Indonesia’s Golden Visa: Requirements, Costs, and Application Process

Indonesia launched a Golden Visa program in 2023, awarding the first visa under the program to OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman. The country, long a favored destination for high-net-worth individuals, has joined the ranks of Portugal, the United Arab Emirates, and Latvia, among others, in offering a residence-by-investment path for non-citizens.

In this article, we’ll provide a detailed examination of the Indonesia Golden Visa program, covering topics such as: 

• Eligibility criteria and requirements when applying for a Golden Visa
• Costs associated with the application
• The application process

What Is an Indonesian Golden Visa?

The Indonesian Golden Visa is a temporary residency program designed to allow investors, skilled professionals in key fields of work, and members of the Indonesian diaspora to reside in the country for an extended period. 

As an Indonesian Golden Visa holder, you can:

• Stay in the country for up to 10 years
• Re-enter the country multiple times
• Bring members of your family to Indonesia
• Enjoy expedited immigration and travel services
• Pursue education in Indonesia, depending on your pathway
• Apply for permanent residence after meeting the conditions

What Are the Indonesian Golden Visa Requirements?

Under the program, applicants for an Indonesian Golden Visa are separated into seven distinct categories, each with its own requirements: 

1. Company establishment investor
2. Capital market investor
3. Branch or subsidiary establishment investor
4. Former Indonesian citizens or their descendants
5. Second home applicants
6. Special skills applicants
7. Retirees

1. Company Establishment Investor

You can apply for Indonesian residency by investment if you already own a company abroad and plan to open another one in Indonesia. When applying, you have to submit a financial audit report from an international accounting firm confirming that:

1. You have an ownership stake in the company
2. The company meets the minimum turnover/sales requirement of USD 25 million for a five-year visa, or USD 50 million for a 10-year visa

In addition to the report, you will also be required to submit a statement of commitment to invest at least USD 2.5 million (USD 5 million for a 10-year visa) in your Indonesian company. You must establish the company within 90 days of entering Indonesia on your new visa.

2. Capital Market Investor

You can also acquire Indonesian residency by investment if you decide to invest in the country’s capital market or real estate. To qualify for the program, you have to meet one of the following investment requirements:

Investment Option	5-Year Visa Minimum Requirement	10-Year Visa Minimum Requirement
Indonesian government bonds	USD 350,000	USD 700,000
Shares in Indonesian publicly listed companies	USD 350,000	USD 700,000
Mutual funds with investments in publicly listed Indonesian companies	USD 350,000	USD 700,000
Residential property (e.g., apartment units)	Not available	USD 1 million

Note that you have 90 days from the date the visa is issued to make the investment. 

3. Branch or Subsidiary Establishment Investor

If you’re a member of the board of directors or a board of commissioners of a company that wants to establish a subsidiary or a branch in Indonesia, you can request a Golden Visa to be able to represent your company in Indonesia. 

The requirements your company has to meet for you to get the Golden Visa are: 

1. Minimum turnover/sales volume of USD 100,000, as attested by a financial audit report from an established international accounting firm
2. Commitment to establish a branch or subsidiary in Indonesia with an investment value of at least USD 25 million for a five-year visa, or USD 50 million for a 10-year visa

The commitment should be made in a letter of commitment, and the company has 90 days from the date of visa issuance to establish the daughter company.

4. Former Indonesian Citizens or Their Descendants

Members of the Indonesian diaspora, including former citizens and their descendants, can also apply for the Golden Visa. To qualify as a former citizen, you must invest a minimum of USD 30,000 in Indonesian government bonds or shares of publicly listed companies within 90 days of arriving in Indonesia on your new visa. Your Golden Visa can only be valid for five years.

Descendants of former citizens can qualify for a five- or ten-year visa and are subject to slightly different requirements. They include submitting a statement of commitment to complete one of the following within 90 days after entering Indonesia: purchase Indonesian government bonds, shares, or mutual funds in publicly listed companies in Indonesia worth USD 50,000.

5. Second Home Applicants

As a Second Home applicant, you have to fulfill one of two Golden Visa requirements:

1. Keep at least USD 130,000 in a bank account with a state-owned bank in Indonesia as an immigration guarantee, or
2. Purchase an apartment worth at least USD 1 million 

6. Special Skills Applicants

The Special Skills Golden Visa pathways allow the Government of Indonesia to issue a residence visa to people with valuable skills. The skills must be deemed beneficial to the country and its economic development. 

There are two ways you can apply for a Golden Visa in Indonesia as a Special Skills applicant; these are the requirements:

1. Certificate in the field of expertise required by the government, or
2. Proof of graduation from one of the list of 100 world’s best universities with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.5

7. Retirees

If you’re 55 or older, you can apply for the Golden Visa program through the Silver Hair pathway. In addition to your age, you must meet two other requirements:

1. Deposit at least USD 50,000 in a bank account with an Indonesian state-owned bank
2. Provide proof of a minimum monthly income of USD 3,000

As with other pathways, you’ll have a 90-day window upon your arrival to open an account and make the transfer.

How Much Does the Indonesian Golden Visa Cost?

When applying for an Indonesian Golden Visa, you can expect to pay the following fees:

Type of Fee	5-Year Visa Price	10-Year Visa Price
Temporary stay permit	IDR 7 million	IDR 12 million
Visa cost	IDR 500,000	IDR 500,000
Verification cost	IDR 2 million	IDR 2 million
Re-entry permit	IDR 3.5 million	IDR 5 million

In total, the fees associated with a five-year visa amount to IDR 13 million, while fees for a 10-year visa add up to IDR 19.5 million. 

How To Apply for the Indonesian Golden Visa Program

Indonesia has a straightforward, completely remote visa application process. Here are the steps you should take before, during, and after the application:

1. Gather the documents
2. Submit your application
3. Apply for your dependents
4. Fulfill the commitments
5. Apply for permanent residency or citizenship

Determine Your Eligibility and Gather the Documents 

Besides the documents necessary to meet the specific requirements, you might also have to provide: 

• A passport in your name, valid for at least six more months at the time of application
• A recent passport-style photograph of yourself
• A Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• A travel itinerary
• Proof of sufficient funds to support yourself while staying in Indonesia

You should have all the documents in digital form.

Submit Your Application

Before submitting your application, you’ll have to create an account with the e-Visa portal. Make sure to have your photo, as well as a scanned copy of the first two pages of your passport, ready. You will be required to upload both during account creation. 

When applying for the visa, some information will be pre-filled based on your passport and profile details. You will be required to:

1. Select the type of visa you wish to apply for
2. Choose the duration of the visa
3. Upload the necessary documents
4. Make the payment with a credit card

You can check the status of your application on the platform. Once the visa has been issued, it will be sent to you by email. 

Apply for Dependents

If you have family members you wish to bring to Indonesia, you can serve as a sponsor for their Golden Visa application. The documents you’ll need to provide when applying include:

• A proof of guarantee or a statement of commitment
• A marriage certificate (for a spouse) or a birth certificate (for children), either in English or translated into Indonesian
• Your valid limited stay permit

Fulfill Commitments

Some of the Indonesian Golden Visa requirements can be fulfilled in the first 90 days after you enter the country and get your temporary stay. Meeting those conditions should always be a top priority.

Apply for Permanent Residency or Citizenship 

If your goal is to obtain permanent residency in Indonesia, it is essential to meet and maintain all the Golden Visa commitments throughout the validity of your permit. 

Indonesia’s immigration framework allows you to request a change of status to permanent residency up to 30 days prior to the expiration of your temporary residency. At this stage, applicants must demonstrate that they have fully completed their investment or financial commitments, and in some cases, renew them.

While Indonesia does not offer a citizenship-by-investment program, investor-based temporary residence is commonly used to satisfy the residence requirement for naturalization. Under Indonesian law, you must either reside in the country continuously for five years or cumulatively for ten years. 

Citizenship must still be obtained through the naturalization process and requires meeting additional criteria, including knowledge of the Indonesian language and the country’s state ideology. As Indonesia doesn’t permit double citizenship, you’ll also have to renounce your primary citizenship.

Although the Indonesian Golden Visa process is relatively streamlined, certain steps can present challenges. Selecting the appropriate pathway, ensuring proper accounting compliance, and structuring commitment documentation correctly are some areas where even small mistakes can cause delays or rejection. To avoid these potential pitfalls, choose Nomad Capitalist as your residence-by-investment partner. 

Get an Indonesian Golden Visa With Nomad Capitalist

Nomad Capitalist is a consultancy firm specializing in helping entrepreneurs and investors navigate the process of legally moving, investing, and living abroad. Over the years, the team of experts at Nomad Capitalist has helped more than 1,500 high-net-worth clients achieve their goals through personalized, structured strategies called Action Plans.

Our Action Plans outline a step-by-step strategy tailored to your goals, whether that’s a Golden Visa or another path. Here’s how it works: 

1. We ask you to fill out a form, helping us determine whether we’re a good fit
2. We schedule a 45-minute onboarding call to learn about the specifics of your goals
3. Our team creates and presents an Action Plan with strategies made specifically for your case
4. We implement the Plan and handle all of the administration 
5. You get lifelong support from us after the implementation 

From selecting the most suitable pathway for fulfilling your goals to ensuring the commitments are managed efficiently and in full compliance with relevant regulations, we will provide expert guidance at every stage of the process. Get your personalized guidance today!