Unlimited KITAP

[pantaiema]

There are other posts regarding this unlimited ITAP, MERP.

https://www.expatindo.org/community/threads/global-citizenship-indonesia.8256/page-4#post-115985

The OP has a ground to query this. There is a reason to suspect that the immigration might have a common believe that the unlimited ITAP is only valid for 10 or 15 years (see attached). even though the authoritative source, say other wise. E.g The unlimited ITAP is valid indefinitely with requirement to report it every five years.
Permen_Imipas_No_3_2025 Article 34 para (1), it is clearly stated, five years reporting requirement and no fees:

"Diaspora holding Permanent Residence Permits for an unlimited period of time are required to report to the Immigration Office whose working area covers the Diaspora's residence every 5 (five) years and are not subject to any fees."

It is not uncommon in Indonesia, it does not really matter what the regulation / law is saying, what they have been told by their superiors is what they will apply in their decision making. But we will understand it better if there are more people are sharing their personal experiences.

 

[marcus]

... It is not uncommon in Indonesia, it does not really matter what the regulation / law is saying, what they have been told by their superiors is what they will apply in their decision making ...

I don't agree . I have been reading more than 50 (most related to us foreigners) Indonesian Laws & Regulations maybe since 2008 , and as far as I remember I noticed this occurring only once : in relation to the Tax Law applicable to resident foreigners not officially working/doing business in Indonesia .

I did know about other cases when regulations were not correctly applied , but due to some few officers' mistakes .

 

[pantaiema]

I don't agree . I have been reading more than 50 (most related to us foreigners) Indonesian Laws & Regulations maybe since 2008 , and as far as I remember I notice this occurring only once : in relation to the Tax Law applicable to resident foreigners not officially working/doing business in Indonesia .

I did know about other cases when regulations were not correctly applied , but due to some few officers' mistakes .

Ahaaa, People are definitely entitled to agree or disagree on something.
What about the apparent cases where marriages between people of different religions were still being recognised by the civil registry in the past? That is one of the clearest examples.

It was only after the Supreme Court dropped the bombshell instructing judges on the lower court not to approve such marriages that they began to stop doing so.

Another obvious example is the example on this thread about the validity of unlimited ITAP whether, 10 yrs, 15yrs where the regulation clearly states, it is unlimited with five years reporting requirement with no fees.

 

[marcus]

... What about the apparent cases where marriages between people of different religions were still being recognised by the civil registry in the past? That is one of the clearest examples...

I did hear about but I was not interested , maybe because it affects very few people and in a way that I don't consider important .

Another obvious example is the example on this thread about the validity of unlimited ITAP whether, 10 yrs, 15yrs where the regulation clearly states, it is unlimited with five years reporting

I will repeat here what I told you in the other thread : you present only a wrong answer from a chatbot to support your point . Please show us some real cases .

 

[jstar]

If you think that affects very few people* and don’t consider it important, you have no clue about the Indonesian society. And obviously many cases have been popping up on expat forums. Also, most of the 60.000-80.000 Chinese Muslims are converts, that could be opportunistic but many are because of a Muslim spouse (who would not convert).

* Data from the Jakarta Population and Civil Registration Agency (Dukcapil) confirms that between 2020 and August 2025, there were exactly 1,952 mixed marriages registered in Jakarta alone. The Dukcapil Office, noted that the figure averages around 250–300 couples per year.

https://zwubin.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/chinese-muslim-web2.pdf

 

[serious_fun]

How many times per year can one convert to a different religion? I was considering conversion to whatever religion has upcoming feasts & holidays. Then, conversion to the next, etc., etc.

It may get expensive if karta keluarga, KTP, etc. need to be updated regularly, but just think of the feasting and the gifts! 🍽

 

[marcus]

If you think that affects very few people* and don’t consider it important, you have no clue about the Indonesian society ...

Please explain how did you conclude that my very small knowledge about this specific subject means I know nothing about the Indonesian society .

 

[pantaiema]

How many times per year can one convert to a different religion? I was considering conversion to whatever religion has upcoming feasts & holidays. Then, conversion to the next, etc., etc.

It may get expensive if karta keluarga, KTP, etc. need to be updated regularly, but just think of the feasting and the gifts! 🍽

As I understand it, there is nothing in the law that specifically sets a limit. In fact, the constitution formally guarantees people ((on paper) the right to follow the religion they believe in. However, in addition to administrative cost (money, time, hassles, etc) that you have mentioned; what people should be aware of is that repeatedly doing so could potentially lead to accusations under the blasphemy law, especially if there is a pressure from a certain group.

 

[Balifrog]

How many times per year can one convert to a different religion? I was considering conversion to whatever religion has upcoming feasts & holidays. Then, conversion to the next, etc., etc.

It may get expensive if karta keluarga, KTP, etc. need to be updated regularly, but just think of the feasting and the gifts! 🍽

As I understand it, there is nothing in the law that specifically sets a limit. In fact, the constitution formally guarantees people ((on paper) the right to follow the religion they believe in. However, what people should be aware of is that repeatedly doing so could potentially lead to accusations under the blasphemy law.

Well, well, you guys have complicated lifes....

I have one culture, one religion, one nationality and I will NEVER change that.

And however much I like the "other person" won't make a difference.

 

[serious_fun]

As I understand it...

I have one culture, one religion, one nationality and I will NEVER change that.

Oh, now I feel guilty for my post! I was only joking. I will never convert religiously nor deny my heritage.

Thanks to both of you for replying.

 

[ChrisOnBali]

I've always found it curious that with religion being of such fundamental importance to people who like that sort of thing; their apparent unquestioning acceptance of people changing from one belief system to another for convenience, for example to get married.

The idea that falling in love with somebody, deciding it's advantageous to get hitched to them, or being forced into matrimony by family somehow alters your entire philosophy about how the universe came about, who created and controls it, and what the fundamental values and philosophy of existing in it should be seems a little cavalier at best.

Either it's a firmly held belief that surely doesn't alter just because you fancy somebody enough to marry them, or it's the equivalent of supporting a football team or preferring a particular flavour of ice cream where you can change your allegiance on a whim.

Difficult to have it both ways really.

Fair enough if somebody believes one thing, and after some combination of reflection, life experience and study decide that they now want to follow a different path; but this isn't what happens when somebody changes from Team A to Team B so that they can get married, it's done as perfunctorily as switching to a different mobile phone tariff, which to my mind entirely devalues their protestations of belief, both in what they are changing from and what they are changing to.

Obviously what you believe is down to you, I hesitate to say 'your choice'; it's surely a lot deeper than a selection from a range of options like sweetmeats from some spiritual buffet if it has any meaning at all; but changing it with such blithe casuistry says a lot about a person's intellectual and spiritual integrity.

I'd grant an exception to that slur for people who have no religion yet are forced to adopt one for some administrative necessity, clearly they are just going through the motions in order to get on with their life, which seems reasonable enough to me.

 

[Balifrog]

My (blue) KTP mentions :

Agama (religion) : "Other"

Suits me perfectly

 

[ChrisOnBali]

O' Great Cthulhu, ancient one of the deep, keeper of secrets and master of dreams, hear my solemn entreaty....

...err, would you mind very much if I become a Rastafarian instead ? - you see there's this woman that I fancy something rotten...

[Sounds of byakhee, rending of flesh etc]