Bali is becoming an increasingly popular retirement
destination due to the availability of retirement visas KITAS and KITAP. In
this article, we explain the rules, regulations, and benefits of obtaining
these visas, including eligibility criteria, required
documents, and the application process.
The International Living travel magazine recently named Bali
as one of the top places for retirees to settle in Asia. According to their
ranking, Bali secured the fourth position with a score of 69.9 points,
following Thailand (72.9 points), Cambodia (72.3), and Malaysia (72).
The ranking, based on the GRI 2022, took into account
various factors such as cost of living, visa requirements, climate, healthcare,
entertainment options, infrastructure, government policies, and
benefits.
What is a Retirement KITAS/KITAP?
For people aged 55+ considering long-term residency in Indonesia, there's a
special visa known as the retirement KITAS. It is valid for one year and can be
renewed up to five times without the need to leave the country. Afterwards,
retirees have the option to either convert it to a five-year KITAP or apply for
a new KITAS.
KITAS and KITAP provide residency status and allow unlimited entry to and
exit from Indonesia.
The retirement visa also offers various discounts, including on medical
services, tickets to public venues like museums, zoos, and parks, as well as
memberships and entry fees to establishments like resorts, beach clubs, and
fitness centres.
It's important to note that holders are prohibited from
engaging in paid work, and violating this rule can lead to deportation.
Application Process, Requirements, and Costs
A Retirement KITAS cannot be applied for independently.
Instead, you must use a licensed visa agency or private agent who will submit
your visa application to the immigration office and act as your official
sponsor and representative.
About a week after submitting your application, you will be
invited to the immigration office for fingerprinting and a photo.The immigration officer might ask you some questions about the purpose of your stay. If asked whether you do any business or work, you must answer "no" to avoid issues.
If you are already in Indonesia, there is no need to leave
the country to apply for a KITAS, and the requirements for obtaining the visa
are straightforward. You can submit your documents no earlier than three months
after your current visa was issued, but no later than three weeks before it
expires. Although agents might accept applications from visa holders with less than three weeks remaining on their visas, this is not advisable as it can lead to potential overstays, which carry hefty fines currently charged at 1 million IDR per day.
If applying for a retirement KITAS from outside of
Indonesia, consult your visa agent, though the general requirements remain the
same.
Application Requirements:
- Age: Applicants must be 55 years old or above.
- Valid Passport: Passports must have a validity of more than one year.
If your passport's validity is less than the duration of
your visa, you can still submit it with your application. However, the length
of the visa will be adjusted to match the expiration date of your passport.
- Proof of Sufficient Funding: Provide copies of your bank statements for the last two months, demonstrating account activity and a monthly pension or passive income of at least $1,500 USD.
The bank statement is typically submitted in printed form,
usually as a table displaying account activity for the last two months. For
instance, if the visa application is submitted at the beginning of July, the
statement should cover May, June, and the initial days of July.
The statement must be in English and stamped with the
official seal of the bank. It should demonstrate account activity, including
incoming funds such as pension instalments, passive income, and financial
assistance from relatives. It is also recommended to show outgoing expenditures.
- Health Insurance: Provide a copy of your personal health insurance policy.
Health insurance must be valid for at least one year,
matching the visa period. Although the policy is required, it is not thoroughly
checked.
- Domicile Registration: Obtain a Domicile certificate or SKTT (Indonesian temporary residence registration).
To obtain a domicile certificate, visit your local banjar (local administration).
You can ask your landlord for the address and contact details of the head of
the banjar.
The domicile certificate should be
available free of charge. However, if the head of the banjar requests a fee,
it's advisable to pay it, as not complying with the requirements of the local
administration could cause future problems.
Note that there might be monthly residence fees in your area that you will be asked to pay (if you are not already paying them).
Be prepared to visit the banjar multiple times, as these offices are often very busy. Alternatively, a visa agent can obtain the domicile certificate for you for an additional fee.
SKTT also serves as temporary registration
but requires additional documents, such as a police certificate. SKTT can be arranged by a visa agent at a cost of around 700,000 IDR.
- Housing Agreement (Optional): Provide a one-year housing rental agreement if applicable.
Costs:
One-Year KITAS: The fee starts at 15 million Indonesian Rupiahs (IDR), depending on the agency. An additional fee of 1 million IDR is payable with your initial KITAS application.
Five-Year KITAP: The fee is approximately 40 million IDR. This lump sum payment allows you to remain in the country for five years without needing to submit annual visa applications.
Overall, the retirement KITAS/KITAP is one of the best visa
options for residing in Indonesia long-term. Indonesian authorities are
accommodating towards retirees and rarely deny retirement visa applications.
We hope this article has been useful in guiding you through
the process of securing your long-term visa for Indonesia.
You can add one right now!