SKTT and STM: registering as a foreigner

Once your KITAS is issued you have 14 days to register your address. First the STM, the police notification, then the SKTT from the civil registry, which comes with an Indonesian NIK number. Without that pair you hit walls at extension, at the bank and at the licensing office.

Updated: 27 August 2026 · Verified by the Malina Visa team

The short answer

Getting a KITAS is not the finish line. After it you are required to register your address, and you have 14 days to do it.

✓STM — police registration. The first step; without it there is no second
✓SKTT — a certificate of residence from Dukcapil, the civil registry
✓NIK — the Indonesian personal number issued together with the SKTT
✓KTP-OA — the foreigner resident card, but that comes only after moving to a KITAP

The clock starts from the date your KITAS is issued, or from your entry date if the status was arranged abroad. Two weeks pass faster than you think, especially while you are still looking for a place to live.

Why it matters in practice

Formally it is an obligation. Practically, without an SKTT and a NIK you hit walls where you least expect them.

✓Extending your KITAS — registration documents are part of the file
✓A bank account — some banks ask for the SKTT on top of the KITAS
✓A driving licence — an Indonesian licence cannot be issued without registration
✓Buying and registering a vehicle — a NIK is required
✓Moving to a KITAP — unbroken registration forms part of your residence history

STM: registering with the police

Surat Tanda Melapor certifies that a foreigner has notified the police of their address. It is issued by the local station covering where you actually live.

✓Filed first: an SKTT will not be issued without it
✓You need a passport copy, a KITAS copy and proof of address
✓Your sponsor is usually involved — the same guarantor as on the KITAS

An STM is tied to a specific address. Move to another area and the registration must be redone, not left in place «until the next extension».

SKTT: the Dukcapil certificate and your NIK

Surat Keterangan Tempat Tinggal is issued by Dinas Kependudukan dan Pencatatan Sipil, the civil registry office. This is where your NIK, the Indonesian identifier, comes from.

Filing

You apply at the Dukcapil office covering your address, already holding the STM and the KITAS.

Documents

Passport copy, KITAS copy, a guarantee letter from your sponsor with a copy of their KTP, and two colour photos 3×4 cm.

Processing

Between 3 and 10 working days depending on the office's workload.

Issue

You receive the SKTT with a NIK assigned. That number stays with you and is used from then on.

What happens if you skip it

There is rarely a fixed on-the-spot fine for having no SKTT, but the trouble arrives from another direction.

!At KITAS extension the missing registration surfaces and stalls the filing
!A bank may decline an account, and a dealership may refuse to register a vehicle to you
!Moving to a KITAP means explaining any gaps in your registration history
!In a dispute over a rental or with the police, an unregistered address works against you

How not to lose the two weeks

Practical advice: handle registration while you are house-hunting, not after.

✓Prepare the rental agreement or proof of address early — neither STM nor SKTT works without it
✓Your sponsor is needed at both steps: stay in touch rather than calling on the last day
✓If the KITAS was issued abroad the clock runs from entry — plan your first week on the island around that

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to register?

Fourteen days. The count starts from the date the KITAS is issued, or from your date of entry if the status was arranged outside Indonesia.

What is the difference between STM and SKTT?

The STM is the police notification of your address and comes first. The SKTT is the certificate from the Dukcapil civil registry, issued on the basis of the STM and the KITAS, and it carries your NIK personal number.

What does the NIK give me?

It is the Indonesian resident identifier. It is used for banking, vehicle registration and driving licences, and it forms part of your residence history when moving to a KITAP.

How long does an SKTT take?

Between 3 and 10 working days after filing, depending on the workload of the particular Dukcapil office.

Do I need to re-register when I move?

Yes. Registration is tied to the address: moving to another area means filing again rather than carrying the old registration through to the next KITAS extension.

We will handle the STM and SKTT while you settle in

Give us your address and the date your KITAS was issued — we will time it and gather the documents.

About KITAS and KITAP