Foreign nationals seeking residence in Indonesia can choose from various living permit options. These include tourist visa, working visa, and family visa. This article focuses on explaining some details about the spousal visa or in Indonesia, KITAS (Kartu Izin Tinggal Sementara). Let’s explore how to obtain it. Â
Different Types of Spouse KITAS in Indonesia
Indonesia has two different KITAS/limited living permits for foreign spouses to reside in the country. The first type is spousal KITAS is for those who are legally married to an Indonesian citizen (code E31A) and the second (code E31B) applies to foreigners married to existing KITAS holders (both are foreigners). The sponsorship aspect differentiates the application process for the two spousal KITAS codes. Let’s break it down:Â
— E31A Spousal KITAS: For this index code, the Indonesian spouse acts as the sponsor. This means they’ll need to submit documents demonstrating their financial capacity to support your stay in Indonesia.
— E31B Dependent KITAS for foreigner’s spouse: Here, the sponsorship falls on the company where the KITAS holders are currently employed. The company will be responsible for submitting the application and providing necessary documents, which might be similar to those required for your spouse’s initial KITAS application.Â
Different Requirements for Spousal KITAS Applications
Both have the same one-year validity period and can be extended. However, not only requiring marriage certificate and letter of sponsorship, each spousal KITAS has other different requirements as follow:
1. Spousal KITAS for Foreigners Married to Indonesian Citizen (Code E31A)
If you’re married to an Indonesian citizen, you’re qualified for the E31A spousal KITAS. This limited stay permit is valid for one year and can be extended. Both spouses, regardless of nationality or gender, need to submit documents.
Documents Required for the Indonesian Citizen:
– Indonesian ID card (KTP)
– Indonesian Family Card (Kartu Keluarga)
– Birth certificate
– Letter of domicile (if different from ID address)
– Recent color photograph
Documents Required for the Foreigner:
– Passport with validity exceeding 18 months from application
– Proof of shared residence with Indonesian spouse
– Marriage certificate registered with the embassy, Indonesian religious office (KUA), or civil registration office
– Personal bank statement showing a minimum balance of USD 2,000
– Recent color photograph
2. Dependant KITAS for Spouse of Main KITAS Holders (Code E31B)
The E31B spousal KITAS caters to foreigners married to existing KITAS holders (both foreign nationals). Similar to the E31A, this KITAS has a one-year validity with extension possibilities. The sponsoring company of the initial KITAS holder will handle the application and submit similar documents as mentioned earlier. Besides the same documents for foreigners above, applicants for spouse KITAS E31B need to provide a marriage certificate registered in your home country. Â
Additional Notes for Spousal KITAS in Indonesia
Both spousal KITAS E31A and E31B offer residency benefits like opening a bank account and apply for Indonesia’s driver license. However, there are additional considerations to keep in mind.
1. After two years of marriage, spousal KITAS with code E31A allows you to apply for KITAP/permanent stay permit. KITAP is valid for five years. After two renewals, KITAP holders can apply for Indonesian citizenship.
2. A spousal KITAS both E31A and E31B do not automatically function as a working KITAS. To legally work or earn an income in Indonesia, spousal KITAS holders must apply for a Foreign Workers Recruitment Plan/RPTKA and Expatriate Working Permit Letter/IMTA from the Ministry of Manpower.
3. The application process for spousal KITAS can be done onshore (after the spouse is already in Indonesia) or offshore (before the spouse arrives in Indonesia). However, it is highly recommended to apply offshore as it is usually cheaper, easier, and faster to process.
Get KITAS with Seven Stones Indonesia
The immigration office can take 4 weeks to 2 months to process a spouse KITAS application. To make things easier and less stressful, consider using an immigration service like Seven Stones Indonesia.
Seven Stones Indonesia can help you with everything. From collecting documents to submitting your stay permit application, we will streamline the process to get you approved quickly. Contact Seven Stones Indonesia today for a convenient, worry-free experience, in navigating your stay permit.
