Spousal KITAS to KITAP conversion (also applicable for Spousal SosBud to KITAS).

[Chiron]

In the retirement visa, there is a requirement for health insurance. I didn't see any reference to health insurance, so I'm guessing it's not required. How about after it's completed - need to get BPJS?

 

[Davita]

In the retirement visa, there is a requirement for health insurance. I didn't see any reference to health insurance, so I'm guessing it's not required. How about after it's completed - need to get BPJS?

A Retirement Visa still requires an agent to be the sponsor and the application is made through them. They will tell you what are the requirements viz: health insurance, as everyone has different requirements.
BPJS membership is not a requirement but, I'd think, would be of benefit if you can get it. I understand it isn't available to Retirement Kitas/Kitap holders but is for those spouse-sponsored.

 

[klaatu]

Hi klaatu , ya you will have to get your wifes ktp transferred to bali for the kitap, it is a bit of dance im afraid , but worthwhile in the end , unfortunately some areas of bali will not issue a ktp without owning property , hope your area is different , good luck,

Our banjar in Gelogor Carik (denpasar selatan)tells us
to change ktp you must own property (for 7years??)or be staying at kos here for 15 years..I will get 2nd kitas here (with full stamps in passport this time by doing myself) ,then convert to ITAP in Jawa...ps.even the agent won't get KITAP for me without wife having Bali KTP!

 

[scouser59]

Our banjar in Gelogor Carik (denpasar selatan)tells us
to change ktp you must own property (for 7years??)or be staying at kos here for 15 years..I will get 2nd kitas here (with full stamps in passport this time by doing myself) ,then convert to ITAP in Jawa...ps.even the agent won't get KITAP for me without wife having Bali KTP!

ya the rule in bali is ridiculous for ktp change from another island .

 

[ratu_tuaq]

I thought I’d post my experience with the KITAS --> KITAP process, as mine was done at Kantor Imigrasi in Mataram Lombok, where the process (aka processing TIME) is very different - 5 months from submission to completion. This is for a KITAP ikut suami, after I had 2 KITAS. Apologies to those who already know this, or for whom it is totally irrelevant. I'm very jealous of those of you who live in places where it does NOT take 5 months to process a KITAP application. And mine was faster than others I have met here in Lombok! Someone I know waited 7 months for the same visa a few months ago.

1. 1st Visit to Immigration 11/08/2017: Picked up forms 24, 25 & 26, a Surat Pernyataan Integrasi, and a Surat Pernyataan dan Jaminan, together with a handwritten list of required documents (as described in the original post of this thread, except for photos - I have never been asked for photos here in Lombok). I was told to fill in the forms & letters by hand, and submit them, together with originals of all required documents, and 3 photocopies of everything.
2. 2nd Visit to Immigration 14/08/2017: Proudly handed over my neatly clipped-together piles of photocopies and a folder of original documents as instructed. Uh oh – I was incorrectly instructed to fill in by hand the Surat Pernyataan Integrasi and the Surat Pernyataan dan Jaminan. I was ordered to go home and type them up on my computer, print them out, sign them (over materai) and then resubmit my application.
3. 3rd Visit to Immigration 16/08/2017: I again proudly handed over my neatly clipped-together piles of photocopies and a folder of original documents and waited for what seemed like an eternity for the one lady who was able to help foreigners, to check my papers. All good. She told us to be on our way and to wait for a call from immigration for a house visit. And she forgot to give me my folder of original documents. When I politely asked for it, she handed it over minus my original Buku Nikah and my SKTT. When I asked politely for them, she stated that they are to be kept at imigrasi. WTF?
4. House Visit 11/09/2017: Almost 4 weeks after submitting the KITAP application, the imigrasi guys called to ask if it was ok to come and visit us (which it was). They arrived, took lots of photos of us, and told me I had fulfilled all the requirements for my visa conversion, and they were waiting on a letter from the KUA confirming our marriage had taken place. I was asked to fill in and sign a form with questions like “Sudah berapa lama Anda kenal isteri/suami Anda?”, “Dimana dan sudah berapa lama Anda kawin?”, “Anda bekerja sebagai apa?”, “Dalam rangka apa Anda pindah ke Indonesia?”, “Sudah berapa lama Anda tinggal di Indonesia?” and “Dapatkah Anda menunjukkan dokumen yang benar di kantor Imigrasi?” and a few more. Then they told us we needed to get a letter stamped by the RT, but they had left it in the car (long walk from our house) so said to forget about it.
5. 4th Visit to Immigration 15/11/2017: 3 months after submitting the KITAP application, I got the call from imigrasi to come and have the photo and biometrics done, and to take my special envelope to the Kantor Wilayah. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to pay that day, and didn’t have enough cash on me, so I went in anyway. They very kindly said that I could go ahead with the photo and biometrics, and then take the envelope to the Kantor Wilayah, and that I could pay later, once the application had returned from Jakarta. Yay! Since I was there anyway, I asked for the return of my original Buku Nikah and SKTT. They propmtly handed them over.
6. 5th Visit to Immigration 27/12/2017: Got the call from imigrasi to come in and pay before the 29th December as they would be closing for New Year. Paid Rp 5.505.000: E-KITAP Rp 3.700.000, MERP: Rp 1.750.000, BIOMETRICS Rp 55.000. I was told to expect a call in around a week to come in and pick up my passport and KITAP.
7. 6th Visit to Immigration 16/01/2018: 3 weeks after paying (and being told to expect a call in around a week) I decided to go in and check on my KITAP progress myself. My husband objected (said I needed to be ‘sabar’), but he lost the argument, so we went in anyway and I politely asked if my passport and KITAP were ready. Fifteen minutes passed, and then I was called up. My passport, KITAP and MERP were all ready. They forgot to call me!!! She handed them over and I almost cried. Five months to the day since the application was submitted, I am now a member of the KITAP club.
   

 

[atlantis]

Top notch, ratu_tuaq. Many Thanks for having taken the time to post it.

 

[waarmstrong]

Just wondering; with a KITAP in your pocket, does Indonesia look or feel different?

 

[brian@bekasi]

Just wondering; with a KITAP in your pocket, does Indonesia look or feel different?

To me getting my KITAP was a sense of pride in becoming a permanent resident of the country in which I choose to live in.

I realize that under the law I will always be a foreigner but at least with the KITAP I can feel that I am part of the Indonesian community and not just a temporary visitor.

 

[ratu_tuaq]

Just wondering; with a KITAP in your pocket, does Indonesia look or feel different?

Actually, yes it does! I feel exactly the same way as brian@bekasi above.

I've been visiting and living here on and off since 1989, so for me, I've finally attained a long-held dream - to become a permanent resident of this beautiful country, which has been such a huge part of my life for almost 30 years now.

Now, if only Indonesia allowed dual citizenship, that would be my next goal. But with the law as it currently stands, I'm not willing to think about giving up my Aussie citizenship.

 

[Chiron]

I thought I’d post my experience with the KITAS --> KITAP process, as mine was done at Kantor Imigrasi in Mataram Lombok, where the process (aka processing TIME) is very different - 5 months from submission to completion.

Thanks for the well documented posting. I'll be referring back to this (among other posts), when I start the process.

 

[Davita]

Thanks for the well documented posting. I'll be referring back to this (among other posts), when I start the process.

Chiron....in your post #61 you indicated your interest in getting a Retirement Kitas/Kitap. If that is the case Ratu_Tuaq's well documented post # 65 will not help in that process. A Retirement Visa is not a 'do it yourself' visa...it needs an agent to make the application.

 

[Chiron]

Chiron....in your post #61 you indicated your interest in getting a Retirement Kitas/Kitap. If that is the case Ratu_Tuaq's well documented post # 65 will not help in that process. A Retirement Visa is not a 'do it yourself' visa...it needs an agent to make the application.

Hi Davita,

Actually, I was just pointing out that the retirement visa had a requirement for health insurance, and was trying to verify that the spousal KITAS/KITAP did not. However, since that time (about 11 months ago), I now understand the rules for both of the visas. With the spousal KITAS/KITAP, there isn't a health insurance requirement (at this time), but as a resident (or citizen) it looks like there will be a requirement for all to have BPJS coverage by January 1, 2019.

Just to be sure about our future plan, I will be retiring in the next 2-36 months from my work here in the US. My wife maintained her Indonesian citizenship since our marriage, and she's hoping I'll make the "wise decision" to retire in her hometown of Solo, Indonesia. In that context, we would be applying for the spousal KITAS/KITAP. I do have a keen interest in healthcare, health insurance, health costs, etc., and sprinkled across this forum are a number of questions regarding that topic. Post #65 was one of those. The most important things I'm focusing on at the moment (in order of importance) are:

1. Healthcare, doctors, and healthy living in general
2. Taxation and all money/banking related issues
3. Immigration, visas, notaries, real estate ownership, (i.e. legal issues)

Each one of these are multi-faceted, and have their own unique challenges for each individual - depending on their situation. So far, I've got most of this figured out, but the healthcare thing still has a couple nagging points that need an answer. Taxation is another one that has some unknowns, but looking better since I spoke with an international tax accountant. I plan to post something eventually on that conversation.

 

[tokektokek]

Just wondering; with a KITAP in your pocket, does Indonesia look or feel different?

Yes it makes me feel more relaxed, proud that I am recognised as a resident of Indonesia and accepted as one of the locals.

Although I don't live in Indonesia anymore - I built a house there but as I am young wasn't able to find something that would earn me enough money to have a lavish lifestyle as I have in the UK - I kept my KITAP and every time I go back there it is like another home country to me.

It is also a nice feeling walking through immigration both in and out of Indonesia without having to apply for a visa etc.

Once I got my KITAP, it feels like I am a permanent piece of this beautiful country

 

[nd_eric_77]

Just curious, is there any advantage to doing the KITAS - KITAP conversion soon after getting spousal KITAS? Or should I wait a few months after getting the KITAS approved? (I have been in country - mostly on work KITAS for most of the past 8 years, and we have been married for 15 years.)

Edit to add: We are in Jakarta, so getting to KanIm / KanWil in person is not a problem.

 

[jstar]

Just curious, is there any advantage to doing the KITAS - KITAP conversion soon after getting spousal KITAS? Or should I wait a few months after getting the KITAS approved? (I have been in country - mostly on work KITAS for most of the past 8 years, and we have been married for 15 years.)

Edit to add: We are in Jakarta, so getting to KanIm / KanWil in person is not a problem.

Well, since the process and documents needed are very similar, and everything is still fresh in your head, it could be convenient to do it right away. And you will be all set for another 5 years.

On the other hand, there is a financial disadvantage since you would 'lose' 10 months of the stay permit. And perhaps you will be fed up dealing with all that stuff.
.

 

[nd_eric_77]

Well, since the process and documents needed are very similar, and everything is still fresh in your head, it could be convenient to do it right away. And you will be all set for another 5 years.

On the other hand, there is a financial disadvantage since you would 'lose' 10 months of the stay permit. And perhaps you will be fed up dealing with all that stuff.
.

Thanks for the info; I think I will wait until a couple months before KITAS renewal time, and then do the KITAP conversion instead of KITAS renewal. Either way, the only hassle appears to be trips to KanIm / KanWil, rather than leaving the country.

 

[jstar]

Either way, the only hassle appears to be trips to KanIm / KanWil, rather than leaving the country.

Right, the latter is not necessary. (Just to avoid confusion for whoever might be reading this in the future.)

Obtaining the KTP process is also not great but you've got to be a bit lucky and obviously have a CatSip who's done it before for a WNA...

 

[ChrisTex]

I am in the process of getting everything together to get a KITAP. My wife went to our apartment manager office and tried to get the letter saying we live there. They told her for a KITAS, they don't have a problem with it, but they have to check with someone about the KITAP. Our lease is for one year, but we have lived in this apartment for about two years now.

Has anyone else encountered this before?

 

[snpark]

So just tell them you made a mistake and you meant for your kitas
Pretty sure the immigration people dont care too much and probably it is the same letter anyway? isnt it only a proof of residence etc?

or use some tippex s --> p

 

[jstar]

Has anyone else encountered this before?

Yes but in very different circumstances. For instance in the admission to a museum or tourist attraction, as well as obtaining a customer loyalty card from a shopping mall or department store. Or Fave (formerly Groupon) promos.

They are aware of KITAS (which was even mentioned in their conditions) but have no idea what a KITAP is. Luckily the KTP solves it all.