LangitDrift
Member
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2025
- Messages
- 2
I am sharing my experience moving to self sponsorship while on a Family Dependant ITAP.
My situation is that my wife died in late 2023 after 9 years of marriage and I was, and still am, on my 2nd KITAP (unlimited KITAP). So far I have:
1. Shifted to self sponsor; now my ITAP has “ - ” in the guarantor field, where it previously had my late wife’s name.
2. Processed a new IMK (unlimited) as a self sponsor after my two-year IMK had expired.
What I have not yet done is unlimited KITAP 5-year reporting, which I can only start in mid-August, 2026.
The KanIm staff have been helpful, but as an unusual situation, there were some challenges to overcome while processing this:
1. The belief that self-sponsorship for a widow(er) requires 10 years of marriage. I clarified, and Jakarta ultimately agreed, that under PP 40/2023, the 10-year requirement applies only in cases of divorce (Pasal 162) and not to the death of a spouse (Pasal 160).
2. The belief that it would not be technically possible to process this, i.e. no option in the evisa.imigrasi.go.id system for self-guarantor; this was overcome by using the letter and steps in the guide below.
3. Unfamiliarity with the Surat Keterangan Pelaporan Perubahan Status Sipil (needed to fulfil the reporting requirement on change of civil status in Pasal 160(2)). This letter, stating that the KanIm is aware of the change of marital circumstances, needs to be created manually by the KanIm.
Self sponsorship isn’t perfect: even afterwards, Jakarta still requested marriage documents (buku nikah, wife’s death certificate) when I initiated the unlimited IMK application. However, it’s better than Immigration’s usual and preferred solution, finding a new sponsor, which I did not want to do when the law allows for self-sponsorship.
Here is the guide on how to process self-sponsorship. I expect that with some minor changes, this guide could be applied to self sponsorship after divorce (following 10 years of marriage) also.
A : GUIDE TO THE PROCESS FOR CHANGING GUARANTOR in the following case :
1. In the first one, UPLOAD the “surat permohonan” for change guarantor [edit: duda for widowers, janda for widows, and other edits as needed]
2. In the second one, upload a COMBINED pdf file with all documents you have, ie :
That means only 2 PDFs are uploaded.
Pay for the “change of guarantor” (at present 500krp)
Then wait for them to process the data and give you access to “Action “ again. Print your E-ITAP (now with “ - ” in sponsor field).
B : Process for extending your MERP (IMK) following Process A
Click on “Action” and choose “Application IMK for ITAP”
o Your passport
o An ID photo on a red background.
o The page in your passport with the date of expiry of your present MERP
o Your KTP-OA and your KK
Additional documents that may or may not be requested:
o The standard sponsor request letter (surat pernyataan dan jaminan) with your own name in both sections as the guarantor and guaranteed. This form varies by KanIm and can be requested from them.
o Marriage certificate.
o Spouse’s death certificate.
The second file upload is your newly-made self-sponsor ITAP from Process A.
Pay for “extending MERP” (at present unlimited : 8 jt)
Then wait for them to process the data. If “waiting validation”, you need to go to your KANIM and have photo taking or document verification (if requested). Then wait one or 2 days and you can print your unlimited E-MERP (IMK).
My situation is that my wife died in late 2023 after 9 years of marriage and I was, and still am, on my 2nd KITAP (unlimited KITAP). So far I have:
1. Shifted to self sponsor; now my ITAP has “ - ” in the guarantor field, where it previously had my late wife’s name.
2. Processed a new IMK (unlimited) as a self sponsor after my two-year IMK had expired.
What I have not yet done is unlimited KITAP 5-year reporting, which I can only start in mid-August, 2026.
The KanIm staff have been helpful, but as an unusual situation, there were some challenges to overcome while processing this:
1. The belief that self-sponsorship for a widow(er) requires 10 years of marriage. I clarified, and Jakarta ultimately agreed, that under PP 40/2023, the 10-year requirement applies only in cases of divorce (Pasal 162) and not to the death of a spouse (Pasal 160).
2. The belief that it would not be technically possible to process this, i.e. no option in the evisa.imigrasi.go.id system for self-guarantor; this was overcome by using the letter and steps in the guide below.
3. Unfamiliarity with the Surat Keterangan Pelaporan Perubahan Status Sipil (needed to fulfil the reporting requirement on change of civil status in Pasal 160(2)). This letter, stating that the KanIm is aware of the change of marital circumstances, needs to be created manually by the KanIm.
Self sponsorship isn’t perfect: even afterwards, Jakarta still requested marriage documents (buku nikah, wife’s death certificate) when I initiated the unlimited IMK application. However, it’s better than Immigration’s usual and preferred solution, finding a new sponsor, which I did not want to do when the law allows for self-sponsorship.
Here is the guide on how to process self-sponsorship. I expect that with some minor changes, this guide could be applied to self sponsorship after divorce (following 10 years of marriage) also.
A : GUIDE TO THE PROCESS FOR CHANGING GUARANTOR in the following case :
- You are a widow(er) on KITAP and were legally married with a WNI spouse
- You’ve ALREADY informed Immigration of your status changed from married to widow(er).
- You’ve ALREADY updated your KTP-OA and your KK at your local CAPIL (this will say ‘divorced’ even if widowed).
- Go to “application” and check your “staypermit”
- Click on “action” and on “change guarantor”
- Follow the instructions
1. In the first one, UPLOAD the “surat permohonan” for change guarantor [edit: duda for widowers, janda for widows, and other edits as needed]
2. In the second one, upload a COMBINED pdf file with all documents you have, ie :
- marriage certificate
- death certificate (spouse)
- birth certificate (spouse)
- last KTP (spouse)
- KTP-OA already updated with your new situation (yourself)
- KARTU KELUARGA updated with your new situation (yourself)
- KITAP (yourself)
- Letter from Immigration stating their awareness of your change of status from married to
widow(er) called “Surat Keterangan Pelaporan Perubahan Status Sipil”.
That means only 2 PDFs are uploaded.
Pay for the “change of guarantor” (at present 500krp)
Then wait for them to process the data and give you access to “Action “ again. Print your E-ITAP (now with “ - ” in sponsor field).
B : Process for extending your MERP (IMK) following Process A
Click on “Action” and choose “Application IMK for ITAP”
- Follow the instructions
- Upload in one COMBINED pdf file
o Your passport
o An ID photo on a red background.
o The page in your passport with the date of expiry of your present MERP
o Your KTP-OA and your KK
Additional documents that may or may not be requested:
o The standard sponsor request letter (surat pernyataan dan jaminan) with your own name in both sections as the guarantor and guaranteed. This form varies by KanIm and can be requested from them.
o Marriage certificate.
o Spouse’s death certificate.
The second file upload is your newly-made self-sponsor ITAP from Process A.
Pay for “extending MERP” (at present unlimited : 8 jt)
Then wait for them to process the data. If “waiting validation”, you need to go to your KANIM and have photo taking or document verification (if requested). Then wait one or 2 days and you can print your unlimited E-MERP (IMK).
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