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Working in Indonesia as a foreigner: RPTKA, work KITAS, closed jobs and remote work

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

Foreigners need an employer-sponsored permit to work in Indonesia: the RPTKA and a work KITAS. Who qualifies, closed jobs, costs and remote-work visas.

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

Summary

  • Working in Indonesia as a foreigner is employer-sponsored: only an eligible employer can hire a foreign worker, for certain positions and a fixed period (PP 34/2021 Article 4).
  • The employer must hold an approved foreign worker utilisation plan (RPTKA), applied for online (PP 34/2021 Articles 6 and 12).
  • Every foreign worker must hold an immigration stay permit; the E23 work visa needs a guarantor and a work permit from the Ministry of Manpower.
  • Foreign workers may not hold positions handling personnel, and individuals may not employ foreign workers (PP 34/2021 Articles 9 and 11).
  • The E33G remote worker visa is for carrying out duties for a company abroad while living in Indonesia, not for working for an Indonesian employer.
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On this page
  1. Can a foreigner work in Indonesia?
  2. Which work permit and visa does a foreigner need, the RPTKA and a work KITAS?
  3. What are the official costs, and who pays them?
  4. Which jobs are closed to foreigners in Indonesia?
  5. Can I work remotely from Indonesia on a remote-worker visa?
  6. How do I spot a fake job offer in Indonesia?
  7. Where can I read more about stay permits?

Can a foreigner work in Indonesia?

Yes, but only through an eligible employer. Under PP 34/2021, a foreign worker (tenaga kerja asing, TKA) may be employed only in an employment relationship, for certain positions and a fixed period, and must have the competence the position needs (Article 4). Employers must give priority to Indonesian workers and may use a foreign worker only where no Indonesian worker can yet fill the post (Article 2). Eligible employers include companies, foreign representative offices and social, educational or cultural institutions (Article 3); individuals may not employ foreign workers (Article 9).

Which work permit and visa does a foreigner need, the RPTKA and a work KITAS?

Two steps. First, the employer needs an approved foreign worker utilisation plan (Rencana Penggunaan Tenaga Kerja Asing, RPTKA) from the Minister of Manpower (PP 34/2021 Article 6), applied for online (Article 12) through the ministry's TKA Online service. Second, the worker needs an immigration stay permit (Article 27). The immigration service's E23 work visa requires a guarantor and a work permit from the Ministry of Manpower, and allows a stay of 180 days, 1 year or 2 years. The limited stay permit (izin tinggal terbatas, ITAS) is what people usually mean by a KITAS.

What are the official costs, and who pays them?

The employer pays the foreign worker compensation fund (Dana Kompensasi Penggunaan TKA, DKPTKA) for each foreign worker, for the period the worker works in Indonesia, after receiving a billing code from the ministry (PP 34/2021 Article 23); the payment is state revenue (Article 24). Visa and stay permit fees are listed on each visa page of the immigration service, and applications go through its official e-visa site. The employer must also register a foreign worker employed for more than 6 months in national social security, or insure a shorter stay (Article 8).

Which jobs are closed to foreigners in Indonesia?

PP 34/2021 Article 11 bars employers from employing foreign workers in positions that handle personnel, and the Minister sets those positions. More generally, foreign workers may hold only the positions the Minister opens to them (Article 4), and an employer may not give one foreign worker two positions in the same company (Article 10). The employer also has to appoint an Indonesian counterpart worker for the transfer of skills and provide Indonesian-language training (Article 7). Check with the employer which position its RPTKA covers before you sign.

Can I work remotely from Indonesia on a remote-worker visa?

Yes, if you work for a company abroad. The immigration service's E33G remote worker visa (Visa Rumah Kedua Pekerja Jarak Jauh) is for staying in Indonesia to carry out duties for a company outside Indonesia, for 1 year with online extension, and needs no Indonesian guarantor. Its holders may not do work that does not match the stay permit or sell goods or services except as their work requires, so it is not a permit to work for an Indonesian employer. Income and fee requirements are on the official visa page.

How do I spot a fake job offer in Indonesia?

Check that the employer is a registered company, for example through the Ministry of Law's company search (AHU), and ask which RPTKA approval and visa type will cover your job. Treat as warning signs a job offer that starts on a tourist visa, a request to pay work permit, RPTKA or DKPTKA fees into a personal account, and visa help that bypasses the official e-visa site. If a local company hires you on behalf of a foreign firm, often called an employer of record, that Indonesian company is your employer and must meet the same RPTKA and stay permit rules.

Where can I read more about stay permits?

For the stay permit itself, including how a KITAS differs from a KITAP, see the Panduan Warga KITAS and KITAP guide. For living in Indonesia while working for a company abroad, see the Panduan Warga golden and remote-worker visa guide.

Not legal advice. For your own case, contact the official channels listed.

Frequently asked questions

Can I look for a job in Indonesia on a tourist visa and start work straight away?

No. Every foreign worker employed in Indonesia must hold a stay permit under immigration law (PP 34/2021 Article 27), and the immigration service bars visa holders from doing work that does not match their stay permit. An employer must first obtain RPTKA approval and act as your guarantor for a work visa such as E23 before you start.

Who pays the foreign worker compensation fee (DKPTKA)?

The employer. PP 34/2021 Article 23 requires the employer to pay the DKPTKA for each foreign worker it employs, for the period the worker works in Indonesia, and Article 24 treats the payment as state revenue. Be wary of anyone who asks you to pay a work permit or DKPTKA fee into a personal account.

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.

  1. DPR Sahkan UU Pelindungan Ketenagakerjaan (emedia DPR RI, 7 Oktober 2026) Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat RI (emedia) · accessed
  2. Menaker Ungkap Poin Penting UU Pelindungan Ketenagakerjaan yang Wajib Diketahui Pekerja Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan RI · accessed
  3. Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 34 Tahun 2021 tentang Penggunaan Tenaga Kerja Asing Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · PP 34/2021 · accessed
  4. TKA-Online: Sistem Informasi Pelayanan Penggunaan Tenaga Kerja Asing Online (Kemnaker) Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan · accessed
  5. E23 Visa Kerja (Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi, Daftar Visa Indonesia) Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi · accessed
  6. E33G Visa Rumah Kedua Pekerja Jarak Jauh (Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi) Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi · accessed
  7. Ditjen AHU Online: pencarian profil perseroan Direktorat Jenderal Administrasi Hukum Umum, Kementerian Hukum · accessed
How to cite

KarirAman (2026). Working in Indonesia as a foreigner: RPTKA, work KITAS, closed jobs and remote work. Updated 8 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/working-in-indonesia/

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