Imigrasi on line?

[Nicho]

I queried the fees again with the agent who replied: Our company, as a visa agent, charges a professional fee for handling the process from start to finish, including preparation, submission, and follow-up with Immigration. This is why the total amount you were quoted (IDR 8,000,000) is higher than the official government fee, as our agency fee is added on top of the Immigration charge. Different agencies may have different service rates, so you are very welcome to use another agency if you prefer."

I have requested a quote from a different agency but not sure if their website is working. 5.5 Juta to register the passport and apply for Merp seems steep to me.

I queried the fees again with the agent who replied: Our company, as a visa agent, charges a professional fee for handling the process from start to finish, including preparation, submission, and follow-up with Immigration. This is why the total amount you were quoted (IDR 8,000,000) is higher than the official government fee, as our agency fee is added on top of the Immigration charge. Different agencies may have different service rates, so you are very welcome to use another agency if you prefer."

I have requested a quote from a different agency but not sure if their website is working. 5.5 Juta to register the passport and apply for Merp seems steep to me.

A lot "Agencies" probably closed after they found hundreds of unregistered agencies using the new online system and a lot of people trying to renew illegal visa's . Resulting in another change earlier this year of applicants having to apply online but still having to attend the office for interview , biometrics etc . Maybe they imposed a fee from agents because of this resulting in agents increasing their fees . Hopefully someone with half a brain will recognize the new system is a total ! up and they''ll go back to the old system . I'm due to renew passport , Kitap and merp next year , hopefully they'll simplify the system or I'll be going to the office and playing the dumb card " Saya tidak mengerti " .

 

[marcus]

I have a quote ... for registering the new passport and getting a 2 year Merp ...
... I did a search for the current fees for Merp which indicated 2 years is now 4 Juta.

From https://www.expatindo.org/community/threads/some-new-immigration-fees.7881/ :

• 2 years Re-Entry Permit : Rp2 million
• Unlimited time Re-Entry Permit : Rp8 million
• Report of change to civil & immigration data : Rp500'000

The agent says immigration charges the agent extra. Which may include a "facilitation fee".

I don't believe as the agent will have to apply through your sponsor's evisa account , so Immigration doesn't know that an agent is involved .

... but as we can no longer process at the Imm office and find the website process impossible ... It really does seem that instead of facilitating visa applications the on line system is just going to generate a whole lot of extra income for agents and, ...

Far from impossible . And in my view agents will have less clients because , contrary to your view , the evisa website is already easy and I believe it will even improve in the future . I am just now doing an ITAS to ITAP myself on behalf of my Indonesian wife (practically finished) and did not have any major problem .

In 2028 I have to report with my 5 year permanent Kitap

If you have an unlimited time ITAP , I guess you will have only the unlimited time Re-Entry Permit (IMK/MERP) option now .

Am I being needlessly skeptical?

Probably yes .

 

[marcus]

... Hopefully someone with half a brain will recognize the new system is a total ! up and they''ll go back to the old system .

I disagree . In my view the new system is good enough and it is very improbable that Immigration will return to the old system . The entire Indonesian Government is in process to go digital . My daughter in the Government's primary school (SD) was asked by her teacher to bring a smartphone (but not everyday) to learn about/through it .

... or I'll be going to the office and playing the dumb card " Saya tidak mengerti " .

I don't think "playing the dumb card" is needed . If you don't know , it is totally normal to ask .
Our city's Kantor Imigrasi recently installed a computer (with internet connection) at the front desk specifically to help people deal with this (relatively) new online system .

 

[mas_dam]

When I clicked on action it then only just shows Bridging Stay Permit

When using the "Find Existing Stay Permit" function, the displayed options under "Actions" appear limited.
After you found your KITAP, click again on "MY APPLICATION" > STAY PERMIT (sub section). Your KITAP should still appear, but now with additional options under "Action" including IMK:

When uploading a photo on the application process, it says minimum 400x600 pixels but is programmed >400 not >=400 pixels. So the photo must be minimum 401 pixels. The government websites are usually like this.. it's usually worth disregarding the literal description of error messages and instead think of other causes, often found in programming limitations.

 

[harryopal1]

I got my first kind of laptop which was a Brother with a single line screen and an inbuilt thermal printer back early 80s and then an Epson in 1985, So forty years of fiddling with computers but my brain is still back in some kind of late1980s fog. I spend hours yesterday trying to upload my new passport with a PDF file but I think it has to be a jpeg. I blunder on.

 

[marcus]

... So forty years of fiddling with computers but my brain is still back in some kind of late1980s fog.

I think we usually only learn if there is a strong enough motivation .

The first time I tried to use a computer was in 1996 , but gave up as at that time I didn't needed it for anything and internet was not popular yet . But in 2000 I started to use it with internet (in an internet cafe/warung internet/warnet) because I wanted to use email . Later I became interested in browsing , VOIP (calling my mother some 2k km away) , ... And only last month I learned how to downsize a PDF file and make a single PDF with multiple documents in it .

I spend hours yesterday trying to upload my new passport with a PDF file but I think it has to be a jpeg. I blunder on.

If it says to upload a PDF , you better not change it to jpeg .

Did you check if it was within the limit (usually up to 5 MB) ?

To speed up the process I recommend you to ask your Kantor Imigrasi the list of the required documents , put all of them in a single PDF file with 5MB maximum size and upload there in the first step (instead of later) . This because (at least in my case and another member's case) the evisa website didn't ask for all documents , but later Immigration did request all .

What I did (after Immigration sent a 'Pending' message) : there were still only 2 documents being required in the evisa website , so I upload the first as requested , and at the second I upload the single PDF with all the required documents (instead of what evisa was asking there) .

But even doing what I suggested above , Immigration still may ask (all documents) again , but in a different order (the order of the documents in the first list Immigration sent to me by WA was different from the order they requested later by email + evisa website) .

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

The message we received 1 week after we submitted the online request :

"We regret to inform you that your application for a Residence Permit submitted to the Immigration Office ... has been postponed due to the following reasons:

Please merge and attach the required documents in this order: 1. Application letter to Bandung Immigration Office signed by the Indonesian spouse; 2. Sponsorship letter with a stamp duty attached to it signed by the Indonesian spouse; 3. Scan of sponsor’s ID card (KTP), family card, and birth certificate; 4. Scan of marriage book/certificate and affidavit of marriage issued by the embassy (if the marriage takes place in Indonesia) or Scan of marriage certificate and foreign marriage registration letter issued by the Indonesia Civil Registry Service Office (if the marriage takes place abroad) 5. Scan of ITAS; 6. Scan of passport biometric page; 7. Certificate of Domicile or SKTT (Surat Keterangan Tempat Tinggal); 8. Letter issued by the Indonesia Civil Registry Service Officestating that the applicant and the Indonesian spouse are still married; and 9. Integration Statement. Merge these documents into one pdf file before uploading it and make sure the file is not more than 5 MB in size..."

 

[Shadrach]

I think we usually only learn if there is a strong enough motivation .

The first time I tried to use a computer was in 1996 , but gave up as at that time I didn't needed it for anything and internet was not popular yet . But in 2000 I started to use it with internet (in an internet cafe/warung internet/warnet) because I wanted to use email . Later I became interested in browsing , VOIP (calling my mother some 2k km away) , ... And only last month I learned how to downsize a pdf file and make a single pdf with multiple documents in it .

If it says to upload a PDF , you better not change it to jpeg .

Did you check if it was within the limit (usually up to 5 MB) ?

To speed up the process I recommend you to ask your Kantor Imigrasi the list of the required documents , put all of them in a single PDF file with 5MB maximum size and upload there in the first step (instead of later) . This because (at least in my case and another member's case) the evisa website didn't ask for all documents , but later Immigration did request all .

What I did (after Immigration sent a 'Pending' message) : there were still only 2 documents being required in the evisa website , so I upload the first as requested , and at the second I upload the single PDF with all the required documents (instead of what evisa was asking there) .

But even doing what I suggested above , Immigration still may ask (all documents) again , but in a different order (the order of the documents in the first list Immigration sent to me by WA was different from the order they requested later by email + evisa website) .

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

The message we received 1 week after we submitted the online request :

"We regret to inform you that your application for a Residence Permit submitted to the Immigration Office ... has been postponed due to the following reasons:

Please merge and attach the required documents in this order: 1. Application letter to Bandung Immigration Office signed by the Indonesian spouse; 2. Sponsorship letter with a stamp duty attached to it signed by the Indonesian spouse; 3. Scan of sponsor’s ID card (KTP), family card, and birth certificate; 4. Scan of marriage book/certificate and affidavit of marriage issued by the embassy (if the marriage takes place in Indonesia) or Scan of marriage certificate and foreign marriage registration letter issued by the Indonesia Civil Registry Service Office (if the marriage takes place abroad) 5. Scan of ITAS; 6. Scan of passport biometric page; 7. Certificate of Domicile or SKTT (Surat Keterangan Tempat Tinggal); 8. Letter issued by the Indonesia Civil Registry Service Officestating that the applicant and the Indonesian spouse are still married; and 9. Integration Statement. Merge these documents into one pdf file before uploading it and make sure the file is not more than 5 MB in size..."

It's so upsetting that when you try your best to find out what's required, they aren't organized between their own organization. They say they want everything to become all online, but what they send you online doesn't match up with what Immigration requires? Is being married and having your Wife as Sponsor making it easier, or more complicated?
I also don't know how to shrink a file, or send a document or many, as a PDF, or a JPEG?
This makes me glad I did everything through an Agent! Good luck to You and Harryopal! I find trying to accomplish things here so difficult. Communication between agencies, or Hospitals, Doctors, and BPJS, is so discombobulated, it's like taking one step forward only to have to take two steps back!

 

[marcus]

It's so upsetting that when you try your best to find out what's required, they aren't organized between their own organization ... what they send you online doesn't match up with what Immigration requires?

It is just a little upsetting , because fortunately it is very easy to make a new single PDF with multiple documents .

Is being married and having your Wife as Sponsor making it easier, or more complicated?

I did deal myself with the Indonesian Immigration since year 2000 , so now to me there is nothing difficult anymore . But from my all stay permits , the 'old Retirement ITAS' was the most stressful as I had to get life and health insurance , was worried about : the required 2 domestic employees and the minimum rent value , looking for a cheap/reliable agent , ...

I also don't know how to shrink a file, or send a document or many, as a PDF, or a JPEG?

Fortunately there are many people who make software for a lot of things and let us use them for free . So we just need to search the internet for what we need . There are 'shrink PDF/jpeg' to use through browsers or apps for Windows , Linux , Android , .. (I used Shrink PDF – Reduce PDF Documents Online and 'PDF Arranger'/Linux : https://github.com/pdfarranger/pdfarranger for putting multiple documents in a single PDF) .

... Good luck to You and Harryopal! I find trying to accomplish things here so difficult.

As I said , there is no big difficult to need good luck .

Communication between agencies, or Hospitals, Doctors, and BPJS, is so discombobulated, it's like taking one step forward only to have to take two steps back!

I am still not good talking in Indonesian language , but since the beginning in 1994 , I never had a major communication problem in Indonesia (but never had any serious disease here to depend on doctors - by the way , in my country even with good communication , doctors didn't help much ; for the 2 main diseases I had , I had to find the cure myself using natural medicine , because the around 5 expensive doctors I consulted could not help me) .

 

[harryopal1]

It's so upsetting that when you try your best to find out what's required, they aren't organized between their own organization. They say they want everything to become all online, but what they send you online doesn't match up with what Immigration requires? Is being married and having your Wife as Sponsor making it easier, or more complicated?
I also don't know how to shrink a file, or send a document or many, as a PDF, or a JPEG?
This makes me glad I did everything through an Agent! Good luck to You and Harryopal! I find trying to accomplish things here so difficult. Communication between agencies, or Hospitals, Doctors, and BPJS, is so discombobulated, it's like taking one step forward only to have to take two steps back!

With many of these unfamiliar tasks such as having to put documents or images into a PDF or Jpeg format you can use free ChatGpt. You describe the problem you are having and it will give you a step by step reply. If you still have problems you just follow up as if having a conversation on line with a technician. Sometimes the instructions may not quite gel with what you see when you open the web site that you are using but you just persevere.

Today I got as far as uploading my passport to evisa.imigrasi.go.id but when I then tried to upload a photo as required I got an error message and have now turned to the second agent that I had emailed whose fees were much more reasonable and upfront immediately with the actual costs. Am seeking a permanent IMK as well as registering a passport.

 

[Shadrach]

With many of these unfamiliar tasks such as having to put documents or images into a PDF or Jpeg format you can use free ChatGpt. You describe the problem you are having and it will give you a step by step reply. If you still have problems you just follow up as if having a conversation on line with a technician. Sometimes the instructions may not quite gel with what you see when you open the web site that you are using but you just persevere.

Today I got as far as uploading my passport to evisa.imigrasi.go.id but when I then tried to upload a photo as required I got an error message and have now turned to the second agent that I had emailed whose fees were much more reasonable and upfront immediately with the actual costs. Am seeking a permanent IMK as well as registering a passport.

I just got my 5 year Kitap permit, including the 5 year IMK, through my agent, last year, and didn't have to go to Immigration for anything. Then in about Six months or so, I heard People had to do everything online, plus they have to go to Immigration again for all the biometrics. I'm glad I did it when I did, because At that time it wasn't required! Now I hear People are having a hard time with what is required online, and Immigration saying it is not enough! I would think that what they tell you online is the same thing as what the Immigration requires? Why does all of this have be so confusing, and difficult!

 

[Balifrog]

I just got my 5 year Kitap permit, including the 5 year IMK, through my agent, last year, and didn't have to go to Immigration for anything. Then in about Six months or so, I heard People had to do everything online, plus they have to go to Immigration again for all the biometrics. I'm glad I did it when I did, because At that time it wasn't required! Now I hear People are having a hard time with what is required online, and Immigration saying it is not enough! I would think that what they tell you online is the same thing as what the Immigration requires? Why does all of this have be so confusing, and difficult!

Simply continue to use an agent.
He will do the online stuff.
But you still have to show up at immigration for picture and fingerprints I guess.

Except that for a non married retirement visa the agent is EXPENSIVE !

Personally I have some computer knowledge, know how to create pdf files, scan, resize JPG's or PDF's, and I am rather good at Excell (include charts) and Word.

 

[Shadrach]

Simply continue to use an agent.
He will do the online stuff.
But you still have to show up at immigration for picture and fingerprints I guess.

Except that for a non married retirement visa the agent is EXPENSIVE !

Personally I have some computer knowledge, know how to create pdf files, scan, resize JPG's or PDF's, and I am rather good at Excell (include charts) and Word.

At the time I received my Kitap stay permit, they had stopped the biometrics, so I was not required to go to Immigration. Really They already have those things from years of getting visa's and 5 years of Kitas permits. Like I said they changed the policy to where People had to go back again for The biometrics around six months after I was done.
Yes the Agent is more expensive, but they make it so much more easy to get the Visa's and Permits! You never know what the Government will require in the future, to get more $ out of us!

 

[marcus]

... Now I hear People are having a hard time with what is required online, and Immigration saying it is not enough! I would think that what they tell you online is the same thing as what the Immigration requires? Why does all of this have be so confusing, and difficult!

In my view , it is you who are confusing people .

As anything we need to do for the first time and the evisa website not being perfect , it is normal that we find some problems . But from what I experienced & saw here , the online process cannot be considered as 'confusing and difficult' for the majority of us .

 

[marcus]

... But you still have to show up at immigration for picture and fingerprints I guess.

I was there recently , only picture (no fingerprints) . Immigration asked to bring the original documents for check only , too . Very quick because there were very few people there .

Except that for a non married retirement visa the agent is EXPENSIVE !

Let me clarify : any "retirement" visa/ITAS is independent of being married or not . There are 2 now :

• 1 year Retirement Visa/ITAS/MERP : Rp7 million (requires a sponsor)
• 5 years Silver Hair Visa/ITAS/MERP : Rp13 million (self sponsored by investing US$50'000)

 

[Balifrog]

Let me clarify : any "retirement" visa/ITAS is independent of being married or not . There are 2 now :

• 1 year Retirement Visa/ITAS/MERP : Rp7 million (requires a sponsor)
• 5 years Silver Hair Visa/ITAS/MERP : Rp13 million (self sponsored by investing US$50'000)

My 5 year Kitap expires end 2026.
Mid 2026, I will check with my agent about extension possibilities. Things may have changed again by then....
And I am not going to "invest" 50k $ here !

 

[Shadrach]

My 5 year Kitap expires end 2026.
Mid 2026, I will check with my agent about extension possibilities. Things may have changed again by then....
And I am not going to "invest" 50k $ here !

I thought the Kitap was an Unlimited Stay Permit, that you don't pay anymore, but have to check in every 5 years? I'm not sure about not paying anymore. I can't see this Government not wanting any more money?

In my view , it is you who are confusing people .

As anything we need to do for the first time and the evisa website not being perfect , it is normal that we find some problems . But from what I experienced & saw here , the online process cannot be considered as 'confusing and difficult' for the majority of us .

I am just repeating what other People posted. They said what the E-visa told them what was required was not enough for the Immigration office, when they checked in at Immigration. Am I mistaken about this? I don't mean to confuse anyone.

 

[Balifrog]

thought the Kitap was an Unlimited Stay Permit, that you don't pay anymore, but have to check in every 5 years? I'm not sure about not paying anymore. I can't see this Government not wanting any more money?

Sorry, but the problem with you is that you often argue or comment on stuff that you don't master.
I don't know what kind of visa you're on (retirement ?) ?
Anyway I had 4 x a 1 year KITAS, and now a 5 year KITAP which ends Oct 2016.
With the "old" system the next step was the unlimited KITAP, not sure it is still possible.
Cost was between 70 and 90 million...
Viable if you're sure to live 10 years more, but that's a big bet at 72.
Other way would be to start from scratch again with 1 year visas.
As I said, mid 2026 I will discuss the options with my agent.
Well, if I am still around......
Anyway, no reason to stress about things you have no control on.

 

[Shadrach]

Sorry, but the problem with you is that you often argue or comment on stuff that you don't master.
I don't know what kind of visa you're on (retirement ?) ?
Anyway I had 4 x a 1 year KITAS, and now a 5 year KITAP which ends Oct 2016.
With the "old" system the next step was the unlimited KITAP, not sure it is still possible.
Cost was between 70 and 90 million...
Viable if you're sure to live 10 years more, but that's a big bet at 72.
Other way would be to start from scratch again with 1 year visas.
As I said, mid 2026 I will discuss the options with my agent.
Well, if I am still around......
Anyway, no reason to stress about things you have no control on.

Thank you. I have just gotten the 5 year Kitap stay permit last year, at a time when my agent did everything for me after I provided the required documents, and the fee for all.I am unaware if I have to pay again in 2030, or if I only have to check in. I am under the impression that we don't have to pay again.Maybe Harryopal can enlighten us about this, since he has had his Kitap longer.I definitely don't want to pay again such a large amount of money! I will just wait until that time comes. Which is a long time away! I just looked it up on Google. It said we have to apply for a new permit extension, before the Permit expires, but we do have to pay for a new Merp. It didn't say we have to pay more for the extension. And it said we don't have to leave the country within those five years, but it did say, we cannot stay out of Indonesia for more than One year in a row, or that will void the Permit! It said we would have to pay for a new laminate card, but I didn't get a card from Immigration. All information was sent via Email. I did have my agent make me a laminated cover and a print out of the Permit. So I don't understand what Google said about that!

 

[marcus]

... With the "old" system the next step was the unlimited KITAP, not sure it is still possible ...

The time unlimited KITAP is still available (since the Law in 2011) .

Other way would be to start from scratch again with 1 year visa ...

There is now a new option for you : a '60 days Bridge Visit Stay Permit' . With it you don't need to leave Indonesia . From it you can start again with the ITAS .

As I said, mid 2026 I will discuss the options with my agent.

I think that the rule will not change so soon , but in 2016 you can ask us too .

 

[marcus]

... I am unaware if I have to pay again in 2030, or if I only have to check in. I am under the impression that we don't have to pay again ...

So before your 5 years e-ITAP expires you probably will have the same options as Balifrog (time unlimited ITAP , Bridge Stay Permit , or an EPO + new visa) . Anything you choose will not be free for sure .