medan visa for foreigners

Medan Visa Options: Choose the Right Type

  • InCorp Editorial Team
  • 7 July 2025
  • 3 minutes reading time

Situated on the island of Sumatra, Medan is Indonesia’s fourth-biggest city. It has been thriving with multibillion-dollar industries such as palm oil and tourism. Last year, the number of foreign tourist arrivals in Medan hit approximately 123,000 people (a 12.2% growth) in just the first quarter.

With Lake Toba being the top travel destination for foreign tourists in Medan in 2019, other parts of Medan have also seen travelers from all over the world. Most of the foreign tourists are from Malaysia, followed by Singapore and other ASEAN member countries.

The Indonesian government is also planning to accelerate the development of Lake Toba with an investment of IDR 1 trillion from both the state budget and private investors to propel Medan’s tourism and business opportunities to a new level. Tourism and foreign investments in Medan are expected to have a transformative impact on the city’s quality of life and economy.

Medan Visa Options

Foreigners who want to visit or invest in Medan need a specific type of visa. The rules and regulations for Medan visas have changed a lot over the years, and here is the latest list of Medan visa options we have put together.

Business Visa

This is the correct visa for you when you plan to come to Medan for business meetings, negotiations, conferences, training, and other business activities that don’t involve profit generation. There are two options for a business visa: a single-entry business visa and a multiple-entry business visa.

With a single-entry visa, you can enter Indonesia once and stay for 60 days; with a multiple-entry business visa, you can enter Indonesia several times a year, but the maximum duration of each stay is also 60 days.

Retirement Visa

A retirement visa, or retirement KITAS/ITAS, is applicable for foreigners who want to temporarily stay in Medan for retirement purposes.

Retirees who apply for this visa must provide proof that they have enough money to cover their living expenses while staying in Indonesia.

They are not permitted to work in any circumstances, and a local Indonesian sponsor is mandatory for the application.

InCorp offers retirement visa sponsorship for your convenience. Please talk to us for more information.

Spouse Visa

A spouse visa is only granted to you when you are the legal spouse of an Indonesian citizen.

This spouse-sponsored KITAS lasts only a year and can be changed into a KITAP once you have stayed in the country for two consecutive years.

Visit Visa

visit visa allows foreigners to visit family and friends and participate in educational, social, and cultural activities. The visa is valid for 60 days, and extensions are possible every month for up to 180 days.

Visa On Arrival

Not all countries are eligible for a visa on arrival. Foreigners from specific countries can obtain a visa on arrival for holidays, social visits, and non-profit business purposes, as long as they fulfill the set immigration criteria.

Consult with InCorp before Applying for Your Visa

When you need to get your Medan visa processed reliably and quickly, we are here to help.

For over a decade, InCorp Indonesia (an Ascentium Company) has been part of many investors’ and foreigners’ entrepreneurial and travel dreams.

Our personalised visa services make your entrepreneurial journey and travel experience hassle-free and straightforward. Our team of visa specialists will walk you through the visa application process in detail and help you from the ground up.

Contact us by filling out the form below.

Verified by

Daris Salam

COO Indonesia at InCorp Indonesia

With more than 10 years of expertise in accounting and finance, Daris Salam dedicates his knowledge to consistently improving the performance of InCorp Indonesia and maintaining clients and partnerships.

Frequently Asked Questions

    Yes. KITAS/ITAS is extendable for up to five years.

    The duration depends on the visa type.The duration depends on the visa type:

    • Work and stay permits take approximately two months. If the applicant is a company director, the visa is valid for one year.
    • For other positions, the visa is valid for six months.
    • Multiple-entry business visas take approximately one week and will be valid for one year.
    • Single-entry business and social-cultural visas take approximately one week. They will be valid for two months, with the possibility to extend the visa four times, each time for an additional 30 days.
    • A retirement visa takes approximately two months and will be valid for one year.

    No, a business visa can only be used for non-income-generating business purposes, such as attending business meetings, seminars, exhibitions, or training. To work in Indonesia, you must apply for a proper work permit and a limited (KITAS) or permanent (KITAP) stay permit.

    An Indonesian Family KITAS/ITAS is issued to family members. They can be a spouse and/or children under 18. It is illegal to work in Indonesia with a family KITAS/ITAS. To work legally, a Work ITAS is required.

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Disclaimer

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.