A spouse KITAS in Indonesia is a limited stay permit for a foreigner legally married to an Indonesian citizen, and your Indonesian husband or wife applies for it as your sponsor through the official e-visa system. You apply for the E31A family visa first. When you enter Indonesia on it, the stay permit (ITAS, the “KITAS” everyone talks about) is issued automatically.
Last checked: November 2026. Rules and fees change. Confirm with the relevant office or your embassy before you start.
This is practical information, not legal advice. Immigration rules change often, and individual offices sometimes ask for extra documents. Always check evisa.imigrasi.go.id and your local Kantor Imigrasi before you pay anything.
Quick answer
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| What’s it called officially? | E31A Visa Keluarga Suami/Istri WNI (family visa for the spouse of an Indonesian citizen), leading to an ITAS |
| Who is the sponsor? | Your Indonesian spouse |
| Where do you apply? | Online at evisa.imigrasi.go.id, from the sponsor’s account |
| How long can you stay? | You choose 1 year or 2 years, counted from arrival |
| Government fee | The official E31A page listed Rp6,000,000 (1 year) and Rp8,500,000 (2 years) when I checked. Confirm on the portal at payment |
| Processing time | The official page says five working days after payment |
| Use the visa within | 90 days of issue |
| Can you work? | Not on the visa as described. See the work section below |
| Path to permanent stay | KITAP after at least 2 years of marriage |
KITAS, ITAS, E31A: sorting out the names
People mix these up all the time, so here’s the short version:
- E31A is the visa index on the e-visa system. It’s the “family visa for the spouse of an Indonesian citizen”. There’s also E31B, which is for the spouse of a foreigner who already holds an ITAS or ITAP. Don’t pick the wrong one.
- ITAS (Izin Tinggal Terbatas) is the limited stay permit itself. Expats and agents still call it KITAS, from the old physical card.
- KITAP / ITAP (Izin Tinggal Tetap) is the permanent stay permit you can move to later.
Before you start: get the marriage registered
Immigration won’t move without proof your marriage exists in Indonesia’s system. Sort this out first:
- Married in Indonesia: you need the Buku Nikah (from the KUA, for Muslim marriages) or the Akta Perkawinan (from Dukcapil, the civil registry).
- Married abroad: the official E31A page asks for proof the marriage was registered with an Indonesian mission or the civil registry, plus the marriage certificate translated into Indonesian by a sworn translator unless it’s already in English. The Ngurah Rai immigration office in Bali also asks for proof of registration at Dukcapil and a legalised foreign certificate.
Your Indonesian spouse’s Kartu Keluarga (family card) should also be updated to show the marriage. If you haven’t done the wedding paperwork yet, browse our Living in Indonesia guides.
Documents checklist
These come from the official E31A page on imigrasi.go.id and the Ngurah Rai office’s spouse ITAS list. Uploads are electronic files (PDF or JPEG), and the Ngurah Rai office asks for colour scans of originals.
From the foreign spouse:
- ☐ Passport valid for at least 6 months
- ☐ Recent colour passport photo (taken within the last year)
- ☐ Curriculum vitae
- ☐ Travel itinerary
- ☐ Bank statements for the last 3 months, in your name or the sponsor’s, showing at least USD 2,000 or equivalent
From the Indonesian spouse (sponsor):
- ☐ Visa application letter from the sponsor
- ☐ Sponsor’s statement and guarantee letter (the Ngurah Rai office asks for it with a stamp duty seal, meterai)
- ☐ KTP (Indonesian ID card)
- ☐ Kartu Keluarga showing the marriage
Marriage proof:
- ☐ Buku Nikah or Akta Perkawinan if you married in Indonesia
- ☐ If married abroad: the foreign certificate, legalised or apostilled, with sworn translation (unless English), plus proof of registration in Indonesia
Sometimes asked:
- ☐ A domicile letter if the sponsor’s KTP address is outside that immigration office’s area (Ngurah Rai lists this)
Step by step
- Sponsor creates an account. Your Indonesian spouse registers a sponsor (penjamin) account on evisa.imigrasi.go.id. The application is submitted from their account, not yours.
- Choose the right visa. Select the family visa for the spouse of an Indonesian citizen (E31A) and pick 1 or 2 years.
- Upload documents. Scan everything clearly and check names match the passport exactly.
- Pay the fee. Payment happens online. Check the amount on the portal at the time you pay.
- Wait for the decision. The official page lists the stages: completeness check, payment verification, profile verification, approval, issuance. It says processing takes five working days after payment. If the status shows “Pending” or “Reject”, the reason is shown in the application.
- Enter Indonesia within 90 days. The visa must be used within 90 days of issue, or you’ll need a new one.
- Get your ITAS on arrival. Once the immigration officer admits you at the border, the electronic ITAS and a re-entry permit are issued automatically.
- Register locally. After you have your ITAS, report to Dukcapil for your SKTT (residence certificate) and make sure your local RT/RW knows you live there.
If you’re already in Indonesia on another visa, ask your local immigration office whether you can switch status onshore. That depends on your current visa and current policy, so don’t assume it.
Extending your spouse KITAS
Your ITAS can be extended while the marriage continues. The Ngurah Rai office describes the extension as the same online flow: sponsor logs in, applies, uploads, pays, then the office verifies and takes your photo. A 2-year extension adds a verification step at the Directorate General of Immigration.
Practical tips:
- Start well before expiry. Don’t leave it to the last week.
- Keep every old ITAS document. You’ll need the history later for KITAP.
- Keep your passport valid. Renew it early if it’s close to expiry.
Can you work on a spouse KITAS?
This is where most people get confused. The official E31A page describes the permitted activities as living in Indonesia, travel, tourism and visiting family. It also prohibits working in a way that doesn’t match your stay permit.
Indonesian immigration law does have a provision about spouses of Indonesian citizens working to support their family, and you’ll see forum threads arguing about it. In practice, taking a job or running a business still means dealing with the Ministry of Manpower and the right permits. Don’t start working until Imigrasi or a qualified adviser has confirmed your situation in writing.
From spouse KITAS to KITAP
After at least two years of marriage, you can apply to switch from ITAS to ITAP (permanent stay). The Ngurah Rai immigration office says:
- the marriage must have lasted at least 2 years
- you apply no later than 30 days before your ITAS expires
- you’ll need the sponsor’s letters and KTP, your passport, and the sequence of your previous KITAS documents
Ask your immigration office for the full KITAP list before your 2-year mark so you’re not scrambling.
Common mistakes and delays
- Marriage not registered in Indonesia. This is the big one for couples who married abroad. No proof of registration, no visa.
- Picking E31B instead of E31A. E31B is for joining a foreign spouse who holds an ITAS or ITAP, not an Indonesian spouse.
- Name mismatches between your passport, marriage certificate and Kartu Keluarga.
- Blurry scans or black-and-white copies. Offices ask for colour scans of originals.
- Applying at the wrong office. Your ITAS is handled by the office covering where you live. If your spouse’s KTP address is elsewhere, expect to show a domicile letter.
- Forgetting the 90-day window to use the visa after it’s issued.
- Letting the passport run low. Six months’ validity is required for the initial visa.
Plenty of couples use a document agency or lawyer to handle the uploads and follow-up, especially for the first application or the switch to KITAP. That’s your call. The process is designed so a sponsor can do it themselves.
For arrivals and short-stay visas before you make the move, browse our Entering Indonesia section. Thinking of settling outside the big cities? Our Garut travel guide is one place to start.
FAQ
Do I need to leave Indonesia to get a spouse KITAS?
The standard E31A route issues your ITAS when you’re admitted at the border, so many people apply from outside and then fly in. Whether you can switch onshore from another visa depends on your current permit and current policy. Ask your local Kantor Imigrasi.
How long is a spouse KITAS valid?
You choose 1 year or 2 years from your arrival date, according to the official E31A page. It can then be extended online.
Does my Indonesian spouse need to earn a minimum income?
The official page asks for bank statements from the last 3 months, in the foreigner’s or sponsor’s name, showing at least USD 2,000 or equivalent. I didn’t find a separate minimum salary rule for the sponsor on official pages.
What happens if we divorce?
The spouse ITAS is based on the marriage, so a divorce affects your right to stay on it. Speak to immigration quickly about your options. Don’t wait until your permit is close to expiring.
Can my spouse KITAS cover my children?
Children have their own visa categories (for example, for a child of an Indonesian citizen). Each family member needs their own application.
When can I get KITAP?
After at least 2 years of marriage. Apply no later than 30 days before your current ITAS expires.
