Visa 211 (SosBud) & working

[Om DelOreo]

I went to Immigration today to ask about a couple of things, one of them being about an alternative to my current PR (ITAP). Because of my credentials and situation, he recommended I get a 211, the social-cultural visa, and he and his assistant told me I can buy/sell, teach at seminars, etc., - basically doing work that doesn't have a contract.

Have the laws changed recently, because the last I heard you're not allowed work on the 211 visa?

 

[Bad_azz]

Why would you wish to change [read downgrade] an ITAP to a 211?

Who is your sponsor? Spouse?

 

[jstar]

I guess you would prefer to (officially) live abroad; the type you consider is a multiple visit business visa? In that case it is perfectly possible to make longer business trips. (Meetings, seminars, etc.) As far as I remember, it can have a validity of five years and you would have to leave the country every sixty days. But check.

 

[Takri]

Please note that some changes were made in the beginning of 2017 regarding visit visas (formerly sosial budaya, etc.) and VITAS. There is an article here on the the sister website.

 

[scouser59]

you cannot work on a sosbud, or a business visa .

 

[jstar]

Aren't business trips in which you have meetings, do seminars, trainings, etc. all (types of) work(ing)? Many are entering the country daily for their non-Indonesian employer. Completely legal, as long as they don't take up employment and don't get paid here.



Multiple Entry Business Visa

Valid for up to 12 (twelve) months. [Jstar: now 5 years]
Issued upon authorization of the Immigration Office in Indonesia.
It is suggested that the applicant's counterpart in Indonesia should apply locally on his/her behalf. Based on a written approval from the Immigration Authority, the applicant will then apply for the issuance of visa by submitting the required documents stated below.

---

Required Documents

1. Passport with a minimum validity of 6 months from the proposed date of entry into Indonesia.
2. Fully completed visa application form.
3. One coloured passport size photograph.
4. Evidence that the applicant has sufficient funds to cover the cost of applicant's intended stay in Indonesia (eg. a Bank Statement).
5. Company sponsor data:

• Copy of the company’s business license letter (SIUP)
• Copy of the company'‘s act
• Copy of the company’s tax number (NPWP)
• Copy of company’s bank account statements
• Copy of the director’s identity card
• Two company letter heads, signed by the director and sealed with the company stamp

For Business:

1. Two supporting letters, one each from the applicant's company and sponsor/counterpart in Indonesia, setting out the reason and duration of the proposed visit, and responsibility for incurred costs.
2. Copy of written approval from the Immigration Office in Jakarta, Indonesia if the duration of business is to exceed 60 days.

To attend a conference/seminar

1. A letter of invitation from the conference host setting out details, including nature, duration and programme of the conference/seminar.
2. Itinerary ticket.

 

[R Cameron]

Please note that some changes were made in the beginning of 2017 regarding visit visas (formerly sosial budaya, etc.) and VITAS. There is an article here on the the sister website.

That's my understanding as well, technically there are no more "Sosial Budaya" visas. Here is the relevant Imigrasi page: Indonesian | English

There used to be a SosBud visa that was single entry, come in for 60 days, extendable 5 times for 30 days each. Then there was the Business Visit Visa, which is for one year, multi-entry, but each visit can only be 60 days. It seems these have been combined so that both timing options still exist, but there is no distinction whether the visa is for the (limited) business activities or for Sosial/Budaya activities, one may do both.

The permitted activities are:

Holiday, Family, Social, Art dan cultural; governmental visit; non-commercial sport activity, Benchmarking, shortcourse, short training, Giving consultation and training in implementing technological innovation on industry to improve Indonesian industrial product design quality, and foreign marketing, Working in a very urgent matters, journalistics (with approval by Minister of Foreign Affairs), Non-commercial movie making (with approval by Minister of Foreign Affairs), Business meeting, buying goods or products, Giving lecture or following seminars, participating on international exhibition, attend meeting held by Head Office or Branch office in Indonesia, Audit, quality control, inspection to a branch office in Indonesia, foreign workers on probation, transit, and join a transportation mode in Indonesia.

So you can teach in certain contexts (Giving consultation and training in implementing technological innovation... Giving lecture) and you can do buying, but it does not seem you can do any selling. You are almost certainly not permitted to receive any pay for any of these activities from Indonesian citizens, companies, schools, etc.

 

[Takri]

That's my understanding as well, technically there are no more "Sosial Budaya" visas. Here is the relevant Imigrasi page: Indonesian | English

As I understand the link you provided is (partly) outdated since it is from mid-2016 and doesn't take the new regulation into account. For instance for the multiple entry visit visa it still says your passport needs 18 months validity, while the new regulation seems to say 6 years (due to the fact that the multiple entry visa is now valid for much longer than before). How should people coming from countries that only do 5-year passport do is another story !

 

[Jee's Cafe]

I consulted the Immigration firm PT. Indosight and they said there is no such thing as a 5 year multiple entry business visa or social visit visa. They said:

You can get a longer stay permit (KITAS) only through 2 ways:1. Hired by Indonesian company
2. Sponsored by Indonesian spouse (not fiancee)

Is this information correct? I need to apply for a 5 year multiple entry visa with a local guarantor as shared by a couple of other posts. Is this not possible?

 

[El_Goretto]

I consulted the Immigration firm PT. Indosight and they said there is no such thing as a 5 year multiple entry business visa or social visit visa. They said:

You can get a longer stay permit (KITAS) only through 2 ways:1. Hired by Indonesian company
2. Sponsored by Indonesian spouse (not fiancee)

Is this information correct? I need to apply for a 5 year multiple entry visa with a local guarantor as shared by a couple of other posts. Is this not possible?

It depends on the purpose of your visits. As per this article, does the purpose of you requiring this visa fall under one or several of these reasons:

• Family
• Social
• Cultural
• Governmental duties
• Business transactions
• Trading
• Attending a seminar
• Attending an international fair
• Attending a meeting held by an head or representative office based in Indonesia
• Transiting to another country

If yes, then you can use a visit visa.

If the goal is to run a business in Indonesia, then yes, you will need a KITAS sponsored by an Indonesian spouse or an Indonesian company.

However, they are wrong in saying that there is no 5 year multiple entry visit visa. The new regulation came into effect late last year and we were the first ones to break the news. They are just not up to date. You can refer them to this article: New immigration regulation: Changes to Visit Visa and VITAS. But I'd ask for a discount if you use their services.

 

[Jee's Cafe]

Thank you for the clarification. Looks like i need to find more updated immigration consultants.

 

[fastpitch17]

Thank you for the clarification. Looks like i need to find more updated immigration consultants.

Lampung Immigration in Bandar lampung are really easy to work with. Both Klas 1 and Wilaya. In Bandar Lampung, I know of no agents to handle foreigners documentation except for some that work for businesses with larger foreigner employee numbers so you may want to be careful there. Immigration, easy. Civil registry, not so much but I have taught them much.