An Indonesian Investor KITAS (E28A) is a 1–2 year temporary stay permit for foreign shareholders in a PT PMA who have invested at least IDR 10 billion and actively serve as director or commissioner. It is applied fully online via the Indonesian eVisa system, then activated at immigration after you arrive.
Step-by-Step Process to Get an Investor KITAS (E28A) in Indonesia
If you are serious about running your own company in Indonesia, you will eventually ask: how to apply Investor KITAS E28A in a way that is fast, compliant, and predictable. Below is the exact step by step Investor KITAS process I walk my own clients through – updated for 2026 rules, fees, and online systems.
Before we dive in, if you are still comparing visa types or just scoping options, start at our home page. If you want white-glove handling of the entire process, including dealing with your notary, accountant, and immigration, have a look at our concierge service.
1. Confirm You (and Your PT PMA) Are Eligible
The E28A category is for genuine investors, not freelancers who happen to own a few shares. To qualify in 2026, you should tick all of these boxes:
- Share ownership: Minimum IDR 10,000,000,000 (ten billion) in shares in your Indonesian PT PMA, recorded in the company’s deed and in the OSS / BKPM system.
- Role: Listed as a Director or Commissioner of that PT PMA.
- Company capital: Total investment plan of at least IDR 10 billion and paid-up capital of minimum IDR 2.5 billion (as per current foreign investment norms).
- Valid licenses: Your company must already have NIB, business license, tax number and be operational or in proper development stage.
- Clean status: No overstay record, no blacklist, passport still valid at least 18–30 months depending on whether you want a 1-year or 2-year stay permit.
If any of those points are shaky – for example your deed still shows you with a token IDR 1 billion in shares – fix that before you touch the immigration system. It is much cheaper to correct a deed than to fix a rejected Investor KITAS after the fact.
2. Decide: Apply From Overseas or From Within Indonesia?
The Investor KITAS process from within Indonesia and the E28A visa process from overseas are similar, but there are key timing differences.
Option A – Apply from Outside Indonesia
You stay in your home country (or any country where you can legally stay) while we submit your investor KITAS online application. Once approved, you receive an eVisa (E28A) by email, fly in with that QR code, and then activate your KITAS in Bali or whichever city your company is registered in.
This is ideal if:
- You are planning your move ahead of time.
- You want to avoid converting from a tourist visa onshore.
- You want a clean immigration record from day one.
Option B – Apply from Within Indonesia
The Investor KITAS process from within Indonesia is designed for those already in the country on a Visit Visa (B1/B2), eVOA, or similar. Your current status must be convertible and not close to expiry. We file your E28A application online; once the eVisa is issued, your status is converted locally and then the KITAS is issued.
This route makes sense if:
- You are already here setting up the PT PMA with your notary.
- You prefer in-person handling at Denpasar immigration.
- You do not want to leave and re-enter Indonesia.
Costs and timing for both routes are broken down in detail in Investor KITAS Cost in 2026: Government Fees, Agent Fees & Hidden Charges and in our timeline breakdown: Investor KITAS E28A Timeline: From Application to Stamp in Your Passport.
3. Prepare Your Documents (2026 Checklist)
Whether you’re abroad or in Bali, the core documents are the same. Here is the practical version of the checklist we use in the office:
From You (the Investor)
- Clear passport scan (colour, every relevant page; validity at least 18 months for 1-year KITAS, 30 months for 2-year).
- Recent passport-style photograph with white background (soft copy is fine).
- Bank statement for the last 2–3 months, minimum equivalent of USD 2,000–3,000 as proof of funds.
- Curriculum Vitae (short, 1–2 pages is enough).
- Residential address (overseas and in Indonesia) and active mobile number.
From Your PT PMA
- Deed of establishment and all amendments, plus Ministry of Law & Human Rights approval.
- NIB (Business Identification Number) and relevant business/operating licenses.
- Company NPWP (tax number).
- Company bank statements for the last 2 months showing active transactions.
- Evidence of your shareholding of at least IDR 10 billion (cap table, notary deed, or BKPM report).
- Passport/KTP of the Indonesian director/commissioner, and company letterhead + stamp for sponsor and guarantee letters.
Any mismatch between deed, NIB, and immigration application (for example name spelling or share percentage) is a classic reason for delays. We always cross-check these line by line before touching the eVisa portal for Investor KITAS.
4. Using the eVisa Portal for Investor KITAS (Online Application)
The investor KITAS online application guide for 2026 revolves around one system: Indonesia’s eVisa portal. The process is sponsor-led; your PT PMA (or your agent on its behalf) submits the application.
Core Steps in the eVisa System
- Register the company account and verify the email.
- Fill in the E28A visa form: applicant data, passport details, stay period (1 or 2 years), intended address in Indonesia.
- Upload all supporting documents: investor and company files, photos, bank statements, share proof.
- Generate and upload sponsor and guarantee letters on company letterhead, signed and stamped.
- Pay the official immigration fee online with a supported payment method.
The system will issue a payment receipt and an application reference number. From that moment, your investor KITAS application timeline formally starts.
5. How Long Does Investor KITAS Approval Take?
In 2026, the honest answer to how long does Investor KITAS approval take is: it depends on whether you use regular or priority processing, and how clean your file is.
- Regular processing: 7–10 working days is typical for the eVisa approval, but 4–6 weeks is a safe planning assumption from document submission to KITAS card in hand.
- Priority processing: 3–5 working days for the eVisa is achievable when the file is perfect and you opt to use priority processing for Investor KITAS (where available).
Factors that extend the timeline:
- Inconsistent or outdated company documents.
- Immigration system downtime (happens more often around national holidays).
- Additional queries from the immigration officer about source of funds or share structure.
If your business plan is time-critical – for example, you are opening a restaurant with a fixed launch date – do not shave it too close. Build at least 6–8 weeks of buffer between your intended launch and the day you start this process.
6. Priority vs Regular: How to Use Priority Processing Investor KITAS
Not every file is eligible for priority, but where it is available, here is how to use it intelligently:
- Ensure every single document is correct and current. Priority applications with errors are not faster; they are just more expensive rejections.
- Choose priority at the eVisa payment stage, pay the higher official fee, and ensure your agent flags it immediately with their immigration contact.
- Avoid applying right before long public holidays, when priority and regular processing both slow down in parallel.
In my experience, priority makes the most sense if you have fixed travel dates or if your current stay permit is expiring within the month. If your timing is flexible, regular is usually fine.
7. After Approval: Investor KITAS Activation After Arrival
Once your E28A eVisa is granted, you will receive a QR-coded PDF by email. This is not yet the KITAS; it is the entry visa or status-conversion permit.
Arriving With an Overseas E28A eVisa
- Print the eVisa and keep a soft copy on your phone.
- Fly into Indonesia, use the regular immigration lane, and present your eVisa and passport.
- Immigration will scan the code and stamp your entry with the E28A status.
Within a few days of arrival, we schedule your biometrics at the local immigration office:
- Fingerprints, photo, and quick interview (usually 5–10 minutes at the counter).
- Leave your passport if requested; some offices keep it for a few days while the KITAS is printed.
- Collect your passport with the ITAS (stay permit) stamp and your digital KITAS card.
That is the practical meaning of investor KITAS activation after arrival: immigration converts your visa into a stay permit and issues your electronic KITAS.
Converting From Within Indonesia
If you applied from within Indonesia, the activation looks similar but without an international flight:
- Once the eVisa / approval note is issued, we arrange your visit to immigration.
- Your old stay status is cancelled and replaced with the E28A ITAS.
- You complete biometrics and then receive your new stamp and KITAS card.
Do not leave Indonesia between the issuance and activation stages unless your agent explicitly confirms it is safe to do so. Traveling at the wrong time is a classic way to create avoidable immigration headaches.
8. After You Have Your KITAS: Practical Notes
Once your Investor KITAS (E28A) is active:
- You can legally live in Indonesia and manage your PT PMA as director or commissioner.
- You can add a Multiple Exit Re-entry Permit (MERP) to travel in and out freely while the KITAS is valid.
- Your family can apply for dependent KITAS sponsored by you and the company.
- You must still keep tax and reporting obligations up to date; the KITAS does not make you invisible to the tax office.
For renewals, you basically repeat a simplified version of this process, but you must start at least 60–90 days before expiry to avoid emergency extensions.
Quick FAQ: Investor KITAS (E28A) in Indonesia
1. Can I work for other companies with an Investor KITAS?
No. The Investor KITAS is tied to the PT PMA where you are a shareholder and director/commissioner. You may manage that company and receive dividends and director’s compensation, but you cannot legally “moonlight” for unrelated employers.
2. How long is an Investor KITAS valid?
In 2026 you can choose 1-year or 2-year validity. Most serious investors go straight for the 2-year option; the marginal extra cost is small compared to the time saved.
3. Can I switch from a tourist visa to an Investor KITAS without leaving Indonesia?
In many cases, yes, via the Investor KITAS process from within Indonesia. However, not every entry status is convertible, and rules change. We always check your last entry stamp, visa type, and overstay history before confirming an onshore conversion.
If you want this handled by someone who speaks both “immigration” and “PMA shareholder,” reach out to us via our concierge service – or send me a WhatsApp message now and let’s map your Investor KITAS plan step by step.
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General information, not legal advice; fees are agency estimates, not government fees. We confirm the latest rules for your case before you apply.