Company Registration in Indonesia for Foreigners

How to Register a Company in Jakarta and Other Cities Indonesia

  • InCorp Editorial Team
  • 23 June 2025
  • 5 minutes reading time

Indonesia is a member of the G20, representing the world’s major economies. With a population of nearly 250 million people, Indonesia has the 4th largest population in the world. These favorable conditions make Indonesia a desirable market for investment worldwide.

With Jakarta as its center, government regulations in Indonesia could classify it as a very bureaucratic country. Foreign investment is regulated and monitored by a government institution called the BKPM (Badan Koordinasi Penanaman Modal or Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board.

All legal arrangements, including company registration, business licenses, and other licenses, are issued through the BKPM.

Foreigners intending to establish a business in Indonesia should be aware of a few points:

  1. What type of legal entity do you need: A foreign direct investment company or a representative office?
  2. What line of business will your legal entity will be engaged in? Is it open to foreign investment? If yes, what percentage of ownership is open to foreign participation?
  3. What are the requirements for a regulatory framework, minimum capital, organizational structure, tax regulations, Indonesian staff, activity reports, etc.?

Registering Foreign Direct Investment Company (PT. PMA) in Indonesia

Foreign investors are only allowed to undertake a process of company registration in Jakarta or Indonesia as a Limited Liability Company – Foreign Direct Investment, which is called PT. PMA (Perseroan Terbatas – Penanaman Modal Asing).

First, verifying the business field on the Positive Investment List issued by the BKPM is vital to confirm that the sector is open to foreign investment, closed to foreign investment, or available with restrictions. 

The laws governing PT. PMA establishment is UU No. 25 / 2007 of Capital Investment and UU No. 40 / 2007 of Limited Liability Company. The characteristics of PT. PMA is as follows:

  • Foreign ownership up to 100% (according to the business field)
  • Minimum of two shareholders
  • Minimum one director and one commissioner
  • The minimum investment plan is US$1.2 million, with paid-up capital of 100%
  • Requires a business license and other licenses according to specific business activities

The process of PT. PMA registration in Jakarta and Indonesia takes around 1.5 months. However, a PT. PMA enables the company to perform business activities in Indonesia.

PT PMA Registration in 2022

Since 2020, the process of registering a company in Jakarta and Indonesia has been quicker. It takes as fast as four weeks to get your PT PMA up and ready to run. The following table elaborates on the timeline of PT PMA registration in Indonesia:

No. Procedure Duration(working days)
1 Approval of company name at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights 1
2 Preparation of Article of Association by Notary 3
3 Approval of Deed of Establishment at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights 3
4 Obtaining Taxpayer Registration Number 2
5 Obtaining a Certificate of Domicile from the local district office (except for Jakarta) 10
6 Approval of Business Registration Number (NIB), Business Permit, Commercial/Operational Permit, Location Permit, Environmental Permit, and BPJS through the Indonesian Online Single Submission (OSS) System 2

Company Setup in Indonesia with Representative Office

For foreign investors interested in exploring business opportunities in the Indonesian market, a representative office might be an efficient way to begin.

To open a representative office in Jakarta or other cities, an existing parent company should be overseas to manage the representative office in Indonesia. Most representative offices focus on conducting market research activities, marketing, and promotion through selling or buying agents.

Some foreign investors prefer to set up a representative office first in Jakarta or other cities to grow the market in Indonesia before establishing a PT. PMA.

Advantages of a representative office:

  • Can be owned 100% by foreign investors
  • No minimum capital requirement
  • No shareholder, director, or commissioner requirement
  • Set up process is relatively easy and quick, requiring about 1.5 months

Disadvantages of a representative office:

  • Limited role as supervisor, coordinator, and representative of the parent company in Indonesia
  • Not allowed to conduct direct sales and generate revenue in Indonesia. Thus all financial transactions shall be accomplished through the parent company overseas.

How to establish a business in Indonesia?

Setting up a business in Jakarta and other cities in Indonesia must be done correctly and carefully. Considering the changing regulations and heavy bureaucracy in Indonesia, it is crucial to engage a professional partner who understands local laws and the culture of Indonesia.

InCorp Indonesia (an Ascentium Company) provides one-stop services for foreign companies and entrepreneurs from various industries to enter the Indonesian market.

We will assist you in setting up your business in Indonesia, supporting your daily operations and administration, and representing your company in Indonesia.

Contact Us

Please send your question related to company registration in Jakarta or other cities in Indonesia by filling in the form below. Our consulting team will quickly answer you via E-mail. In addition, you can visit our office to know more details about our services.

Verified by

Ales Cina

Consulting Manager at InCorp Indonesia

Aleš manages solution delivery at InCorp Indonesia, optimizing incorporation processes and client relationships. His experience in internal auditing, retail, and sales offers valuable global insights. Aleš, with a degree in Economics and Finance from the Czech Republic, helps clients navigate cross-border business challenges, focusing on cultural and legal insights.

Frequently Asked Questions

    The investment requirement for PMA companies in Indonesia varies based on their classification under the Indonesia Industrial Standard Classification (KBLI). Generally, a minimum investment of IDR 10,000,000,000 (ten billion Indonesian Rupiah), excluding investment in land and buildings, is needed to conduct one business activity in one location.

    In a PMA Company in Indonesia, shareholders typically have limited liability, meaning they’re not personally liable for agreements or losses beyond their shareholding, except in certain circumstances. Liability may extend if the company isn’t properly established or if shareholders exploit the company in bad faith, engage in unlawful acts, or deplete company assets to the detriment of creditors.

    Under Indonesian Company Law, shareholders can hold shares with various preferential rights, such as voting rights, nomination rights for board members, priority dividend or liquidation proceeds, and options for conversion or withdrawal after a set period.

    CV (Commanditaire Vennootschap) is a proprietary business entity that houses several individuals to run a business.

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The information is provided by PT. Cekindo Business International (“InCorp Indonesia/ we”) for general purpose only and we make no representations or warranties of any kind. We do not act as an authorized government or non-government provider for official documents and services, which is issued by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia or its appointed officials. We do not promote any official government document or services of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, including but not limited to, business identifiers, health and welfare assistance programs and benefits, unclaimed tax rebate, electronic travel visa and authorization, passports in this website.