The Government has recently issued Government Regulation No 38 Year 2005 to amend Article 48 and 49 of Government Regulation No 32 Year 1994 on visa and immigration rules. It is amended to keep up with globalization development and to increase cooperation in the field of education, technology transfer, foreign investment and increase international trust to the Indonesia social, politic and economy.

Article 48 refers to the conversion of a tourist visa into a temporary stay permit (KITAS). This conversion is effected by the request of a foreign citizen who currently lives in Indonesia and has a letter of sponsorship. Article 49 states that a holder of a KITAS may convert his permit into a permanent stay permit (KITAP) after a period of 2 consecutive years or residency in Indonesia. This certainly will be of particular interest to foreign residents of Indonesia who may have been resident for between 1 and 5 years.

However, it must be expressly stated that these conversions from tourist visa to KITAS and KITAS to KITAP are premised on the foreign applicant satisfying either the national development or humanitarian aspects of the requirement to grant a KITAS or KITAP.

This regulation has been in force since 12 October 2005. (YKD)