FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Get to know more about business processes and requirements when it comes to running a company in Indonesia. If you cannot find an answer here, we will be happy to answer your questions directly.

1. Company Registration

Can I set up a company in Indonesia as a foreigner?

Yes, as a foreigner you can set up a foreign-owned company (PT PMA) in Indonesia if your business field is entirely open to foreigners. Find more about Indonesia’s Positive Investment List.

Are there options to expand my business without incorporating a company in Indonesia?

Yes, particularly for export and import business, you can use a service called undername import.

What are the common company types in Indonesia?

Depending on your business requirements, preferences, and the nature of your business. there are 3 company types you can choose
Local Company (PT): 100% local ownership.
Foreign Company (PT PMA): can be entirely owned by foreigners, however, restrictions in business sectors apply
Representative Office: a branch of parent company overseas whose purpose is to conduct marketing-related activities without generating income or profits

What is a PT?

PT (Perseroan Terbatas) is the Indonesian term for a limited liability company.

What is a PT PMA?

Limited liability company with foreign direct investment ranging from 1-100%

What is a PT PMDN?

Limited liability company with 100% local / domestic direct investment

What is a CV?

CV (Commanditer Vennootschap) is a proprietary business entity that houses several individuals to run a business.

Can a foreigner form a CV?

No.

What kind of company is the best for me: a foreign-owned company, local company, or representative office?

It all depends on the nature of your business and the purpose of your business incorporation. Consult with us if you are not sure.

When do I have to deposit money in the bank?

As soon as the company completes its establishment process, the minimum paid-up capital should be deposited. Another option to look into: after the company receives the Article of Association and Deed of Establishment.

Is a foreigner able to become a director or commissioner?

Yes, in a foreign-owned (PT PMA) company, a foreigner can be a director or a commissioner.

Can you provide pricing details for company registration services?

To provide you with accurate pricing information for our company registration service, we consider the complexities of your inquiries and the dynamic nature of regulations in Indonesia. As a result, the pricing for the services may vary accordingly. For detailed information, please contact our consultants.

What is the difference between PT and CV?

PT: limited liability company (shareholders are not
legally liable for company liabilities).
CV: proprietary company where liability falls on the
shareholders.

What is the minimum shareholder requirement to incorporate a PT?

2 shareholders.

Can foreigners invest and own a company without having a local partner?

Yes, if it is a PMA.

Can foreigners be shareholders in a PMA?

Yes.

Can foreigners be shareholders in a PMDN?

No.

What is the role of Director?

Take responsibility and make every decision for the company.

What is the role of Commissioner?

Supervise and monitor the work of the Directors to make sure every activity is done and the decisions made are in coherence with the Shareholders’ goals.

Can the same person be Director and Commissioner?

No.

Can the same person be Shareholder and Director?

Yes.

Can the same person be Shareholder and Commissioner?

Yes.

Can I set up a PMA / PMDN company in any location in Indonesia?

No.

What is the minimum authorised capital requirement to form a PMA?

IDR 10 billion.

What is the minimum paid-up capital requirement to form a PMA?

IDR 10 billion.

What is the minimum investment requirement for PMA?

IDR 10 billion.

Will the government check if I have fulfilled the investment plan of IDR 10,000,000,000?

Yes, the government will check IDR 10,000,000,000, which is the minimum paid-up capital. Fulfilling this requirement is a must.

What is the minimum authorised capital requirement to form a PMDN?

Small: IDR 50 million – 500 million.
Medium: IDR 501 million – 10 billion.
Large: more than IDR 10 billion.

What is the minimum paid-up capital requirement to form a PMDN?

Small: IDR 1 billion – 5 billion.
Medium: IDR 5 billion – 10 billion.
Large: more than IDR 10 billion.

How many Directors can be in a PMA / PMDN?

There is no maximum requirement, however for a small company we would recommend having 2-3 Directors and appoint a President Director.

Can I use a virtual office for PMA / PMDN?

Yes.

What is a virtual office?

A low cost set of services that facilitate remote working while maintaining a business address to present to customers.

What is a serviced office?

A regular physical office where you can sit and work.

What is a KPPA?

Representative Office.

Can I set up a KPPA (Representative Office) in any location in Indonesia?

No, Representative Offices must be situated in the provincial capital, e.g. Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Denpasar, etc.

What is the minimum capital requirement for KPPA?

None.

Can a foreigner be the Chief Representative Officer of a KPPA?

Yes.

Can a KPPA conduct business and generate profit?

No, KPPA is strictly prohibited to do so.

How long can a KPPA operate in Indonesia?

KPPA licence does not have a validity period, meaning that it is valid as long as the KPPA operates.

Can the CEO of the parent company be CRO?

No.

How long does PMA / PMDN incorporation process take?

2-3 Weeks.

How long does KPPA incorporation process take?

3-3 Weeks.

What is the OSS?

OSS or Online Single Submission is a business licensing system that is integrated electronically with all ministries and state agencies.

What is IU?

IU or Izin Usaha is the business permit.

What is SIUP?

SIUP or Surat Izin Usaha Perdagangan is the operational license for businesses involved in retail and trading.

What is TDUP?

TUDP or Tanda Daftar Usaha Pariwisata
is the operational licence for businesses involved in
tourism, e.g. restaurants, hotels, bars.

What is IUI?

IUI or Izin Usaha Industri is the operational licence for businesses involved in the manufacturing industry.

What is NIB?

NIB or Nomor Induk Berusaha is the business identity number.

Can I set up a corporate bank account under the company name?

Yes.

How long does the corporate bank account setup process take?

1 day.

Do I need to show the investment in my bank account?

No. This could be shown in the form of a balance sheet.

Can I set up a bank account before the company is incorporated?

No, bank account setup is done once the company has been incorporated.

Do I have to be in Indonesia to set up the corporate bank account?

No.

Can I set-up a PT while I am abroad?

Yes.

What is KBLI?

Klasifikasi Baku Lapangan Usaha Indonesia or the Indonesian Business Classification Number.

Do I have to decide the KBLI for my business in Indonesia on my own?

No, we will help you with the process.

How many business activities can I have?

There is no maximum requirement. However, you must show an investment plan of IDR 10 billion for each KBLI
registered in the OSS system.

What happens if a PT wants to add a director, a commissioner or other business activities in the future?

Any changes in the Deed of Incorporation will result in deed amendment and updating the changes in the OSS system.

How much do I have to pay for the corporate taxes?

0.5% of annual revenue for the first 3 years, 22% of annual profit afterwards.

Do I have to pay for the value-added tax (VAT)?

Only if your company generates more than IDR 4.8 billion in revenue annually.

What is LKPM?

Laporan Kegiatan Penanaman Modal or the Quarterly Investment Activity Report.

Do we need to submit it regularly?

Yes.

What is the minimum investment requirement to be eligible for the Investor KITAS?

IDR 1 billion.

Is a foreign CRO of a Representative Office eligible for the Investor KITAS?

No, but he/she is eligible for the Work Permit KITAS.

2. Visa

What is KITAS?

KITAS is the Indonesian stay permit.

Can I use a business visa to work in Indonesia?

No, you cannot. Business visa can only used for business purposes such as attending business meetings, seminars, exhibitions, or training.
To work in Indonesia, you are required to apply for a work permit as well as a limited (KITAS) or permanent (KITAP) stay permit.

Is KITAS/ITAS extension possible in Indonesia?

Of course. Your ITAS can be extended for up to five years.

What are the requirements for an Investor KITAS/ITAS application in Indonesia?

To be eligible, you need to have a minimum of IDR 10 billion in authorized capital, IDR 10 billion in paid-up capital, and IDR 1 billion in personal shares.

What are the requirements for a Retirement KITAS/ITAS application in Indonesia?

You will need to be at least 55 years of age and will not work to earn income in Indonesia. Consultation on further requirements is necessary.

What are the requirements for the Work Permit KITAS application?

Red background photo, passport copy, latest diploma, a minimum of 5-year work experience, and insurance.

What is an Indonesia Family KITAS/ITAS? Can I work in Indonesia under this stay permit?

An Indonesia Family KITAS/ITAS is issued to family members. They can be a spouse and/or children under 18 years of age. It is illegal to work in Indonesia with a Family KITAS/ITAS. To work legally, a Work ITAS is required.

How easy is it to obtain a business visa or work visa?

Difficulty level depends on your country of origin. Indonesia has a list of restricted countries, including Afghanistan, Guinea, Israel, North Korea, Cameroon, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, and Somalia. Citizens from those countries will find the process complicated and difficult and with a high possibility that their application will be rejected.

Who can be my visa sponsor?

For business visa and work visa, the sponsor has to be a company legally registered in Indonesia.
Regarding social-cultural and retirement visa as well as KITAS & KITAP, the sponsor must be either an Indonesian legal entity or citizen. Cekindo provides visa sponsorship should you require this service.

How long is the visa application process and for how long will my visa be valid?

The duration depends on the visa type.
Work and stay permit take approximately 2 months. If the applicant is a director of a company, the visa is valid for 1 year. For other positions, the visa is valid for 6 months.
Multiple-entry business visa takes approximately 1 week and will be valid for 1 year.
Single-entry business visa and social-cultural visa take approximately 1 week and will be valid for 2 months with the possibility to extend the visa 4 times, each time for an additional 30 days.
Retirement visa takes approximately 2 months and will be valid for 1 year.

How do you determine the cost of your services of visa and immigration consultation?

To provide you with accurate pricing information for our visa and immigration Consultation services, we consider the complexities of your inquiries and the dynamic nature of regulations in Indonesia. As a result, the pricing for the services may vary accordingly. For pricing details, please talk to our experts.

What is the Investor KITAS (C313 & C314)?

The type of KITAS you’ll get if you own shares in a company and hold a position as a Director / Commissioner.

How long is the Investor KITAS valid for?

1 year for C313 and 2 years for C314. Both are extendable.

How long does the KITAS registration process take?

3-4 weeks for C313 & C314; 6-8 weeks for C312.

What is the passport validity requirement for the Investor KITAS?

30 months for the 2-year Investor KITAS and 18 months for the 1-year Investor KITAS.

What is the minimum account balance required for the Investor KITAS?

USD 1,500 or IDR 22 million.

Do I need to apply for the work permit if I’m both a shareholder and Director / Commissioner?

No.

What is the Work Permit KITAS (C312)?

It is the type of KITAS you’ll get if you work for a company established in Indonesia.

Can I work in multiple companies under the Work Permit KITAS?

No, you are only allowed to work for the company that sponsors your KITAS.

What do I need to extend my Work Permit KITAS?

NPWP, BPJS Health and Social Welfare.

What is NPWP?

Tax identification number.

What is BPJS?

Employee’s health & social welfare.

Can I work in Bali if my KITAS is registered in Jakarta?

No, you are only allowed to work based on the location stated in your KITAS.

I want to bring my wife / husband and my child to Indonesia. What type of KITAS will they need?

The Dependent KITAS (C317).

What are the requirements for the Dependent KITAS application?

Marriage or civil union certificatean d your child’s birth certificate.

Can my wife / husband work in Indonesia under the Dependant KITAS?

No.

Who are considered ‘dependents’?

Only your spouse and your children under the age of 17.

Can I sponsor my parents to get the Dependent KITAS?

No, parents are not considered dependents.

3. Finance

Should I submit tax reports if my company has been established but currently does not have any business activities?

Yes, it is mandatory to submit monthly and annual tax reports even if your company does not have any business activities, thus zero taxes.

Will having a tax ID but never submitting tax reports cause a problem to my company?

Yes, you will receive an administrative penalty for delaying or not correctly and promptly filing the tax report. To avoid this, it is best to hire a local third party to handle your taxation matters in Indonesia such as Cekindo.

What are the obligations related to payroll?

Health Insurance and Social Security Insurance (BPJS) are mandatory. Certain percentage will be borne by the company and the employee respectively. Other obligation is tax withholding. The percentage and type of taxes vary from case to case. Contact us to get the information on your specific field.

What are the deadlines for annual tax return?

The deadline for an individual tax return is 31 March. A corporate tax return must be lodged within four months after the end of the calendar year or taxable year. More information to be found here: 21 Must-Know Facts about Annual Tax Return in Indonesia.

How is pricing determined for your services in finance, accounting, and tax?

To provide you with accurate pricing information for our finance, accounting, and tax services, we consider the complexities of your inquiries and the dynamic nature of regulations in Indonesia. As a result, the pricing for the services may vary accordingly. For pricing details, please talk to our experts.

4. Product Registration

What are the regulations on products distribution in Indonesia?

Before you can distribute your products in Indonesia, you will have to register your product with the BPOM (National Agency of Food and Drugs) and MoH (Ministry of Health). Only an Indonesian legal entity can register the product. If you decide to distribute your product via a local distributor, they will register the product under their entity in Indonesia and become the product license holder. InCorp Indonesia can act as your local distributor and register the product under its name.

Is it safe to register a product under a local distributor?

Yes and no. It is very important to choose a reliable distributor as they will register the product under their company and become the product license holder as well as the import license holder. It is difficult to change the local distributor in case you are not satisfied with the cooperation.

What if my product has been registered under a local distributor and I decide to transfer the license to my company or another distributor?

You can transfer the license as long as your current local distributor agrees to change the product license holder.

What requirements are needed if my Indonesian company will register the product?

You need to register the product with BPOM (National Agency of Food and Drugs) and MoH (Ministry of Health). The type of testing and document requirements depend on the type of product you want to register. Also, the time frame for registration could vary between 3 to 15 months.

If my company is Halal certified for Europe or Malaysia, does it mean it is also halal certified for Indonesia?

The Indonesian Halal bodies recognise some of the international halal certifications. Nevertheless, since there might be differences in the standards used by each of the certification bodies, it is still needed to process Halal Certification in Indonesia.

Do all the products sold in Indonesia need to be halal registered?

Yes, if they are halal. Law no. 33 of 2014 states that all halal products distributed in Indonesia that are not halal certified will be considered as non-halal since October 2019. Further information can be found in Halal Certificate Registration with Cekindo.

Can you provide pricing examples for the product registration services?

To provide you with accurate pricing information for our product registration services, we consider the complexities of your inquiries and the dynamic nature of regulations in Indonesia. As a result, the pricing for the service may vary accordingly. For detailed information, please contact our consultants.

5. HR Outsourcing

What are the standard regulations regarding employment in Indonesia?

Minimum salary of IDR 3.9 mil for Jakarta region
12-day annual leave (minimum)
BPJS coverage
Holiday allowance

How does HR outsourcing mechanism work?

As your HR outsourcing provider, Cekindo signs a standard employment agreement with an outsourced employee. After this, we take care of the employee’s payroll in coordination with your company. Cekindo is also responsible for paying the salary to the employee.

What taxes are involved?

Employee income tax article 21
VAT on both service invoice and salary invoice
2% recovery tax on salary invoice

How does InCorp’s recruitment outsourcing mechanism work?

As a professional executive search agent, InCorp Indonesia helps promote job vacancies, screen and shortlist applicants, conduct pre-interviews and arrange final interview with applicants. This can also be topped up with an employee background check.

What needs to be included in an employment background check?

These are a few things you need to examine while performing an employee background check:
Criminal record
Educational background, qualifications, and professional certifications
Work and employment history
Sexual offense record
Alcohol and drug tests
Credit and financial background

How many types of employment and hiring options are there in Indonesia?

According to the Indonesia’s Manpower Law employers can hire the Indonesian talents either under a temporary or a permanent contract.

What are the non-wage compensations that employers in Indonesia usually provide to their employees?

In addition to the agreed-upon salary, employers also typically offer some other compensations such as overtime pay, paid annual leave, festive holiday leave, and insurance.

What other things should be considered when it comes to hiring local and foreign employees in Indonesia?

Prohibit any form of discrimination and provide equal opportunity for Indonesians and expatriates
Increase the competence of the workers by giving or encouraging job training
Follow the procedures of termination (Terminating an employee in Indonesia can be a long, tedious, and expensive process.
Observe the working hours, holidays, and overtime regulations
Give the mandatory employee benefits including social security and health insurance
Withhold only the right amount of income tax on behalf of the employees
Follow the wages and other benefits outlined by the law
Process the work permits for foreign employees

Can you provide pricing details for HR outsourcing services?

To provide you with accurate pricing information for our HR outsourcing services, we consider the complexities of your inquiries and the dynamic nature of regulations in Indonesia. As a result, the pricing for the service may vary accordingly. For detailed information, please contact our consultants.