Out of Indonesia with KITAP

Takri

Newbie
Joined
Mar 18, 2017
Messages
15
Hi all,

I have read the threads I've found regarding the conditions to keep your ITAP alive while living out of Indonesia, but since it is a very important topic to me and I don't want to take the risk to misunderstand the rules please allow me to ask again.

Here is my situation:
1) currently on spouse-sponsored ITAP #1 expiring in June 2019
2) planning a long stay out of Indonesia (from 1 to 3, 4, 5 years) with departure around April/May 2019
3) don't want to start all over again (sosbud, KITAS, KITAP) when we move back to Indonesia, so want to arrange renewal of my ITAP first

My understanding is that after renewing my ITAP (which will then become an unlimited ITAP) the requirements are:
1) not being out of Indonesia more than 364 days in a row
2) making a continuous series of 2-year MERPs
3) doing a report to imigration after 5 years

Is the above true? To make it clearer:
A) is point 1 above really the only condition regarding periods in/out of Indonesia? Is it really enough to be a few days in Indonesia every year, and is there no minimal amount of time that we must be in Indonesia (like: longer in that out for instance)? So a total, say, of 10 days in Indonesia during these 5 years could be enough as long as I am not outside of Indonesia more than 364 days in a row, right?
B) regarding point 2: is there still no 5-year MERP for ITAP holders? And can I process MERP and MERP renewals alone (without my wife coming back to Indonesia with me but obviously with letters from her)? Is there any chance that for any reason I am asked to bring my wife to the immigration office?
C) regarding point 3: anybody knows what this every-5-year report looks like and what/who is required?

To summarize, is the below scenario possible and is it the best solution or is there any other solution implying fewer trips to Indonesia:

1) I renew my ITAP, then make my MERP, then we leave Indonesia
2) 1 year later (max 364 days after leaving Indonesia) I go back to Indonesia alone for a few days, then leave again
3) 1 more year later (max 364 days, and less than 2 years after my MERP was released) I go back alone to Indonesia and renew my MERP, and leave again
4) back to step 2 and 3 above...

Can you confirm that my wife technically doesn't need to come back to Indonesia during all these years?

Thanks a lot and sorry for the long post!
 
You have to visit Indonesia once in 364 days. A visit can be 1 day.
There is not yet a 5 years MERP.
You cannot process your MERP, the sponsor must do it.
The sponsor does not need to come in person, can authorize somebody, but I am quite sure (95%) that you have to be in the country, and Immigration can see through online system are you in Indonesia or not.
Nobody yet made a 5-year report, as the law was enacted in 2011, meaning first reports for unlimited KITPA would start coming in 2021-2022.
 
You have to visit Indonesia once in 364 days. A visit can be 1 day.
There is not yet a 5 years MERP.
You cannot process your MERP, the sponsor must do it.
The sponsor does not need to come in person, can authorize somebody, but I am quite sure (95%) that you have to be in the country, and Immigration can see through online system are you in Indonesia or not.
Nobody yet made a 5-year report, as the law was enacted in 2011, meaning first reports for unlimited KITPA would start coming in 2021-2022.

Thanks Centurion for your answer.
I know that it's the sponsor who is officially requesting the MERP but I think you can handle it yourself. At least it's what I did a few years ago, the last time I asked for a SERP at that time. I brought all documents myself, one of them being the surat permohonan from my wife. And yes of course I plan to be in Indonesia for that, but hopefully my Indonesian wife doesn't need to. What do you think?
As for the 5-year report I know it is very new but I thought maybe some regulations already stipulate the process? Anyway, it is in a long time as you say.
Best regards
 
I think that depends on Kantor Imigrasi, somewhere are more friendly, somewhere less. Probably it should not be a problem.

But if it is a problem, your spouse anyway can give PoA to somebody under duty stamp to extend the MERP, which is 2-3days.
 
Is it essential to apply for a renewal of the 2 year multi re-entry permit before the original expires? Or if one were not planning to travel around the end of the permit time would it become more complicated to apply for a renewal six months later?
 
Is it essential to apply for a renewal of the 2 year multi re-entry permit before the original expires? Or if one were not planning to travel around the end of the permit time would it become more complicated to apply for a renewal six months later?
Theoretically a foreign resident should have at all time a valid MERP in his/her passport. That's the theory. In practice "many" KITAP holder who never go out of the country just get a 2 years MERP at the issuance of their ITAP and get a new one only three years after the end of its validity (meaning at the renewal time of the next ITAP), or just if/when they need to go abroad. No problem so far. Been there done that.
 
If you are in the country, you do not need to extend your MERP if you will not travel abroad and you can apply for MERP anytime.
But, if you want to leave Indonesia without MERP you will be prevented to leave and required to renew your MERP, at least that is the case now. Even if you insist to get out of Indonesia and get your KITAP cancelled as a consequence of that, you will be denied to exit, and required to renew your MERP.
If you are in the country and near the end of your KITAP you can apply for 1 year MERP if you have less than 1 year of your KITAP remained (I think you can apply for a 6-month MEPR as well if your KITAP is less than 6 months till expiry).
If you are abroad and your MERP expires, I don`t know what happens, and can you enter in Indonesia.
 
Nobody yet made a 5-year report, as the law was enacted in 2011, meaning first reports for unlimited KITPA would start coming in 2021-2022.
Long before the enactment of UU 6/2011 it was possible for foreign spouse to get an ITAP sponsored by a WNI spouse. Prior to UU 6/2011 only two full years of temporary residency were required prior to convert to ITAP, meaning that just after the issuance of ITAS III you were able to get an ITAP through conversion. This is what I did and mine for example was issued prior to the enactment of UU 6/2011. Therefore those ITAP have been renewed with an "unlimited time/only date to report" before the five years mark past the enactment of UU 6/2011. A friend of mine got his ITAP issued in early 2010 and will therefore get his "free report" in early 2020. I should follow not long after.

Anyway, it doesn't change much to the outcome. At the moment probably no one as yet gone through the procedure. Since I will be among the first one, I sure will report. This is if I can't be arsed to become WNI before the end of this year.

Also, there is a 5 years MERP (cost: Rp 3.250.000 as per PP no 45/2016 ttg perubahan kedua ttg PNBP yg berlaku pada depkumham) available but it is valid only for those residing in Kawasan Ekonomi Khusus and working in certain sektor (ex: Perikanan in Bitung, North Sulawesi or Tourism in Tanjung Lesung, banten). To date there is 11 such KEK in Indonesia. For most of us, the 5 years MERP is however not available.
The way for the 5 years MERP has been paved in late 2015 by Presiden Jokowi with art. 72 PP 96/2015 but effective only in 2016 with the publication of its fee.

Pasal 72 PP 96/2015
(1) Izin Masuk Kembali untuk beberapa kali perjalanan diberikan kepada orang asing pemegang Izin Tinggal Terbatas atau pemegang Izin Tinggal Tetap.
(2) Izin Masuk Kembali diberikan dengan masa berlaku 5 (lima) tahun
 
Theoretically a foreign resident should have at all time a valid MERP in his/her passport. That's the theory. In practice "many" KITAP holder who never go out of the country just get a 2 years MERP at the issuance of their ITAP and get a new one only three years after the end of its validity (meaning at the renewal time of the next ITAP), or just if/when they need to go abroad. No problem so far. Been there done that.
I am writing asking about a small but important matter related to having a MERP whilst on KITAP. It is likely that many members here are in a similar situation to me, or will soon will be, and maybe interested in some good advice on this matter. I don't believe this forum has dealt with this before.

My question: Whilst on a first 5 year ITAP, and having extended the MERP twice, with one year to go to the end of ITAP, is a one year MERP the best option (whether or not the holder intends to leave the country or not), or is best to get the standard 2 year MERP in the event it rolls over to the ITAP extension, or, is it even acceptable (legal?) to not extend the MERP if one does not intend to leave the country in the final year, and wait for the extension date to get the next MERP?
 
I am writing asking about a small but important matter related to having a MERP whilst on KITAP. It is likely that many members here are in a similar situation to me, or will soon will be, and maybe interested in some good advice on this matter. I don't believe this forum has dealt with this before.

My question: Whilst on a first 5 year ITAP, and having extended the MERP twice, with one year to go to the end of ITAP, is a one year MERP the best option (whether or not the holder intends to leave the country or not), or is best to get the standard 2 year MERP in the event it rolls over to the ITAP extension, or, is it even acceptable (legal?) to not extend the MERP if one does not intend to leave the country in the final year, and wait for the extension date to get the next MERP?

The MERP will expire at the end of your KITAP, so the third extension should be 1 year only. Or as Atlantis mentioned above, just don't apply for an MERP until it is time to extend KITAP.
 
I see there is a six month MERP for 600 000 rupiah that might suit me and others.
 
Hello everyone

I will very soon be in the same situation as in the top post (Takri).
With my current kitap (expiry May 2023) , I could start application for an unlimited one next month.
However, due to work situation (ijin kerja) and schooling of children, we have changed our original plans to continuously reside in Indonesia. At the end of the school year (June 2023) we want to go overseas for at least 3 years, more likely 4 to 6 years. We want to go back overseas to live and work until the children will have firmly started their path in tertiary education\work\independent life, before returning to Indonesia and continue our original plan of living here to our, hopefully , old days.

Could you please post an update on how things went. Is it possible to just come back, say a week or two to renew the MERP ? The WNA spouse only (PoA letter from WNI spouse yes\no?)
Any other solutions ?

It would be a shame to lose the Kitap and start the whole procedure from Sosbud again, once we are ready to return to Indonesia permenantly.
Any experience advice would be well appreciated.
Thank you in advance for all the help on these forums.
 
a week or two to renew the MERP

The problem is not only the MERP (extension). You can only stay out of the country for a maximum of one year. (I personally encountered it was frowned upon when I said I would return in 8 months.)

So you’d have to come back every year once and plan so you can combine that for the MERP extension and 5 year reporting. Some planning required.
 

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