Indonesia is a Southeast Asian country that boasts of colorful culture. It’s also an excellent destination for higher education, given its low tuition fees and high-quality universities.

Once you get accepted to an Indonesian institution, you will need to secure a permit before getting a student visa for Indonesia. Here’s everything you need to do to apply for the following.

What documents do you need to apply for a student visa in Indonesia?

The first step is to apply for a student permit, which the Indonesian Ministry of National Education will issue. The requirements include:

Acceptance letter

If this has not been given/mailed to you, make sure to ask for a copy from your university.

Recommendation letter

Your university will also give you a recommendation letter. This should be addressed to the Directorate of Higher Education, Ministry of National Education.

Completed visa application form

Forms vary according to university, so make sure to ask from your institution.

Letter of recommendation from the Indonesian consulate or embassy

This should be obtained from any of the offices mentioned above in your home country.

Passport bio-page copies

Make sure to include three copies of the passport bio-page in your application packet.

Academic transcripts and records

You may provide copies of these instead of the original ones.

Passport photos

The Indonesian government requires the two visa photos to measure 4 by 6 cm. Additionally, it should be set against a RED background.

Letter of financial guarantee or sponsorship certificate

If you or your parents are going to finance your studies, you need to show proof that you can handle such costs to get a student visa in Indonesia.

As for scholars, certification of this endowment may be submitted instead of a financial guarantee letter.

Health certificate

A legally practicing medical doctor should issue this. It should indicate that the student is physically and mentally healthy to pursue studies in Indonesia.

Once the permit has been issued, you may apply for a student visa. The requirements for this are as follows:

  • Study Permit from the Ministry of National Education
  • Copy of recommendation letter from the university
  • Copy of acceptance letter
  • Copy of accomplished application form
  • Letter of recommendation from the Indonesian embassy/consulate in the country where you live
  • Copy of academic records/transcripts
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Letter of financial guarantee/scholarship certificate
  • Health certificate
  • One copy of passport bio-page

How much money do you need for an Indonesian Student Visa?

The visa fee is dependent on the length of stay. A six-month visa only costs $50, while a one-year visa costs $90.

On the other hand, some universities that offer full-service applications may charge applicants as much as $150.

Check Also: Available Programs for International Students

Steps on Applying for a Student Visa in Indonesia

Here’s a step-by-step procedure for getting an Indonesian student visa.

1. Complete the student permit requirements.

Once you have completed the requirements listed above, you may submit them to your university. They will facilitate the permit application process, which could take about a month.

2. Wait for the approval letter.

Once your permit has been granted, the embassy in your country of residence will send you an approval letter.

3. Collect all your visa requirements.

The next step is to complete all the requirements for a student visa application (see above.)

4. Start your online application.

You may apply for a visa online through this website.

You will need to create an account and indicate the visa you wish to secure (a student visa, in this case.) In this portion, you will also need to indicate the location of your embassy.

After doing so, you may start filling up the data for the following:

  • Personal information
  • Travel document information
  • Address in Indonesia
  • Additional information

You will also need to encode the data of your guarantor or financier.

5. Upload the supporting documents.

After filing up the needed application details for a student visa in Indonesia, you may proceed with uploading the required documents. This includes a guarantee letter or a copy of your saving accounts, among others.

If a scholarship will cover your tuition, you must upload a certificate or letter indicating so.

6. Pay the visa fee.

Depending on the embassy, you may pay the fee through cash payment or bank transfer.

7. Submit the visa application documents.

You may submit the requirements online through the portal above.

Another option is to do so in person or through mail. In case there is no embassy/consulate in your home country, you may have to send your documents to the nearest mission office.

8. Wait for the approval.

It will take the Office of Immigration about two weeks to process your Indonesia student visa application.

It will take another week for the office to forward your passport and visa to the embassy/consulate in your home country.

9. Fly to Jakarta and register at the Immigration Office.

Within seven days of your arrival, you need to register yourself with the Immigration Office. Here, you can apply for a KITAS or Limited Stay Permit.

The requirements for this document are as follows:

  • Admission letter from the university
  • Letter of recommendation for KITAS processing (from the institution)
  • Letter of recognition addressed to the Immigration Office (from the institution’s international student office)
  • Copy of visa
  • Copy of student permit
  • Passport
  • Departure card
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Photos measuring 3 by 4 cm and 4 by 6 cm, respectively – in red background

Make sure to renew your KITAS at least two months before it expires.

10. Apply for a police registration card.

After securing your KITAS, you can apply for a police registration card (SKLD). This should be done within 30 days of your arrival.

Here are the requirements for SKLD application:

  • Letter of request addressed to SKLD (from the institution)
  • Letter of recommendation for SKLD processing (from the institution)
  • Copy of passport
  • Copy of KITAS
  • 3 pcs. Photos measuring 4 by 6 cm (with red background)
  • 2 pcs. Photos measuring 3 by 4 cm (with red background)

 

We hope that this article on student visa in Indonesia was helpful! If you’re interested in studying abroad, make sure to check out the Available Programs for International Students!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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