Suppose you've recently become or are about to become a KITAS holder. While it might feel like time to relax, there's still some paperwork ahead. Specifically, you'll need to obtain an SKTT (Surat Keterangan Tempat Tinggal), a certificate of residence registration.
Without an SKTT, you'll face obstacles in transferring ownership of a car or motorcycle, and you may run into issues with banks and insurance companies. It's mandatory to obtain an SKTT within 14 days of receiving your KITAS, with penalties for non-compliance. Moreover, renewing your KITAS for the next period is impossible without an SKTT in place.
It's worth noting that many visa agents omit mentioning this document. When requested, they often charge hefty fees for processing it. In our case, we were quoted 6 million IDR for two SKTTs by agents. However, handling the process ourselves proved much cheaper. We spent just 600,000 IDR for two SKTTs, a mere fraction of the agents' quotes.
Below, we outline the process of obtaining an SKTT, typically achievable within three days.
SKTT and Your Place of Residence
The SKTT validates the address listed on your KITAS. Therefore, it's vital to ensure that during your KITAS's validity, you'll either reside at that address or have access to it to receive mail and be available to enter it in case there are any checks conducted by the authorities. Having a signed lease agreement stamped with Meterai Tempel ensures certainty about the rental period. Developing a good relationship with your landlord will further validate the contract and assist in obtaining a copy of their KTP (Indonesian national identity card) later for your SKTT application.
It's also advisable to get to know your local Kelian (community leader), seek advice from elders, participate in meetings at the Kantor Desa (village office), and engage with the Banjar (community organization). Establishing these connections can greatly benefit your life on the island.
A basic knowledge of Bahasa Indonesia is an additional bonus.
What to Prepare
Before setting off to process your SKTT, visit the nearest photocopy shop and photo studio. Make 5-10 copies of your passport and KITAS. Print a couple of copies of the landlord's or a local acquaintance's KTP photo. Take your photo against a red background and print at least 4 copies sized 3x4 centimeters.
Additionally, purchase a Meterai Tempel stamp priced at 10,000 rupiahs from Indomaret.
And have a pen with you when you go to the offices.
Step-by-Step Instructions for SKTT Registration
1. Fill out a Surat Pernyataan (Statement Letter)
This letter serves as proof that you indeed reside at the address stated in your KITAS. It is an essential step in the process. Ensure that all information is accurate and matches the details on your KITAS.
You can get a copy of this letter at Kelian Dinas which is the village-level administration. At Kelian they tend to know all the residents, and handle local issues.
Introduce yourself to the Kelian, explain your plans, and ask for a copy of SURAT PERNYATAAN.
We were given a form (see FILE) stating that the bearer invited me to the island and takes full responsibility for all my actions. However, our landlord requested to change the wording to the following (see FILE), which is simpler. It certifies that I indeed live at the address and that he is okay with it. This letter turned out to be sufficient.
2. Visit Your Landlord to Sign Surat Pernyataan
Complete the bottom part of the Surat Pernyataan letter and affix a Meterai Tempel stamp worth 10,000 Rupiah (available for purchase at Indomaret) to the specified section of the letter. Ask your landlord to fill out the top part of the letter and sign it. Ensure that their signature overlaps the stamp. Additionally, request a copy of their KTP (national identity card). Express your gratitude before leaving.
3. Visit Your Local Police Station for a Certificate Surat Tanda Melapor
The certificate takes about 10 minutes to prepare and contains basic information about you (such as your identity, place of origin, date of arrival in the country, and your address in Bali). Its purpose is to confirm that you provided this information to the police. Essentially, it's a certificate issued by the police confirming your visit to the police station.
What to Bring:
- Your passport
- Photocopy of your passport
- Your KITAS
- Printout of KITAS (the A4 one)
- Rental agreement or letter from the landlord
- A fee of 30,000 IDR per applicant
Where to Go:
Search on Google Maps for the nearest Polsek or Polres.
What to Do:
Inform a police officer at the reception that you're there for the Surat Tanda Melapor. They will direct you to a counter where you need to submit all the prepared documents and pay a fee of 30,000 IDR for each certificate.
4. Visit the Village Office (Kantor Desa) for Surat Domisili
Kantor Desa functions as the village council, dealing with matters like certificate issuance. For a fee, they convert the Surat Pernyataan from your landlord into an official document required for obtaining the SKTT.
What to Bring:
- Your passport
- Photocopy of your passport
- Your KITAS
- Printout of KITAS
- Surat Pernyataa (Letter from your landlord)
- Surat Tanda Melapor (Certificate from the police)
- Printed photo of your landlord's KTP
- Cash. In our case, we paid 250,000 IDR per applicant
Where to Go:
Search on Google Maps for Kantor Desa with the name of your district.
What to Do:
Submit all requested documents. Wait for about 15 minutes. Receive the certificate. Express gratitude and leave.
5. Visist the Civil Registry Office (Pencatatan Sipil) to Process SKTT
Pencatatan Sipil is essentially the Civil Registry Office. They process SKTTs.
What to Bring:
- Your passport
- Photocopy of your passport
- Your KITAS
- Printout of KITAS
- 3x4 photos of yourself against the red background
- Surat Tanda Melapor (certificate from the police)
- Surat Keterangan Domisili (certificate from Kantor Desa)
- A printed copy of your landlord's KTP (if there are trust issues with the landlord, you can almost certainly use a photo of any other local resident's KTP)
Where to Go:
Search on Google Maps for Pencatatan Sipil with the name of your district.
What to Do:
- Take a queue number.
- Wait in line (usually, there are separate counters for expatriates with shorter queues, but it's better to arrive early).
- Receive from the official and fill out an extensive yet straightforward questionnaire.
- Submit the questionnaire along with the rest of your documents for processing.
- Inquire about the collection time for your SKTT; typically, processing takes around 2 working days.
6. Visist the Civil Registry Office (Pencatatan Sipil) to Collect Your SKTT
What to Bring:
- Your passport
Where to Go:
Return to the same Pencatatan Sipil office for your district.
What to Do:
Present your passport and receive your SKTT (an A4 sheet with your photo, details, and information about you).
7. Make a digital backup of your SKTT and print multiple copies for your records.
Now it's time to celebrate the completion of the process and congratulate yourself on the increased legality of your stay in Indonesia!
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