Can I Work in Indonesia? The Honest Truth You Must Know

  • Jul 27, 2025

Note: Before reading, please note that I write all of my articles purely for the purpose of knowledge provision. I never intend to hurt anyone; instead, my writing is meant to benefit all of us.

Can I Work in Indonesia?
The Straight Answer: NO

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh, dear brothers and sisters.

This is one of the most common questions we receive from Pakistanis and other foreigners living in Indonesia:

“Can I work in Indonesia?”

The short and honest answer is:
NO – you cannot legally work in Indonesia unless you have a specific work permit (IMTA) approved by the Ministry of Manpower.

It does not matter if you hold a KITAS (Temporary Stay Permit), KITAP (Permanent Stay Permit), Business Visa, Tourist Visa, or even an Investor Visa — none of these automatically allow you to work.

Working without proper authorization is illegal under Indonesian law and can lead to:

Heavy fines (tens of millions of Indonesian Rupiah)

Immediate deportation

Permanent entry bans

Even imprisonment in serious cases

What Does Indonesian Law Say?

1. Law No. 6 of 2011 on Immigration (Undang-Undang Nomor 6 Tahun 2011 tentang Keimigrasian)

Pasal 122:

Setiap Orang Asing yang dengan sengaja menyalahgunakan atau melakukan kegiatan yang tidak sesuai dengan maksud dan tujuan pemberian Izin Tinggal yang diberikan kepadanya dipidana dengan pidana penjara paling lama 5 (lima) tahun dan pidana denda paling banyak Rp 500.000.000 (lima ratus juta rupiah).

Translation: Any foreigner who misuses their permit or works without proper authorization can be imprisoned up to 5 years and fined up to 500 million rupiah.(around USD 30,000).

2. Manpower Law (Undang-Undang Nomor 13 Tahun 2003 tentang Ketenagakerjaan)

Only foreigners with special skills that cannot be fulfilled by Indonesian workers are eligible to work, and even then, their employer must apply for a work permit (IMTA) on their behalf.

Article 42 (Pasal 42):

Tenaga kerja asing hanya dapat dipekerjakan di Indonesia dalam hubungan kerja untuk jabatan tertentu dan waktu tertentu, serta memiliki izin tertulis dari Menteri atau pejabat yang ditunjuk.

Translation: Foreign workers can only be employed in Indonesia for specific roles, specific timeframes, and must have a written permit from the Ministry of Manpower.

3. Ministerial Regulation 10/2018

Even for investors, being a shareholder does not give automatic rights to work unless they fulfill strict conditions (large capital, real registered company, Indonesian employees, etc.).

The Truth About Visas

KITAS / KITAP

These are residence permits — not work permits. They allow you to stay in Indonesia but do not give the right to work unless specifically stated and tied to a company that sponsors you.

Tourist or Business Visa

Tourist Visa: For visiting only — zero work rights.

Business Visa: Only for attending meetings or signing contracts — not for actual work or earning income in Indonesia.

Investor Visa

This is the visa most misused by agents. Here’s what you must know:

The Reality of Investor Visa

Many agents promise:

“Pay me 5–10 lakh PKR and I’ll get you an Investor Visa. You can open a shop, get citizenship in 2 years, and live happily.”

Truth? 100% fake.

What is an Investor Visa really?

You must invest at least IDR 10 billion (approx. 74000 USD or 2 crore PKR) in a legitimate Indonesian company.

The company must be registered legally with proper licenses and tax compliance.

You must hire Indonesian employees, provide them salaries, health insurance, and benefits.

You must maintain real business operations — office, address, and activity.

Investor Visa is meant for real companies, not for opening a small food stall or roadside business.

Common Scam:

Agents take your money, promise visas, and later you end up deported or in legal trouble because your visa does not permit what you are doing.

Why Jobs Are Rare for Foreigners

Indonesia has a population of over 275 million people.
Local unemployment is already a challenge, so the government prioritizes Indonesian citizens for jobs.

Only people with very high, rare skills (e.g., engineers, specialists, corporate executives) may be allowed to work — and only through official company sponsorship.

Can You Get Indonesian Citizenship or KTP Easily?

No. Citizenship is extremely rare and requires:

Living in Indonesia legally for many years (usually 5–10)

Speaking Bahasa Indonesia fluently

Integrating fully into society

Approval from the President of Indonesia

There is no shortcut. No agent can “guarantee” you citizenship or KTP in 2 years. If someone says this — they are lying.

Why You Must Avoid Fake Agents

Fake agents sell dreams, not realities.

They only want your money and do not care about the legal consequences you will face.

Once you are caught working illegally, the agent will vanish and you will suffer alone.

What Should You Do Instead?

If you want to work:

Apply for official jobs that sponsor foreign workers (rare, high-level positions only).

Ensure you get a work permit (IMTA) and the correct KITAS tied to that permit.

If you want to invest:

Be prepared with minimum $74,000 investment and meet all legal requirements.

Register a real company, hire Indonesian workers, pay taxes, and comply with labor laws.

If you want to live in Indonesia without working:

Use family KITAS, retirement visas, or long-term stay permits — but do not work illegally.

Important Lesson

Freedom is not doing whatever you want. True freedom is living without fear — fear of deportation, fear of police, fear of fraud.

If you follow the law, life in Indonesia can be peaceful and beautiful.
If you follow shortcuts and fake promises, you may ruin your future forever.

Final Words

Please, dear brothers and sisters:

Don’t destroy your life chasing lies.

Don’t trust anyone who says “I can get you a job, no problem.”

Protect yourself, your family, and your dignity.

Indonesia is strict with immigration laws; respect them and stay safe.

If you need real guidance on visas, renewals, or legal pathways:
🌐 Visit www.EasyTransGroups.com.

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