you legal while switching visa types in-country;
- ‘Calling Country’ Visa – required for nationals of certain countries needing special approval.
Top 5 Visas for Expats in 2025
- E31A – Spouse of an Indonesian Citizen: The go-to visa if you’ve married a local. Simple, stable, and leads to permanent residency;
- E28B – Individual Investor Visa: A 5–10 year permit for serious investors — the golden ticket to long-term business life in Indonesia;
- E33 – Second Home Visa: For retirees and those who want to settle under their own financial steam;
- E33G – Remote Worker Visa: Digital nomads rejoice: live in Bali, work for your overseas company, all legal;
- D1 – Multiple-entry Visit Visa: For the frequent flyer who comes and goes — valid up to 10 years.
Why So Many?
Because Indonesia is not a one-size-fits-all country. An oil engineer in Kalimantan, a retiree in Bali, a German student learning gamelan in Yogyakarta, and a Singaporean digital nomad running a start-up from Jakarta all have very different needs.
And here’s the shocker: instead of making things harder, this jungle of visas actually makes things easier. With 110 routes, there’s almost always a legal way for you to do exactly what you came here for. We shall tell you how.
Want to invest? You’ve got several choices: short-term (E28A), long-term (E28B), portfolio investment (E28C), or even setting up shop in the new capital, Nusantara (E28F). Married to an Indonesian? There’s a visa just for that (E31A). Just want to stay put with your surfboard and savings? Welcome to the Second Home Visa (E33). Even remote workers — the globe-trotting ‘laptop class’ — have their own category now (E33G).
From Frustration to Freedom
The real trick is learning to see Indonesia’s visa system not as bureaucracy but as architecture. It’s a framework that, if you approach it with the right information (and yes, probably a local sponsor), will allow you to stay as long as you need — legally, comfortably, and with fewer surprises.
Expats love to complain about red tape. But let’s be honest: where else can you choose between 110 tailor-made visas, from seven days to 10 years, from tourism to tech consulting, from repatriating ex-Indonesians to Nobel laureates invited by the government?
Meet Globy – Your Virtual Guide
Still confused? You’re not alone. That’s why The Permit House created Globy, your virtual assistant who can walk you through every twist and turn of Indonesia’s visa jungle. Ask Globy what visa suits your situation, and you’ll get clear, simple answers — without the headache of guessing or Googling outdated rules.
The Bottom Line
Yes, it’s a jungle. But it’s a well-mapped one. And with every new visa introduced, Indonesia is sending a clear signal: “We want you here — but we want you to come the right way.”
So, next time you hear an expat groaning about visas over their Bintang, remind them of this: Indonesia doesn’t just offer a visa. It offers a menu of 110 ways to belong.
And if you know which one fits — or you let Globy guide you — life in this archipelago suddenly becomes a lot easier.
Perfect — let’s expand each case into a step-by-step “how to choose” guide, so your student, business engineer, expat spouse, or investor can see exactly how to navigate the jungle of visas.
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The Student’s Path 🎓
Anna – studying at Gadjah Mada University.
Visa: E30B – Higher Education Visa
Steps to Choose:
- Define purpose – Do you want to study full-time in Indonesia? → Yes → go to Education Visa (E30 series).
- Check your level – University programme (not exchange, not short training) → E30B.
- Confirm sponsor – Indonesian university provides an acceptance letter.
- Check duration – Needs at least one-year stay, renewable.
- Confirm affordability – Government fee Rp3,000,000 per year.
✅ Result: E30B matches Anna’s goal: study legally long-term with renewability.
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The Business Engineer’s Path 🏗️
Raj – Indian engineer joining the Batam energy project.
Visa: E23 – General Employment Visa
Steps to Choose:
- Define purpose – Do you plan to work as an employee in Indonesia? → Yes → go to Work/Employment visas (E23 series).
- Check role – Technical expert hired by Indonesian company → E23.
- Confirm sponsor – Employer in Batam must sponsor and secure RPTKA (work permit).
- Check duration – one-to-two years, renewable up to six years.
- Check compliance – Salary and qualifications must meet Indonesian manpower law.
✅ Result: E23 allows Raj to legally work and extend his stay during his project.
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The Expat Spouse’s Path 💍
Sophie – French, married to an Indonesian
Visa: E31A – Spouse of Indonesian Citizen Visa
Steps to Choose:
- Define purpose – Do you want to live with your Indonesian spouse? → Yes → go to Family Reunification (E31 series).
- Check relationship – Married to an Indonesian citizen → E31A.
- Confirm sponsor – Husband’s KTP (Indonesian ID).
- Check duration – two-year stay, renewable, convertible to KITAP.
- Check costs – Exempt from government fees under PP 45/2024.
✅ Result: E31A offers stability, low cost, and future permanent residency.
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The Investor’s Path 💼
Michael – American investing US$5,000,000 in Jakarta fintech
Visa: E28A or E28B – Individual Investor Visa
Steps to Choose:
- Define purpose – Are you investing in Indonesia long-term? → Yes → go to Investment Visas (E28 series).
- Check level of commitment – General Investment (min Rp10 billion), Investors establishing PT PMA companies. BKPM’s approval → qualifies for E 28A;
Large investment (>US$2,500,000) → Overseas audited financials, turnover ≥US$25,000,000, company setup plan. qualifies for E28B + min. investment Rp10 billion (≈US$650,000). - Check duration – Choose between a two-year, five-year, or 10-year option.
- Check benefits – Family sponsorship, director/commissioner role, free travel in/out.
✅ Result: E 28A is the normal Investor Visa, where E28B is the golden visa for the bigger investors with long-term business plans.
✨ Globy’s Shortcut:
When choosing a visa, always follow the same five-decision steps:
- Purpose (study, work, family, invest);
- Category (Education, Work, Family, Investment);
- Sponsor (who backs you in Indonesia);
- Duration (short stay vs long stay);
- Budget & Benefits (government fee, rights, renewability).
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