Job Discussion Forums

[d moon]

I apologise if this question has been asked before but I will be arriving in the Big Durian to take up a teaching assignment in January and would like to know if it's possible to arrive on a one-way ticket. From what I've read it isn't but as I'm receiving a KITAS (yes I have all the necessary requirements) and plan to stay for at least a year this seems a bit odd.

Having been through this process twice for China, where you receive a working visa from the embassy before departing (negating any need for proof of onward travel), I'm slightly confused.

Do all KITAS holders in the ESL industry enter the country on tourist visas?

[Tudor]

Unless you're visiting an Indonesian embassy outside of Indonesia (e.g. in London or Singapore) prior to arriving in Jakarta to get the work visa put into your passport, then you'll have to enter on a VOA (visa on arrival) which is to all intents and purposes a tourist visa. Once your work visa is ready, your employer will fly you out of the country (usually to Singapore) where you'll meet an agent who will do all the embassy business for you. You then fly back that evening and no you don't need to show proof of onward travel. (This isn't the end of the procedure btw, your passport then has to go to immigration and you'll eventually have to go to one of their offices and have photos taken and sign things).

However, for the initial entrance which presumably is on a VOA, then a condition of entry is that you have proof of onward travel within the next 30 days. This doesn't have to be a return ticket, but any flight that shows you will be leaving Indonesia. Some people may pooh-pooh this requirement as they've never been asked, but I've been required to show proof most times I've entered the country and they (immigration) can be quite unpleasant if you don't have it and / or they may try to extort you - not your ideal introduction to the country. I usually just get the cheapest one-way ticket I can find; the cheapest flights are often Medan - Penang with Air Asia but they and Lion Air also often have cheap flights to Singapore or KL for under $20. Yes, it's a waste of money, but it gives you peace of mind.

Incidentally, I'm happy to offer help, but shouldn't you be asking your future employer about this?

[mr fred]

I've never been asked for proof of travel but I must agree with the above post.
Immigration is far less corrupt than before but it is possible you could get into trouble if you don't have a ticket.

[d moon]

[Tudor]

You're welcome. It sounds like you'll be getting either a business visa or a social/cultural visa. As far as I'm aware, there is no need to show proof of onward travel; I've certainly never been asked when entering on a business visa. These can also be extended, and it's fairly standard practice (if technically illegal) to begin work on these visas whilst your KITAS is being processed as this can take sometimes take months.

I imagine you'll still need to go to Singapore at some point as I don't believe any of these visas can be converted in-country, (or if they can, immigration make such a song and dance about it that it's easier to send you to Singapore) but that's a simple process and your school should cover all your expenses.

Good luck with it all.