About Us

The Bali Gay & Lesbian Business Association (BGLBA) provides a positive and dynamic environment in which to expand social and business interactions among its members.

The BGLBA provides a forum in which to promote business, attend social activities and raise funds for community sponsored events.

The role of the association is to provide a tangible, cohesive framework in which to work together as a conscious and like minded group of individuals. It’s main vehicle of communication with be a dedicated website for members and gay & lesbian visitors.

The BGLBA website will include details of all members and their businesses, as well as General information for visitors to Bali who have an interest to support the local gay & lesbian community.

Gay Business people want to do business with Gay and Gay friendly businesses. By listing your business with the BGLBA you are opening your business up to a strong and secure market of new clients both local and international. The BGLBA website is not only a business directory but an information hub about Bali its News, History, Culture, Religions, and what to do here.

Sponsorship and advertising of Gay and Gay Friendly businesses will help to attract visitors to the site and in turn increase the exposure of members to new potential customers.

About Business in Bali

APPLYING FOR KITAS

If you are a foreigner, you need some documents before you do business in Bali.

If you have never applied for your Kitas the process can seem a little daunting. All to often I hear so many stories about this and that on how to apply for a Kitas so I decided to put together a brief overview on the process for those of you who don't yet have one. And hopefully dispel some myths.

The employment of expatriates in Indonesia is regulated by the Department of Manpower. Visas for expats are issued by the Directorate General of Immigration, under the Department of Justice. There are various documents that are required and need to be processed by these two government entities in order for a foreigner to work and live in Indonesia.

It is advised that you use a Visa agency who specializes in this, as you will find that if you process this yourself you will go around in circles. Be prepared with the following documents for when you have your meeting to save time:

1. Record of valid passport for at least 18 months in full page (whole book)
2. Record of education certificate (most recent qualification is enough to suffice)
3. Record of job references (work experience)
4. The current Curriculum vitae signed by yourself (original)
5. Photos : 4 x 6 cm = 16 color photos; 3 x 4 cm = 4 color photos; 2 x 3 cm = 5 color photos (All photos must be with a red background).
   

Firstly an application UU No.7/1981 (Compulsory Company Manpower Report from the regional Dept of Manpower is applied for. Then applied for is the KITAS (Stay Permit) and IKTA (expatriate work Permit). This can only be applied for by a PT company or PMA company. The company applying for you will submit a RPTKA (plan of your Employment). The Department of manpower will issue a RPTKA approval to the PT/ PMA company and send copies to the Minister of Manpower.

After the RPTKA has been approved the company is then required to apply for a limited stay Visa (Visa Tinggal Terbatas or VISTAS) to the Department of Manpower they in turn will then issue a letter of recommendation to the director General of immigration.
The Director General will then send a Telex to an Indonesian Embassy that you nominate overseas to issue a Limited Stay Visa (VITAS).

Now you have a limited stay Visa ready you will need to travel to nominated country and have this visa Stamped in your passport. This is a quick process and depending on what country you chose it can happen in the same day or overnight. Upon re-entering Indonesia you will need to go through the Locals counter and not the Visa on Arrival section.

You must now report to your regional immigration office within 7 days with your Passport and embarkation card. If your paperwork is processed by an agent then you should drop your passport first thing to them and let them continue the process to get your KITAS and IKTA. They will finger print you now so you can receive your (KITAS) Limited Stay Permit Card and also your POA (alien Registration Blue Book). You are now allowed to stay in Indonesia for 1 year from the date of admission to Indonesia. You will be able to extend this every year for 4 years until KITAS No 5 before having to leave the country again.

Now you must have your IKAT (expatriate work permit) issued by the Minister of Manpower. A training fee of USD $1200 per year must be paid into a BNI bank on behalf of Manpower. Once this fee has been paid you are now officially able to work in Indonesia.

You will be Issued with your KITAS and (POA) Blue book approx 7 days later. Keep these in a safe place and always make multiple photo copies. You are required by law to always carry your KITAS ID card on you at all times. However if you loose your wallet or handbag you loose the original Carry a double sided photo copy of this on you as a precaution and place the original in a safe place.

Hopefully I have answered some questions for you if you have not applied for a KITAS before. Its always get the view of a few different agents and shop around costs vary between Rp 5,500,000 to Rp 6,500,000. Make sure you explain clearly what your position in your place of employment is as this is crucial to what you can and can’t do on a day to day operational basis within the company you work for.


Written and Sourced by Andrew De Jong

Note: Thank you to Julie Edmond from Kantor Kita for verifying all our sources were correct and accurate at time of issuing this article.