29 Aug 2025
Indonesia Overhauls Visa System: What Foreigners & Employers Need to Know

1. Introduction

In November 2024, the Indonesian government established a new Ministry of Immigration and Corrections (MOIC), separating immigration functions from the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (MOLHR). Less than a year later, the MOIC has introduced a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s visa system through MOIC Decree No. M.IP-08.GR.01.01 of 2025 on Visa Classifications (“New Visa Classification”), which took effect on 2 June 2025.

Replacing the 2023 visa classification regime, the new system reduces the number of visa indices from 133 to 110, streamlining categories, and improving clarity for both applicants and authorities.

2. Key Changes to Visa Indices

While the New Visa Classification retains the existing categorization, it introduces new indices and modifies existing ones to reflect evolving practical needs. The main visa categorization, with its specific travel purposes and durations, are as follows:

• Index A – Visit Visa Exemption, targeted at travelers from countries that have mutual agreements with Indonesia, allowing for short visits without a visa;

• Index B – Visa on Arrival, facilitates easy entry for tourists and business visitors with a 30-day stay allowance upon arrival;

• Index C – Single-Entry Visit Visa, covers visitors requiring a single entry for a specific activity or event;

• Index D – Multiple-Entry Visit Visa, accommodates those needing multiple entries over an extended period;

• Index E – Limited Stay Visa, encompasses various long-term purposes such as work, investment, research, or family reunification

• Index F – Visa on Arrival, offers a short-term 7-day Visa on Arrival for limited-stay guests.

Notably, Index E Visa. This revised classification aims not only to simplify administrative processes but also to provide clearer guidance and tailored options for foreign nationals with diverse travel intentions, enhancing both regulatory efficiency and user experience.

Although the categorization remains unchanged, the New Visa Classification introduces new indices and modifications to several existing ones to refine and clarify the scope of each index. These changes affect the types of activity, activity descriptions, rights, obligations, and prohibitions, as follows:

1. Visit Visa Indices

A – Visit Visa Exemption

• A1 Visa: Merges A1, A2, A3; now covers business meetings, purchasing goods, and medical treatment.

• A4 Visa: For official government duties based on Indonesian government invitations.

B – Visa on Arrival (30 Days)

• B1 Visa: Merges B1, B2, B3; same expanded activities as A1.

• B4 Visa: Similar to A4.

C – Single-Entry Visit Visa

• C1 Visa: For crew members in transit.

• C2 Visa: Site visits permitted; technical work and supervision prohibited.

• C5A Visa: New index for social media content creators.

• C6 Visa: Combines previous C6, C6A, C6B for social, humanitarian, and volunteer activities.

• C7C Visa: New index for skill demonstrations and performances.

• C9 Visa: Now designated for short training courses.

• C10 Visa: Fan meetings and similar events no longer permitted.

• C11A Visa: New index for exhibitors from calling visa countries.

• C15 Visa: Emergency workers may now receive compensation (previously prohibited).

D – Multiple-Entry Visit Visa

• D2 Visa: Site visits now allowed.

• D7 Visa: New index for art and cultural performers.

• D8 Visa: New index for sports participants invited by the government or international organizations.

F – Visa on Arrival (7 Days)

• F1 Visa: Merges F1, F2, F3; now includes business, meetings, purchases, and medical treatment.

• F4 Visa: Similar to A4.

2. Limited Stay Visa (E Index)

Work-Related Visas

• E23A Visa: New index for employees and experts in Special Economic Zones.

• E23V Visa: For experts in trade offices.

• E23X Visa: New index for experts employed by government institutions.

• E23Y Visa: New index for digital-sector experts under employment sponsorship.

E23 Visa holders are prohibited from engaging in educational or investment-related activities.

Further, other work-related visas for Directors, Vice-Directors, Commissioners, General Managers, and Supervisors (E25 Visa and its subtypes) now allow business discussions, negotiations, and signing agreements; receiving compensation; and engaging in investment-related activities. However, educational activities remain restricted.

Investment-Related Visas

E28 Visa holders may now conduct business discussions, negotiations, and sign agreements, as well as receive compensation for their work. However, educational activities remain prohibited.

New subtype, E28G Visa, is introduced for representatives of holding companies assigned to Indonesian subsidiaries, and granted the same business and compensation rights as other E28 Visa holders. 

Student Visas

Student visa holders (E30 Visas and its subtypes) may now receive compensation, wages or similar benefits, removing prior restrictions. Additionally, new subtype, E30F Visa, is introduces for student exchange programs.

Family Union & Repatriation Visas

Family union visa holders (E31 Visa and its subindices) may now receive compensation or wages. 

New subindex, E31J Visa, is introduced for foreigners under 18 and unmarried, allowing them to join siblings holding limited or permanent stay permits in Indonesia. However, receiving compensation is prohibited for this specific subindex.

Repatriation visa holders (E32 Visa and its subindices) are now allowed to bring their families to reside in Indonesia and to receive compensation for their work. Activity expansion is allowed with formal request.

New subtypes include:

• E32E/F: For ex-Indonesian citizens, with/without government sponsorship

• E32G/H: For foreigners of Indonesian descent (up to second degree), with/without government sponsorship

3. General Changes: Broader Rights and Flexibility

Across all visa indices, holders are now allowed to purchase goods in Indonesia, a change expected to ease friction for short-term visitors and business travellers.

4. Takeaways: What to Consider Before Applying

The New Visa Classification introduces a clearer and more nuanced system that aligns visa categories with real-world travel and work purposes. By explicitly detailing permitted activities—such as eligibility for compensation, work restrictions, and ability to make purchases —the updated system is designed to reduce misuse, support enforcement, and enhance user experience.

For foreign nationals, employers, and sponsors, careful pre-application assessment is now even more critical. Choosing the right visa upfront will ensure smoother processing, avoid compliance risks, and support a more predictable stay in Indonesia.

By partners Indra Setiawan (isetiawan@abnrlaw.com), Ridzky F. Amin (tamin@abnrlaw.com), senior associate Abdurachman Sidik (aalatas@abnrlaw.com), and associate Michael Gerin (mpasau@abnrlaw.com)

This ABNR News and its contents are intended solely to provide a general overview, for informational purposes, of selected recent developments in Indonesian law. They do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Accordingly, ABNR accepts no liability of any kind in respect of any statement, opinion, view, error, or omission that may be contained in this legal update. In all circumstances, you are strongly advised to consult a licensed Indonesian legal practitioner before taking any action that could adversely affect your rights and obligations under Indonesian law.