Change visa / kitas after marriage

[rols]

I've been in Indonesia on a '2nd home' visa for just over a year, and got KITAS with that visa. The intention is to make Indonesia my long-term home.

My partner and I got married a few weeks ago and I'm working out what the best thing to do about visas and KITAS/KITAP is now.

I assume I can apply for a spouse visa (is this something we can do ourselves or need an agent?). Can I then 'switch' my current KITAS over to being dependent on the spouse visa and not the 2nd home one? It would be good to do this without changing the KITAS number as already quite a few things are linked to that number.

One benefit of changing visas is to release the funds I have to keep in Mandiri for the 2nd home visa + KITAS. That's quite an incentive for doing this.

In terms of KITAP. If I continue on the 2nd home visa, will I be able to apply for KITAP after 3 years or does that require me to be on a spouse-visa KITAS? If either works, but I switch visas, does that reset the clock before I can apply? I do know that the fees for a spouse-visa KITAS -> KITAP are more reasonable than other KITAP applications which might be another benefit.

Can I get some suggestions / advice about what to do and what steps to take in what order? Important things for me are staying in Indonesia, I would like to release the funds I have uselessly sitting around if I can, I would like to apply for KITAP at some point and lastly it would be really handy if I can do all this without changing KITAS number.

TIA

 

[marcus]

The intention is to make Indonesia my long-term home...

So first let me emphasize the things that are important , in my view (assuming your spouse is Indonesian) :
- the main advantages of holding KITAS or KITAP sponsored by the Indonesian spouse in relation to your present KITAS (or future KITAP Second Home) are :
a) you can work or do business informally without a work permit ,
b) you are not required to invest money in Indonesia ,
- the (small) advantage of holding your KITAS Second Home (or future KITAP Second Home) in relation to the KITAS or KITAP sponsored by the Indonesian spouse is that you don't have/need a sponsor .

I assume I can apply for a spouse visa (is this something we can do ourselves or need an agent?).

Yes you can apply yourself (online) on behalf of the spouse (if she/he agrees , of course) . The Immigration's evisa.imigrasi.go.id is easy enough to people , with a basic knowledge of computer operation + help from people in forums like this , to apply without the help of an agent .
I don't know if to apply you will need first to request an EPO (Exit Only Permit) , or it can be done later .

In addition to the visa , you may have these 2 other options (from the process options of your present KITAS) which will not require you to leave Indonesia :

• "Change of Guarantor" (at "Change Data") , from you to your spouse . As far as I know , you will have to pay for the 'new' 1 or 2 years KITAS .
• "Bridging Stay Permit" (a 60 days Visit Stay Permit) , then with it you request a KITAS sponsored by your spouse .

Can I then 'switch' my current KITAS over to being dependent on the spouse visa and not the 2nd home one? It would be good to do this without changing the KITAS number as already quite a few things are linked to that number.

By getting a visa , the KITAS number certainly changes .
For the other 2 options , the KITAS number will probably change too .

In terms of KITAP. If I continue on the 2nd home visa, will I be able to apply for KITAP after 3 years or does that require me to be on a spouse-visa KITAS?

KITAP after 2 years of marriage for Indonesian spouse's KITAS . KITAP Second Home I don't know but in my view it doesn't matter in how many years because in my view you better wait the 5 years of your present KITAS , as there is no additional relevant benefit in getting the KITAP sooner .

... but I switch visas, does that reset the clock before I can apply? (for a KITAP)

No (in this case) .

I do know that the fees for a spouse-visa KITAS -> KITAP are more reasonable than other KITAP applications which might be another benefit.

Immigration fees for KITAP don't depend on the type of the KITAS . Visa agent's fees do depend on the KITAS/KITAP type .

 

[rols]

in my view you better wait the 5 years of your present KITAS , as there is no additional relevant benefit in getting the KITAP sooner .

Firstly thank you (again) for the comprehensive answer. I have read here a few times that KITAP gives you nothing that KITAS does not already. Generally that seems quite true, however is the KTP-OA not useful? I do find random things I cannot do because I don't have KTP, but also I don't know whether a KTP-OA is accepted for any or all of those things either. Random things are eg applying for shopee pay and similar, registering my own post-paid phone line, stuff like that. Some of those you are meant to be able to do with KITAS, but I've not managed one yet.

Also the KTP-OA would allow me to be included on the KK. That's more something I want to do rather than actually useful, but it saddens me a bit when I'm not officially part of the family.

 

[harryopal1]

As I recall, with a WNI sponsored Kitas I was elegible to apply for a Kitap after one year. Then able to apply for and get the "permanent Kitap' which is valid for 5 years. I have to report to Immigration just before that expires in 2028 and back to the usual pile of documents but no fee thereafter. With the change from Merp to IMK I now have an unlimited MERP. It just feels a bit freer with less having to go to and fro to immigration.

 

[pantaiema]

I have read here a few times that KITAP gives you nothing that KITAS does not already. Generally that seems quite true, however is the KTP-OA not useful?

I wonder where did you get this information from ? This needs clarification as people who are already qualified for conversion from ITAS to ITAP, might think there is no point in getting ITAP.

What about time, money, reducing hassles are not they beneficial??. See the benefits in post#4. It might not be exactly what you are looking for but for other people it might be beneficial for them.

If you are expecting right to own freehold landed property, right to open a small business without a proper permit, right to work than just remember that even the new visa indexes intended for an Ex-Indonesians, Indonesian Diaspora do not grant you this right.

 

[Helpful Herbert]

Also the KTP-OA would allow me to be included on the KK. That's more something I want to do rather than actually useful, but it saddens me a bit when I'm not officially part of the family.

I hate to break it to you, but even when you get a KITAP and KTP-OA you will not be on the family KK, they give you a separate KK just for yourself, although you are head of the family for that one .

 

[marcus]

... eg applying for shopee pay and similar, registering my own post-paid phone line, ...

I got "Shopee Pay" long ago without a KTP (but the requirement may have changed) . I never got a post-paid line , but I have a prepaid Indonesian cellphone sim card/number which I registered with only my passport . By the way , usually when companies asked me for the KTP , I told "I am a foreigner , is my passport's photocopy acceptable" . It was almost always acceptable , except in the cases below and few times the original passport was required .

You are right that there are things that do require a KTP , like : Shopee Pay Later , opening a Seabank account (and other digital banks) , ... because these companies use selfie's face recognition comparing with (only) the KTP's photo . But in these cases you can do like me , I share the Indonesian spouse's accounts .

Also the KTP-OA would allow me to be included on the KK. That's more something I want to do rather than actually useful, but it saddens me a bit when I'm not officially part of the family.

Importance of things depend on each of us . I lived around 7 years with "nikah siri" (non-official marriage) + around 11 years without a KTP & KK (and the 2 years I had KK , it was separated from my wife's KK) , never felt I missed anything . Indonesian neighbors & schools' teachers always respected me as my wife's husband and father of my wife's children (I didn't officially adopt them) .

 

[marcus]

I hate to break it to you, but even when you get a KITAP and KTP-OA you will not be on the family KK, they give you a separate KK just for yourself, although you are head of the family for that one .

It is not always like that , as I already heard some foreigners who were included in the Indonesian spouse's KK .

Because I recently got a new KITAP , I asked my city's Registry Office about that , and the officer there told me that I could choose either way .

 

[Hawk256]

I hate to break it to you, but even when you get a KITAP and KTP-OA you will not be on the family KK, they give you a separate KK just for yourself, although you are head of the family for that one .

I am on the KK with my spouse.

 

[harryopal1]

I am on the KK with my spouse.

As am I.

 

[rols]

I wonder where did you get this information from ? This needs clarification as people who are already qualified for conversion from ITAS to ITAP, might think there is no point in getting ITAP.

I got that information, or rather not information but impression, right here in this forum. I read a lot of posts about converting KITAS --> KITAP to see if I could answer my own questions and I read something to the effect of "There's really nothing KITAP gives you which you don't already have with KITAS" rather a lot of times.

I do think it's better, although perhaps it's a bit marginal, and was intending on applying for it. As I said above the KTP-OA was one thing which sounds like it is a benefit (and it sounds like it is, although again marginally).

 

[rols]

As am I.

ok that's nice to know - but who is head of the household?

 

[harryopal1]

ok that's nice to know - but who is head of the household?

On paper.... not sure. But as most husbands will tell you, in the house, the head of the household is actually the wife.

 

[marcus]

... about converting KITAS --> KITAP ... I do think it's better, although perhaps it's a bit marginal, and was intending on applying for it.

Let me add that , when the (1 or 2 years) KITAS is near its end and assuming the foreigner is sure to stay at least 5 more years in Indonesia , requesting a 5 years KITAP is for sure a good idea (cheaper per year , less bureaucracy , ..) . Some foreigners even got registered at BPJS (Government's subsided health insurance) due to KK together with the Indonesian spouse , but it is not legal in my view .

 

[harryopal1]

Let me add that , when the (1 or 2 years) KITAS is near its end and assuming the foreigner is sure to stay at least 5 more years in Indonesia , requesting a 5 years KITAP is for sure a good idea (cheaper per year , less bureaucracy , ..) . Some foreigners even got registered at BPJS (Government's subsided health insurance) due to KK together with the Indonesian spouse , but it is not legal in my view .

Actually my spouse was able to register me with BPJS.

 

[Hawk256]

, but it is not legal in my view .

Why do you think it's not legal? Another body paying monthly fees seems like a good idea. Of course some will use more than they pay but that is the rub with insurance.

 

[Helpful Herbert]

My wife and kids got BPJS for free. There was some program a few years ago (KIS program?) and each RT had a quota of free cards to give out, so they got them. They have never used them but I guess it could be handy one day.

 

[marcus]

Why do you think it's not legal? ..

UU no.24 Year 2011 - About BPJS
Article 1
4. Participants are all individuals, including foreigners who have worked for at least 6 months in Indonesia ...

-----------------------------------

From https://mpp.pekalongankota.go.id/portal/layanan/detail/Pendaftaran-Peserta-Baru-WNA
Title : Registration Details for New Foreign Participants
Service Description
The new participant registration service for foreigners at the Pekalongan City's BPJS Kesehatan (Healthcare Social Security Agency) provides an efficient and structured process for foreigners seeking access to healthcare services in Indonesia...
Requirements :
1. NIK KTP-el (optional)
2. Bank account number
3. Work/Business Permit
4. ITAS or ITAP

 

[marcus]

My wife and kids got BPJS for free. There was some program a few years ago (KIS program?) ...

From https://dinsos.bulelengkab.go.id/informasi/detail/artikel/pengertian-kartu-indonesia-sehat-kis-94
Title : Understanding the Indonesian Healthy Card (KIS)
Social Services Admin | April 23, 2018
.....
Other differences between BPJS and KIS are:
1. KIS is health insurance intended for the underprivileged, while BPJS is an agency or institution that organizes and manages this health insurance.

 

[pantaiema]

Some foreigners even got registered at BPJS (Government's subsided health insurance) due to KK together with the Indonesian spouse , but it is not legal in my view .

I will dispute this. I am already aware of UU_No_24_2011 - Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial. There is also UU_No_40_2004 - Sistem Jaminan Social Nasional. The clause you stated is for foreigners who have worked in Indonesia. What about foreigners such as wni spouse sponsored visa who typically have not worked in Indonesia ? There is nowhere written that foreigners, Indonesian residents who have not worked in Indonesia will not qualify to join. Also see other reasons below.

1. When you look at the government regulation is meant to be the detail implementation / guidance for the laws, of this social security system, the following is stated Article 6 Perpres_No_59_2024 - Perubahan Ketiga Atas Perpres_No_82_2018 Tentang Jaminan Kesehatan '(1) Setiap penduduk Indonesia wajib ikut serta dalam program Jaminan Kesehatan' '(1) Every Indonesian resident is obliged to participate in the Health Insurance program'

2. There are many cases where people holding a spouse-sponsored ITAS (not even ITAP) were able to register for BPJS (see attachment). If BPJS approves the application, then the matter is settled. In other situations, applicants were told they must wait at least six months before applying. In others, foreign applicants were rejected outright.

My conclusion sofar is that the outcome often depends on the specific office and the officials handling your application. Also when your name is on familycard (KK) of your Indonesian spouse, you will have a better chance of approval.