Converting a Visa to a KITAS: Changing Status Inside Indonesia
Conversion means moving from a visit visa (eVOA, C1, C2, D1/D2, D12) to a KITAS residence status without flying out. The rule is simple: you can change “upwards” to residency, but not one visit visa into another. The gap between statuses is covered by the Bridging Visa — 60 days of legal waiting with no fines.
Updated: 25 August 2026 · Verified by the Malina Visa team
What converts — and what does not
- ✓Visit visa → KITAS — the working scenario: from an eVOA, C1, C2, D1/D2 or D12 to an investor, family, work or remote-worker status
- ✓D12 → Investor KITAS — the classic: research the market, set up a PT PMA, move to a 2-year KITAS
- ✓E33G re-issued without flying out — since 2026 the remote-worker KITAS renewal is processed in-country
- ✓Visit → visit: not possible — a C1 does not turn into a C2, nor an eVOA into a C1; a different visit visa requires leaving
Eligibility depends on the pair “current status → target status” and your circumstances: borderline cases are best verified before filing, not after a refusal. Choosing the target status — in the visa selection guide.
How conversion works: four steps
- ✓Pick the target KITAS and assemble its document set — the contents depend on the status and the sponsor
- ✓File before your current visa ends — a 60-day Bridging Visa is issued alongside the application
- ✓Complete biometrics — an in-person visit to the immigration office has been mandatory for everyone since June 2025
- ✓Receive the electronic KITAS — and live in the new status; no exits during the process, the Bridging Visa is onshore-only
Three mistakes that break a conversion
First — waiting until the last day: with no buffer for paperwork you risk sliding into an overstay at IDR 1,000,000 a day. Second — flying out “for a couple of days” mid-process: exiting cancels the Bridging Visa and can terminate the application. Third — starting without a sponsor and a clear target status: immigration checks both, and a refusal means the clock runs on your old visa. How every status extends while you decide — in the extension guide.
FAQ
Can I change a C1 into a C2 without leaving?
No — a visit visa cannot be swapped for another visit visa in-country. Conversion only works “upwards”: from a visit visa to a KITAS residence status.
My status ends before the KITAS is ready. What do I do?
File for conversion before your current status expires and receive a Bridging Visa — 60 days of legal waiting with no overstay fine.
Can I go straight from an eVOA to a KITAS?
Often yes — via an onshore application with a Bridging Visa. Eligibility depends on the target status and your situation; we verify before filing.
Will I have to fly to a consulate for the new visa?
In most scenarios no: the conversion and the electronic KITAS are processed in-country. Flying out remains the fallback for rare cases.
Official sources: the Directorate General of Immigration of Indonesia and the application portal evisa.imigrasi.go.id.
We’ll verify your conversion route before filing
Tell us your current status and the goal — we’ll confirm whether an onshore switch is possible and map the timeline with the Bridging Visa in mind.
KITAS & KITAP guide