Immigration permission and foreign-worker requirements are related but separate. Review who employs you, your position, your actual duties and the applicable immigration category before work starts.
Start with your working arrangement
| Your situation | Start by checking |
|---|---|
| An Indonesian company will employ you | Employer eligibility, the proposed position, RPTKA or an applicable exemption, and work-related immigration. |
| You own shares or serve as a director | Shareholding, corporate appointment, actual duties, relevant exemptions and immigration basis. |
| Your employer is outside Indonesia | Eligibility for a remote-worker route such as E33G and whether the proposed activities fit it. |
| A short professional visit | The actual task—meeting, training, installation or other work—and its appropriate category. |
RPTKA and DKPTKA, in plain language
The employer also needs to identify the applicable document, reporting and other manpower obligations. Perwira Visa can assist with the administrative coordination within the agreed scope; the employer's responsibilities remain part of the arrangement.
RPTKA: the employment plan
Rencana Penggunaan Tenaga Kerja Asing is part of the employer's foreign-worker process where approval is required. Check any exemption against the actual role and conditions.
DKPTKA: the compensation fund
This is a separate employer obligation where applicable. Its treatment should be checked independently from immigration and professional service fees.
Working remotely for a company overseas
Indonesia has a specific E33G pathway for eligible foreign nationals working for a company established outside Indonesia. The official category lists requirements including an overseas employment agreement and evidence of qualifying income.
This gives an eligible remote worker a concrete route to investigate. It should not be treated as unrestricted permission to take employment with an Indonesian company or perform unrelated business activities. Tax obligations need a separate assessment.
Changing role, employer or responsibilities
Before starting a new role, compare the existing documents with the proposed arrangement. Becoming a shareholder, changing position or working for another company can affect more than one part of the administration.
- Identify the current and proposed employer and position.
- Describe your actual daily duties, including operational work.
- Provide the current document categories and relevant dates.
- Agree the required transition steps before starting the new work.
A clear sequence for the employer and worker
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Assess the proposed role
Review the employer, position, duties and the worker's existing status.
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Identify the required approvals
Check manpower requirements and any applicable exemption, then align immigration.
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Prepare and maintain the arrangement
Coordinate the agreed applications and identify the recurring obligations and changes to monitor.
Questions & answers
Does any ITAS allow me to work?
No. An ITAS is granted for a particular purpose. Work activity must fit the immigration permission and any applicable foreign-worker requirements. Before starting, check the employer, role and actual duties together with the permit basis.
What is RPTKA, and who handles it?
RPTKA means Rencana Penggunaan Tenaga Kerja Asing, the plan for employing foreign workers. Approval forms part of the employer's obligations where required. The Indonesian employer handles its application, with administrative assistance if engaged; an individual worker does not obtain it independently of the employment arrangement. Some situations have exemptions that must be checked.
What is DKPTKA?
DKPTKA is the compensation fund associated with employing foreign workers where applicable. Whether it is due depends on the employer and the applicable rules. It is a separate question from visa fees, service fees and immigration permission.
Can a shareholder or director work in their own company?
Share ownership, a corporate position and actual work are separate questions. Review the shareholding, director or commissioner role, daily duties and immigration basis together. Certain exemptions may apply, but being an owner does not create unrestricted permission to perform every job.
What should I do before changing employer?
Review the existing employment and immigration documents before starting the new job. The new employer, position and timing may require new or updated approvals. Give both employers enough time to coordinate the transition and confirm the required sequence.
Can I work remotely from Indonesia for an overseas company?
A specific E33G remote-worker pathway is available for eligible applicants carrying out work for a company established outside Indonesia. It has documentary and income requirements, including an overseas employment agreement. It is not a general permission to take an Indonesian job or perform unrelated activities. Check the official category and assess tax questions separately.
Official E33G requirementsIs attending a business meeting the same as working?
Not necessarily. Meetings, technical tasks, training, installation and daily operational work can fall into different categories. Describe what you will physically do, for whom and for how long before choosing the visa or employment arrangement.
Official references
Source links checked 24 September 2026. Confirm the current requirements for an individual application or transaction.
General information, not a decision on individual eligibility or a substitute for appropriate professional advice.