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Models and talent in Indonesia: how to start, requirements, income and fake castings

Written by KarirAman editorial team Approved by Kaiser Khan (editor), Updated

How to become a photo, catalogue, ad or runway model in Indonesia without paying an agency. Portfolio needs, fair pay and fake casting signs.

Summary

Very high scam risk
  • Modelling is not a licensed profession in Indonesia, and project work should always be covered by a written contract.
  • Indonesia's Ministry of Manpower says a fee in recruitment is almost certainly a scam, and that includes casting fees and compulsory photo packages.
  • In 2024 East Java police exposed a 'talent casting' scheme that secretly filmed would-be models in the changing room.
  • Law 12/2022 classes recording sexual content without consent as electronic-based sexual violence.
  • A photoshoot abroad on a tourist visa carries a trafficking risk; Indonesian migrant workers must hold a work visa.
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On this page
  1. What does a model do in Indonesia?
  2. How do you become a model in Indonesia?
  3. What does a typical model job description look like?
  4. How are models paid, and which fees are not normal?
  5. Which education routes lead to modelling?
  6. What are working conditions and rights like for models in Indonesia?
  7. What does a modelling career path look like?
  8. What about offers to model abroad?
  9. How can you check an agency or casting before you go?
  10. What interview questions might you be asked for model jobs?
  11. Which job scams target model applicants in Indonesia?
  12. Where can you find safe modelling work and how should you apply?
  13. Which careers are similar?

What does a model do in Indonesia?

Models present clothing, products or ideas for photos and video, such as online-shop catalogues, advertising, magazines, runway shows and brand content. They attend fittings, follow the photographer's and stylist's directions and keep to schedules that often change. The ILO's international ISCO-08 classification places this work in unit group 5241, fashion and other models.

  • Pose or present clothing and products for catalogue, advertising and online-shop photos.
  • Appear in product videos, brand content or on the runway.
  • Attend fittings and make-up preparation before a shoot.
  • Follow directions from the photographer, stylist and client to match the brief.
  • Keep to the schedule, arrive on time and bring personal kit.
  • Update the portfolio and comp card regularly.

How do you become a model in Indonesia?

Modelling is not a licensed profession, so no licence or certificate is required. To start, prepare clear natural photos and send them to agencies or clients you can check; ads usually ask for a portfolio or comp card, punctuality and the ability to follow direction. Physical criteria are often listed to match a client's concept, but Minister of Manpower Circular M/6/HK.04/V/2025 bars discrimination on any basis in recruitment, so requirements unrelated to the work deserve questioning.

What does a typical model job description look like?

Model and talent ads usually state the type of project, such as catalogue, advertising, runway, video, film or TV series, with the location and length of work, and ask for an up-to-date portfolio. Castings for actors, extras or film talent are usually announced by production houses or casting agencies, and performers are paid per shooting day or per project. A genuine ad states the fee and how it is paid, not a fee you must pay; a casting that charges you is a fake casting scam.

General example, not a vacancy

We wrote this description ourselves from what job ads usually ask for. It is not a vacancy from any company.

Commonly requested requirements

  • A portfolio or comp card with recent photos that show how you look now.
  • Punctual and able to work at changing locations and hours.
  • Able to follow posing and movement directions on camera or on the runway.
  • For freelance work: willingness to sign a clear contract for each project.

Skills

Posing and expression, Confidence on camera, Punctuality, Looking after your health, Client communication, Reading contracts, Personal safety.

Ministry of Manpower Circular M/6/HK.04/V/2025 bars employers from discriminating on any basis in recruitment. An age requirement is allowed only where the nature of the job genuinely affects ability and it does not remove the chance of work, and the same applies to workers with disabilities. Law 13/2003 Articles 5 and 6 guarantee equal opportunity and treatment without discrimination. JDIH Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan JDIH BPK RI (peraturan.bpk.go.id)

How are models paid, and which fees are not normal?

We do not show a figure for model income yet because no data meets our standard. Freelance models are usually paid per project or per working day, so ask for a written contract stating the fee, the agency commission, the payment date and photo usage rights; casting, registration or compulsory photo package fees are not normal. If you are employed under an employment contract, the 2026 minimum wage (UMK) is the floor for service under one year (PP 36/2021 Article 24).

Model: available pay data (as of 8 October 2026)
Data Figure Notes
Pay range in KarirAman verified vacancies Not enough data yet (n < 30)
Average net wage of employees, Arts, other services, household activities and international bodies (BPS Sakernas May 2026) IDR 2,258,205 reference for the Arts, other services, household activities and international bodies sector, not specific to this career; net (after deductions) Badan Pusat Statistik
Minimum wage (UMP/UMK) as the floor IDR 2,317,601 to IDR 5,729,876 Lowest 2026 UMP IDR 2,317,601 (West Java), highest IDR 5,729,876 (Jakarta) Micro and small businesses are exempt from the minimum wage rules; pay there is set by agreement and still has a legal floor. Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)

Check your city's minimum wage (2026) Work out your take-home pay How we handle salary data

Which education routes lead to modelling?

No formal education is required to become a model. A modelling course or training provider (LPK) can help you learn posing and runway walking, but such courses are optional, not a condition of acceptance. Indonesia's Ministry of Manpower names training fees in recruitment as a scam sign, so a paid class an agency requires before you get any work is a warning sign.

What are working conditions and rights like for models in Indonesia?

Much modelling work is contracted per project with changing hours and locations, so a written contract is your main protection: fee, agency commission, payment schedule, exclusivity and photo usage rights. You may refuse any concept you did not agree to. Law 24/2011 Article 16 requires everyone who qualifies, other than wage-earning employees, to register themselves with BPJS social security.

Legal status: the Labour Protection Law was approved by the DPR and the Government on 6 October 2026 but has not been promulgated and its text is not public. Until it takes effect, the rules on this page apply.

Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat RI (emedia); Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan RI

What does a modelling career path look like?

New models usually start with catalogue shoots or online-shop content, then may be represented by an agency and win advertising, runway or brand work. Many models also move into nearby work such as live-commerce hosting, content creation, styling or make-up. An exclusive agency contract can limit other work, so read the exclusivity period before you sign.

What about offers to model abroad?

Offers to model abroad need the strictest checks. Law 18/2017 Article 13 requires Indonesian migrant workers to hold a work visa and an employment agreement, so a paid shoot on a tourist visa is not a legal route. A paid ticket, a recruiter holding your passport and a promise that 'the contract will follow' are signs of trafficking. Check with KP2MI first and read KarirAman's guide to trafficking.

How can you check an agency or casting before you go?

Before you attend a casting, make sure of three things. First, you can check the agency's legal name and office address. Second, there is no fee of any kind to be accepted. Third, the casting takes place in an office or studio, not a private room, and you may bring a companion.

For more detail on casting warning signs, read the CariTalent casting red flags. To see modelling agencies operating in Indonesia, open model agencies in Indonesia (The Cast Index); being listed there is no guarantee of safety, so still do your own checks. The Cast Index: is a modelling agency legit? is written for the UK and US; the Indonesian rules are summarised above.

If you are threatened or experience sexual violence during a casting, keep the evidence and contact the services below.

What interview questions might you be asked for model jobs?

Interview questions for model jobs often cover your portfolio and your role in each piece, taking feedback, assessing results against a brief, using creative work responsibly, and juggling several projects. Each example below comes with why it is asked and how to answer it. The Ministry of Manpower warns that an instant chat interview without formal confirmation is one sign of a fake job.

Republika (official statement via media)

General examples written by KarirAman, not questions from any particular company. How to practise: read the question, answer it out loud, then open the guidance to compare.

Questions for this field

Can you walk me through your portfolio and your role in each piece?

Why they ask: In creative work, your portfolio is the main proof of skill.

How to answer: Pick three to five pieces that fit the vacancy, explain the part you did yourself and the results where you have them.

How do you handle revisions or criticism of your work?

Why they ask: Revisions are a normal part of creative work.

How to answer: Describe clarifying what the feedback means, agreeing priorities and deadlines, then revising without taking it personally.

How do you measure whether content or a campaign worked?

Why they ask: Companies want measurable results, not just good-looking work.

How to answer: Name the goal you set at the start, the measures you tracked such as reach, engagement or sales, and what you learned.

How do you follow trends without breaking copyright or platform rules?

Why they ask: Copyright or platform breaches can get accounts blocked.

How to answer: Explain that you use your own or licensed material, give credit and check platform rules before posting.

How do you juggle several projects with different deadlines?

Why they ask: Creative workers often handle many clients or campaigns at once.

How to answer: Describe your work calendar, how you set priorities and how you warn people early when a deadline must move.

Which limits on the work do you want agreed in writing?

Why they ask: A written agreement protects you and the employer from misunderstandings.

How to answer: Name the type of content, hours, the basis of payment, usage rights to your photos or videos and anything you will not do. Refuse requests that make you uncomfortable, including closed-door shoots without a companion.

Common questions that also come up (12 questions)

  • Tell me about yourself.

    Answer in about a minute: where you are now in work or study, two experiences that matter for this job, then why you applied. Personal matters such as family status are not needed.

  • Why did you apply to this company?

    Mention one or two real things you learned from the company's official website, such as its business or services, and link them to your skills.

  • Why are you interested in this role?

    Pick two tasks from the job advert, describe similar things you have done, and say which part you most want to grow in.

  • What are your strengths?

    Name one or two strengths and give short proof: the situation, what you did and the result.

  • What is your weakness?

    Choose a real weakness that is not central to the job, then explain what you are doing to improve it.

  • Tell me about a problem at work or school that you solved.

    Use the STAR pattern: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Focus on what you yourself did and what you learned.

  • How do you work in a team, including when people disagree?

    Give a real example of listening, explaining your view politely and finding a solution everyone accepted.

  • How do you handle pressure or tight deadlines?

    Explain how you set priorities, such as a task list or checking with your supervisor, and give one example of the outcome.

  • Where do you see yourself in two or three years?

    Mention the skills you want to master and the responsibility you hope to take on, without promising things you cannot know.

  • What salary do you expect?

    First research the pay range for the role and the local minimum wage where you would work. Give a range, then ask whether the figure is gross or net and which allowances apply.

  • When can you start?

    Give a realistic date. If you are still employed, mention the notice period in your current contract so you do not break it.

  • Do you have any questions for us?

    Ask about the contract type, working hours, base pay and allowances, the next selection step and when results are announced. Ask for the offer in writing.

Warning signs in interviews (6)

  • The interview happens only by WhatsApp or Telegram chat with no formal invitation, or you are pushed to be interviewed on the spot.

    What to do: Ask for a written invitation from a company-domain e-mail address, then match the contact with the official website you look up yourself.

    Republika (official statement via media)Kompas TV (official statement via media)detikFinance

  • You are asked to pay for a test, a psychological test, a medical check-up, training or a uniform, or to book tickets and a hotel through an appointed agent with a promise of reimbursement.

    What to do: Do not transfer anything. The Ministry of Manpower says legitimate recruitment does not charge applicants.

    Kompas TV (official statement via media)Republika (official statement via media)Koran Jakarta (official statement via media)PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BCA)

  • The interview is held in a hotel room, a private house or another closed place that is not an office, or the location keeps changing. An invitation to stay overnight, or any sexual demand, as a condition for being hired or for renewing a contract is also a warning sign.

    What to do: Ask for the interview at the office or a public place, tell someone close to you where you are, and leave if you feel unsafe. Sexual demands can be reported to the police or the local manpower office (Disnaker). If you are in danger, call the police.

    Koran Jakarta (official statement via media)detikBali (detik.com) (official statement via media)Medcom.id (official statement via media)

  • You are asked for a photo of your KTP or family card, a selfie holding your ID, your bank account number, an OTP code, a PIN or a password before any written job offer.

    What to do: Do not send them. OJK says never to give an OTP, PIN or password to anyone, and identity data can be misused for illegal online loans.

    Kompas TV (official statement via media)Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (Sekretariat Satgas PASTI)Koran Jakarta (official statement via media)

  • The interview invitation arrives as an app file (APK) or a link that asks you to install an app.

    What to do: Do not open it. OJK and Kominfo warn that fake APK files can read SMS messages with OTP codes and then drain bank accounts.

    CNN Indonesia (official statement via media)

  • After the interview you are asked to hand over your original diploma or other original personal documents as a guarantee for the job.

    What to do: Ministry of Manpower Circular M/5/HK.04.00/V/2025 bars employers from requiring or holding original diplomas and personal documents as a guarantee for the job. The only exception is a diploma or competency certificate from education or training paid for by the employer under a written employment agreement, and the employer must keep it safe and compensate you if it is damaged or lost. Otherwise, show them for checking, then take them home.

    Dinas Tenaga Kerja Kota Batam (meneruskan SE Menteri Ketenagakerjaan RI)

In danger or held at an interview location? Call the police:

See all interview questions Build an ATS CV Write a cover letter

Which job scams target model applicants in Indonesia?

Tricks to watch for as a would-be model are casting fees, compulsory portfolio photo packages and requests for intimate photos or videos as a 'test'. In December 2024 East Java police revealed a 'talent casting' scheme that secretly filmed would-be models in the changing room, with hundreds of victims since 2015. Also watch for shoots in private rooms with no companion and threats to share photos.

Warning signs in model job ads

  • An agency or 'talent scout' asks for a casting, registration or membership fee before you get any work.
  • You must buy a portfolio photo package or a modelling class from someone they choose in order to be accepted.Republika (official statement via media)
  • You are asked to send nude photos or videos, or join a private video call, as a 'casting test'.Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)
  • The casting location is vague and the changing room is closed off with no companion allowed; East Java police exposed a casting that filmed applicants changing.Jawa Pos (dari Antara) (official statement via media)
  • After you send photos, the person threatens to share them unless you pay or do what they ask.Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)
  • A photoshoot abroad with a paid ticket, a tourist visa and the recruiter holding your passport.Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)
  • The recruiter claims to represent a famous brand or agency, can only be reached by chat and asks for your bank details.Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (Sekretariat Satgas PASTI)

Learn the signs of trafficking through job offers

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Where can you find safe modelling work and how should you apply?

Look for modelling work through agencies or clients whose legal entity you can check on the Ministry of Law's AHU register and whose office address is real. Attend castings at an office or studio during working hours, bring a companion and refuse shoots in private rooms. Never pay to be accepted, never send intimate photos, and read the contract before you sign it.

No verified vacancies for this role yet

We only list vacancies we have checked. In the meantime, look for jobs on these official channels.

Which careers are similar?

See other careers in Creative and media

Frequently asked questions

Can a modelling agency in Indonesia charge a registration or casting fee?

It should not. Indonesia's Ministry of Manpower says a fee in the recruitment process is almost certainly a scam. A fee to be accepted is different from commission on work you have already won, and any commission must be written in the contract. If you are asked to pay to be accepted, stop and check the company before you send any personal details.

Do I need to buy a portfolio package to start modelling?

You do not need an expensive package to apply. Send clear, recent natural photos and ask what the agency assesses. Being required to buy a photo package or a class from someone the agency chooses, as a condition of acceptance, is a recruitment fee, which the Ministry of Manpower says is almost certainly a scam. You remain free to choose your own photographer.

What should I do if a casting asks me for nude photos?

Refuse and stop the conversation. A legitimate casting does not need nude photos or videos. Law 12/2022 Article 14 classes recording sexual content without consent, and using it to extort someone, as electronic-based sexual violence. If you are threatened, keep the evidence, do not pay, and report to the police on 110 or at the nearest SPKT desk and to the SAPA 129 hotline.

How can I check a modelling agency before signing a contract?

Look up the agency's legal entity on the Ministry of Law's AHU register, confirm that its office address is real, and ask for a written contract before working. Read the terms on fees, agency commission, payment dates, exclusivity and photo usage rights. An agency list on another website is no guarantee of safety, so do your own checks and bring a companion to the first meeting.

What should families watch for if a would-be model is under 18?

A parent or guardian should take part in every message, casting and shoot, and read and sign any contract together with the child. Refuse closed shoots without a companion and requests to move into private chat with the child. Report violence or exploitation of a child to the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection's SAPA 129 hotline or to the police on 110.

Who wrote and reviewed this page?

Written by KarirAman editorial team Published Updated

Prepared with AI assistance. Checked against official sources and approved for publication by Kaiser Khan (editor). Approval date: .

Sources

The facts on this page come from these sources. Dates show when we opened them.

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How to cite

KarirAman (2026). Models and talent in Indonesia: how to start, requirements, income and fake castings. Updated 8 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/careers/model/

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CariTalent and PanduanHewan are Kode Nirlaba projects; Panduan Warga and The Cast Index are independent publications with the same founder. CourseToJob is a study-guide site with the same owner, run by Elite Digital AI Solutions Ltd.

Change log
  • : Titles and headings now match common searches; added acting, extras and film talent castings, a link to photographers, distinct sister links and corrected wording of the anti-discrimination circular.