When your marriage has lasted for 10 years, it will no longer influence your ability to stay in the country with your KITAP. Meaning that if you get divorced after a decade of marriage – we do not think that is the magic number when you get tired of your spouse – but according to the law, you can stay in Indonesia regardless of your marital status.
False and outdated information
In order to provide you with the best and most up-to-date information on these visas, we have checked all the recent changes in legislation for this article. Even though immigration officers have a tendency to lag behind everyone else when it comes to being aware of these laws, they have to follow them once demonstrated on paper.
Also, information that was at some point extremely useful on forum sites becomes outdated and therefore misleading.
Myth #1: You do not need to have a KITAS for a certain time before you can apply for a KITAP
This is the first misconception regarding the spouse sponsored KITAP. If the sponsor is your spouse, your marriage has to be valid for at least two years before you can apply for a KITAP.
Myth #2: You have to be at least 55 years old
The second misconception is that only people at the age of 55 and older are applicable for this visa. You have to be 55 to apply for the retirement visa, not for a marriage KITAS.
Myth #3: You have to wait 4 months to convert Social Visa into a KITAS
Probably the most persistent mistake made by immigration offices all over Indonesia regarding KITAS is thinking that you have to wait four months before converting the social visit visa to a KITAS. They simply don’t seem to know about the 2005 amendment to the law and are going by a law from 1994.
Officers constantly overlook amendments and when this happens, you just have to nudge them along by showing them the relevant law. Things always move more smoothly when you use patience and respect when dealing with immigration authorities. Unfortunately, they can require a lot of this valuable resource.
Closing thoughts
Obtaining a marriage KITAS can be a stressful and time-consuming process. Especially when regulations in Indonesia have a tendency to change quite often.