Seeking Advice on Transitioning KITAS Types (from work visa to remote) visa

[Aurorous]

Hello,

I am a Sri Lankan who has been been living in Indonesia for the past 3 years, being sponsored by a local company under a Working Visa KITAS.

I have recently been offered a remote position with a Singaporean company, and would like to continue working in Indonesia as this is where I've built my life for the past 3 years.

I'm seeking advice on how I would go about applying for the Remote Work VIsa (KITAS E33G) and handling all the logistics cancelling my old KITAS, applying for the new one, and dealing with taxes etc.

I would really appreciate any information on the following:

1. If I were to accept the offer and resign from my current (local Indonesian) company, how long do I typically have before being forced to exit the country, and is there anything that I have to inform the Indonesian government of?
2. If I were to apply for the remote E33G Visa, can I apply for it while still inside Indonesia (Since I will have proof of the minimum yearly funds as per the contract I signed with my new company) but before I formally exit from my old company?
3. In terms of taxes, my income tax is deducted by my company directly. Once I transition to my new company, I expect to be paid to my home country (Sri Lanka) where I will also pay my taxes. I understand there are agreements in place between countries to avoid double taxation, does anyone have any resources with regards to how I can handle that? (and how quickly that might become a problem - given that I'm transitioning in the midst of a tax year?)

Any other advice to help me navigate this tricky time? I've built my life up in Indonesia these past years, and while this is a step up in my career, I would still like to be close to the people I know here.

If anyone can help, or put me in touch with anyone who has been in a similar position I would really appreciate it. Or even linking me to some trusted agencies, or tax consultants since I'm wary of being scammed.

 

[marcus]

1. If I were to accept the offer and resign from my current (local Indonesian) company, how long do I typically have before being forced to exit the country, and is there anything that I have to inform the Indonesian government of?

a) You need your boss to get you an EPO/Exit Only Permit to cancel your present work KITAS , leave Indonesia and come back with the E33G Visa (not the best option but the most known) ; or
b) to just request a KITAS "Change of Guarantor" from the "Change Data" main option (the best option but very uncommon) ; or
c) you can create an account at the Indonesian Immigration website : https://evisa.imigrasi.go.id/front/register and request (yourself) a 60 days Bridging Stay Permit , then within these 60 days , request the E33G Remote Worker KITAS - you are not required to leave Indonesia (the second best but the most uncommon) .

Note : In all 3 options you depend on your present boss/sponsor , so if your work contract is not at its end , be careful in not making him/her mad .

2. If I were to apply for the remote E33G Visa, can I apply for it while still inside Indonesia ...

From the Law & Regulation I don't see why not , but there was a member here who said Immigration told him that he could not request an Indonesian visa from inside Indonesia .

3. In terms of taxes, my income tax is deducted by my company directly.

You still should have presented the annual Indonesian Tax Return Report (there is a small fine if you didn't but do it now - you are supposed to declare your worldwide wealth & income) .

https://pajak.go.id/en/index-tax

https://klikpajak.id/blog/cara-lapor-pajak-online-mudah/ - How to Report Income Tax Online

Once I transition to my new company, I expect to be paid to my home country (Sri Lanka) where I will also pay my taxes. I understand there are agreements in place between countries to avoid double taxation,

https://www.pajak.go.id/id/p3b/mli-srilanka - Tax Agreement between Indonesia and Sri Lanka

does anyone have any resources with regards to how I can handle that? ...

I suggest you to learn and do your tax report yourself (I always did mine myself , but here I didn't have a job so it was simpler) , but of course there are private tax specialists in Indonesia who can help you too . Any questions you have , the Indonesian tax officers at your designated Kantor Pajak will gladly answer you - make an appointment to meet them here : https://kunjung.pajak.go.id/app . Some 15 years ago they answered my questions and gave me the forms and a tax manual . In the online reporting , the manual is probably there too .

 

[Aurorous]

Thank you so much @marcus!

b) to just request a KITAS "Change of Guarantor" from the "Change Data" main option (the best option but very uncommon) ; or

With regards to this option, is this something I'll have to handle at the kantor imigrasi? Or something I can do online?

Unfortunately when I received my current KITAS it was handled by my company and I wasn't told of any way to access it online...

Also I have a follow-up question if you have any information on this.

One of the requirements for the E33G remote visa is something like:

• Bank account showing an annual income of at least USD 60,000

Given that I am only now about to start a job that would give me an income on this level, would a signed work contract from my new (non-indonesian) employer be good enough for the authorities?

 

[marcus]

With regards to this option (Change of Guarantor), is this something I'll have to handle at the kantor imigrasi? Or something I can do online?

All processes are now only online at evisa.imigrasi.go.id , but I think that the request for it must be requested by your present boss/sponsor (usually companies hire visa agents for that) .

- Bank account showing an annual income of at least USD 60,000
Given that I am only now about to start a job that would give me an income on this level, would a signed work contract from my new (non-indonesian) employer be good enough for the authorities?

I guess so .

 

[mas_dam]

b) to just request a KITAS "Change of Guarantor" from the "Change Data" main option (the best option but very uncommon) ; or

I strongly recommend to cancel the existing + apply for a new one. You don't want to change your guarantor. You want to change the residence permit type. If it's even possible at all, it will add unnecessary complexity and cost. Go for a fresh one.

 

[marcus]

... You don't want to change your guarantor. You want to change the residence permit type.

I did it once , from Retirement ITAS to Indonesian spouse's ITAS (but not online and by the way the Immigration officer recommended the same as you did) . Except of very few cases , changing sponsor also change the 'type' of the ITAS .
The difference in Aurorous' case is that the sponsor would change from the company that hires him/her to him/her (who is not named 'sponsor', as the Remote Worker ITAS has no sponsor) .

Immigration does not offer a "Change Stay Permit's type" option . I think that the relevant point is that Immigration wanted to make our life as simple as possible by creating a lot of process' options , any name chosen for this specific process would have to include exceptions , otherwise the name could not be practically short .

If it's even possible at all, it will add unnecessary complexity and cost ...

If possible , it is the simplest , cheapest & quickest of all options (it is not necessary to get an EPO + Visa + going abroad & returning or get an additional Bridging Stay Permit .