Would you like to make Indonesia your home away from home? Soon, you will be able to thanks to a new visa that would mostly cater to foreign retirees.
Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly, who oversees matters related to immigration in the country, said this week that the government is launching a Second Home Visa — a product of the 2021 Job Creation Law designed to attract investment to Indonesia.
“The Second Home Visa gives an opportunity for foreigners, including the elderly, to stay in Indonesia,” Yasonna said in a press release issued yesterday.
The visa would also be granted to foreigners who would otherwise be ineligible for other types of long stay permits, such as the Temporary Stay Permit (KITAS) and the Permanent Stay Permit (KITAP).
“The idea is that they can play their role to boost national economic growth,” Yasonna added.
Specific details about the visa, such as price, length of stay, tax requirements and official launch date have yet to be published. The minister also announced plans for a new visa that would ease the application process for former Indonesian nationals’ to return to the country and make contributions to the economy.
Currently, Indonesia offers a retirement visa for foreign tourists aged 55 and above, which is valid for one year. It remains to be seen if the Second Home Visa would expand on the rights afforded by the retirement visa or replace it completely.
Concurrently, the government says it’s also fast-tracking a “workcation” visa, designed to attract digital nomads to long-term stays at holiday destinations like Bali as the country’s tourism industry picks itself up from the devastation brought about by the pandemic.
