Work Permit Indonesia 2025: PT PMA Foreign Employee Guide

Work Permit Indonesia – 2025 Guide : Requirement Before Applying for a Work KITAS

Overview of Work Permit in Indonesia

A Work Permit in Indonesia (formerly called IMTA, now issued as Notifikasi through the Ministry of Manpower) is the official authorization that allows a foreigner to legally work in Indonesia.

It is important to understand that a Work Permit is not a visa and not a KITAS. Instead, it is the first step—once a Work Permit is approved, the foreign employee may proceed to apply for a Work KITAS (Limited Stay Permit for Employment).

Without a valid Work Permit, foreigners are not allowed to work in Bali or anywhere else in Indonesia.

Purpose

To regulate and control the hiring of foreign workers in Indonesia.
To ensure companies comply with manpower laws.
To provide a legal basis for applying for a Work KITAS.

Validity

Issued according to the employment contract period.
Typically valid for 6 months or 12 months.
Renewable in line with the continuation of the employment contract.

Extension Possibility

Renewable every 5 years under the same sponsorship.
Sponsorship must remain valid (company, family member, or retirement program).
If the sponsor is revoked (e.g., company closes, family KITAP holder divorces), the KITAP also becomes invalid.

Applicable Activities

Work Permit holders may:

Legally engage in employment in Indonesia under their sponsoring company.
Hold a company position stated in the Work Permit.
Use the Work Permit as the basis for obtaining a Work KITAS.

⚠️ Note: Foreigners are only permitted to work in the specific role and company stated in their Work Permit.

Essential Documentation for Work Permit Application

Applicants and sponsoring companies typically need to prepare the following:

Passport valid for at least 18–24 months
Curriculum Vitae (CV) and proof of professional experience
Education certificate relevant to the job position
Recent color photographs
Employment contract or job offer from the sponsoring company
Company documents (NPWP, Business License, Deed of Establishment, NIB)
Expatriate Placement Plan (RPTKA) approved by the Ministry of Manpower
Health insurance valid in Indonesia

💡 Additional documents may be requested depending on job category and manpower regulations.

Step of Work Permit

The process of obtaining a Work Permit in Indonesia typically involves:

Company Preparation
- Company need to register their company in ministry as a sponsor
- submit the documents need to be as a user or sponsor for working permit
- after the company document approved you need to do zoom meeting for interview, this interview need to verified the company business and activity
- waiting for verification after interview
- after get the verification and company approved as sponsor then company can apply working kitas for the worker (Expatriate Placement Plan (RPTKA))
Approval of RPTKA
- Once approved, the company receives authorization to employ a foreign worker.
Work Permit Application (Notifikasi)
- The company applies for the Work Permit with supporting documents of the foreign employee.
Payment of DKP-TKA (Foreign Worker Compensation Fund)
- The company pays the monthly levy required for employing a foreign worker (USD 100/ month)
Issuance of Work Permit
- The Ministry of Manpower issues the Work Permit (Notifikasi).
Proceed to Work KITAS Application
- With the Work Permit in place, the foreign worker can now apply for a Work KITAS at Immigration.

💡 Best practice: Coordinate early between company HR, the Ministry of Manpower, and Immigration to avoid processing delays.

Processing Time of Work Permit

Standard processing: 2-4 weeks after submission of complete documents.
Expedited processing: 2-3 weeks (depends on Ministry of Manpower system and company compliance).

💡 Best practice: Start the Work Permit process at least 1 month before the planned employment start date.

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