Retirement 5 years visa and 5 year ktap

[steveandpenny]

I know somewhere this has been discussed and discussed. The more I read the more I get confused so don't get mad.

We are getting ready for our 5 year visa and 5 year ktap. Me and my wife are both from the United States which i know is rare. We have had no problems so far . This will be our 3rd year here and been inform from our agent (which we have never meet) though our sponcer that that we can now get our 5 year stuff for next year.
I realize we pay a premium to our agent and our sponcer and I'm ok with that. What I don't want is to be taken . Anyway we got a price of what it would cost and we are in sticker shock.
Can anyone tell me what would be a ballpark amount should we be looking at. This is for 2 visas and 2 ktap that aren't needed till next Nov, a full year away.

Also does anyone know of a agent that we can use if this one is taking us to the cleaners. We live in North sulawesi and our agent is in jakarta. Maybe a agent in Bali will be cheaper.

That said our local sponcer helps with things like drivers licence and local government stuff. She knows everyone here.
Hopefully we will feel competed enough that in 5 years we will be able to do it ourselves.

If you have any advice I'm open to being pm.


Thanks all.

 

[Davita]

1. You are correct that you are eligible to apply for the retirement 5 year Kitap now....just remember Immigration will keep your passports for at least a couple of months.
2. The agent is your sponsor...you don't need an agent and a sponsor.
3. The agent needs to have an office in the area where you live...i.e. North Sulawesi (Manado).
4. A rough estimate for a 5 year Kitap and 2 year MERP is around Rp. 35 M per person here in Bali. I know...I'm still reeling from shock as we also need 2 visas. The agent system means they have us over a barrel...not much we can do but try to negotiate a better deal. Beware that some agents pretend to be but are not actually licenced for a retirement visa...they hand your case to another and collect commission.
5. After 2 years you'll need another MERP which, from an agent, expect to pay around Rp.3-4 M. The gov't fee for a 2 year MERP is only Rp.1.75 M. per person.
6. A Retirement Kitas/Kitap, MERP and extension is mandatory to be applied for using an agent....it cannot be done as DIY.

 

[steveandpenny]

Thanks that helps but let me make sure I understand ... I need a MERP ( which let me enter and leave the country) and a ktap (which is a perment resident card good for 5 years) . The ktap is the same as a visa ? Or do i need a 5 year visa also.

 

[Davita]

Thanks that helps but let me make sure I understand ... I need a MERP ( which let me enter and leave the country) and a ktap (which is a perment resident card good for 5 years) . The ktap is the same as a visa ? Or do i need a 5 year visa also.

There isn't any visa as such.

You will get an ITAP which is a permanent stay permit for 5 years and will be stamped into your passport.
You will also be issued a KITAP. This is the card (the K denotes kartu) that immigration will give you after the ITAP has been granted. It is similar to your current KITAS...and is supposed to be carried with you at all times. I carry a copy because a replacement, if lost, is expensive.

You will also get a stamp in your passport which is called a MERP.... but it will only last 2 years and will need your agent to renew before that expires.