Your Indonesian company, set up right the first time.
Setting up a PT PMA is straightforward when it is done in the right order. We handle the KBLI strategy, notarial deed, tax registration, NIB, and first investment report, from Bali, for founders based anywhere.
Founders who want it done properly, from the first decision to the last filing.
Most of our clients are individuals or small teams with the intent to actually operate in Indonesia, and the need for a partner who knows the process in detail. They usually come to us at one of three moments.
First-time founders
Opening their first international entity, and want the structure right before momentum builds.
Relocating operators
Moving themselves or a team to Indonesia, and need the company and the visas to line up.
Expanding businesses
Adding an Indonesian arm to an existing operation, and expect the rigor they already work with.
Five decisions that shape everything after.
The choices made before the first document is signed determine how smoothly the rest goes. We work through them with you before we file, so they are deliberate.
01 Which entity fits
The default for foreign investors is a PT PMA, a limited liability company that can be 1 to 100 percent foreign-owned depending on the activity. A representative office suits market research and liaison only, since it cannot earn revenue in Indonesia. The right choice depends on whether you plan to invoice from Indonesia.
02 Your KBLI codes
Every activity you plan to carry out needs a five-digit KBLI code. Each code sets four things: the foreign ownership cap, the risk level and licensing path, the investment commitment, and what the company can legally sell. This is the choice with the most downstream consequences, and the one most often revisited later at a cost.
03 Capital and shareholding
A PT PMA requires at least two shareholders. Paid-up capital sits at IDR 2.5 billion under BKPM Regulation 5/2025, roughly USD 150,000, deposited into the company own bank account after incorporation and usable for business operations from day one. The total investment plan must exceed IDR 10 billion per KBLI code per project location, and this figure carries the compliance weight, not the paid-up.
04 Location and registered address
The registered address decides the tax office, sets which local rules apply, and interacts with KBLI compliance. A compliant virtual office covers most activities; some KBLI codes require a physical premise. In Bali there are also specific KBLI restrictions to plan around, we cover those below.
05 Sequencing
Name reservation, then deed, then NPWP, then NIB. The order matters because filing out of sequence forces rework at the notary, which costs weeks. We plan the sequence around the launch date you are aiming for.
Six things that must be true before a PT PMA can operate.
These are the fixed points. Once these are in place, the company is legally incorporated. Some carry small nuances that matter in practice, so we walk through them here.
At least two shareholders
Individuals or corporate entities, any nationality. Any level of foreign ownership from 1 to 100 percent is allowed depending on the KBLI code. A single-shareholder PT PMA is not permitted; corporate shareholders count as one.
At least one resident director
The director must hold a valid Indonesian tax number and be resident in Indonesia. This can be an Indonesian national, or a foreigner with a working KITAS. If no shareholder is relocating with a working KITAS, we assist in recruiting a qualified resident director for the role.
At least one commissioner
The commissioner supervises the board on behalf of the shareholders. Can be a foreign national residing abroad, no residency requirement.
Paid-up capital of IDR 2.5 billion
Around USD 150,000. Committed at incorporation through a capital statement letter, deposited after the corporate bank account is opened, and stays usable inside the business. The IDR 10 billion investment plan per KBLI code per location is a separate commitment realised over time through LKPM reporting.
A registered address in Indonesia
Commercial address in a zone that permits your KBLI activity. Virtual offices work for many codes; some require a physical premise.
A KBLI code open to foreign ownership
Most sectors allow 100 percent foreign ownership, but the ceiling is set per KBLI under the positive investment list. Under PP 28/2025, medium-risk activities need a Sertifikat Standar, which requires agency verification (not automatic) and typically takes 6 to 8 weeks. High-risk codes need a full licence. We check the exact code, not the general industry.
The Governor of Bali issued a directive in January 2026 (Surat Gubernur Bali No. B.27.000/642/PM/DPMPTSP) blocking PMA entities from activating three KBLI codes in Bali Province: 68111 (real estate), 70209 (management consultancy), and 79121 (tour operators). The same letter restricts virtual office addresses for PMA incorporations in Bali. Founders planning to operate in Bali under these activities need to structure differently, and we handle this at the KBLI mapping stage before any documents are drafted.
Two lists that keep the process on track.
What you provide
Passport copies for each foreign shareholder, director, and commissioner
KTP and NPWP for any Indonesian party
Three preferred company names (three words each, three characters minimum per word, Latin script)
A description of the planned activity, so we can map it to the right KBLI codes
Corporate shareholder documents where applicable, deed of incorporation and registration extract, legalised, with English or Indonesian translation
Signed capital statement letter (we prepare it, you sign)
Signed power of attorney for shareholders signing remotely (we prepare it)
Registered address evidence, lease or virtual office agreement, we provide one if you do not have one
What you receive
Name reservation approval (Ministry of Law)
Deed of Establishment (Akta Pendirian), signed before an Indonesian notary
Ministry of Law decree (SK Kemenkumham), the moment the company legally exists
Tax registration number (NPWP), issued via Coretax
NIB (Nomor Induk Berusaha) through OSS, which serves as the company’s business licence for low-risk activities and import identifier
Standard Certificate (Sertifikat Standar) where required by risk level
BPJS enrolment for social security once you begin hiring
Compliance calendar for your first year, with the LKPM, tax filing, and licence dates already mapped
Typical delivery is 5 to 7 working days for the core incorporation package (name to NPWP to NIB) once documents are complete. Bank account opening runs in parallel and takes 2 to 6 weeks depending on the bank.
Seven steps, in the order that keeps you moving.
Below is the sequence we run for every PT PMA, with what happens at each step, what it takes, and where things typically go wrong when it is not done in this order.
01 KBLI mapping and structure
We map your planned activities to the right KBLI codes, check the ownership caps and risk levels for each, and confirm the paid-up capital and investment plan work for the structure. In parallel, we design the shareholding: who holds what, who acts as director, who acts as commissioner. This is where the whole project is set up to go right or wrong.
02 Name reservation
Company names must contain at least three words of at least three characters each, in Latin script, and unlike local companies they can be in English. We check availability at the Ministry of Law and reserve your preferred name from three options.
03 Deed of Establishment (Akta Pendirian)
The Deed of Establishment is the founding document. It holds the Articles of Association, the KBLI activities, the capital structure, and the shareholder details. It is drafted in Indonesian and signed before an Indonesian notary. Shareholders abroad sign through a power of attorney we prepare in advance, which is how most of our clients incorporate without flying in.
04 Ministry of Law decree (SK Kemenkumham)
The Ministry issues the decree that ratifies the company as a legal entity. This is the moment your PT PMA legally exists.
05 Tax registration (NPWP) via Coretax
Once the decree is issued, the company registers with the Directorate General of Taxes for its NPWP. Registration ties to the registered address, which is why the address decision earlier matters here. We also set up your Coretax credentials for the monthly filings that follow.
06 NIB and licensing through OSS
The Business Identification Number is issued via the OSS system, which runs on the risk-based model formalised in GR 28/2025. The NIB itself is your import identifier and enrols the company in BPJS social security. For low-risk activities the NIB is the business licence itself; for medium-risk it triggers the Sertifikat Standar path, and for high-risk it triggers the full licence flow. Location suitability (KKPR) and any environmental approvals run electronically through the same system.
07 Bank account, capital deposit, and compliance activation
With the documents in hand, we open the corporate bank account, guide the capital deposit into the company’s own account, and activate the recurring compliance: monthly tax filings, quarterly LKPM to BKPM, BPJS registration for staff once you hire, and the annual return. The company is ready to invoice, hire, and start realising its investment plan through LKPM.
From first document to operational company.
A low-risk PT PMA is typically operational in 4 weeks. Medium-risk activities extend to 8 weeks depending on the Sertifikat Standar. Milestones are marked in gold.
The obligations that start the day the company exists.
LKPM
Quarterly investment reporting to BKPM
Monthly tax
Withholding tax and VAT filings, from month one
Annual return
Corporate tax return, filed each April
BPJS and manpower
Social security and manpower reporting when you hire
What founders ask most before starting.
How long does incorporation actually take?
A low-risk PT PMA is typically operational in 4 weeks. Medium-risk activities extend to 8 weeks depending on the Sertifikat Standar. The incorporation lane itself (name reservation to NIB) runs in 5 to 7 working days once documents are complete. Banking accounts for most of the remaining time and requires the physical presence of the resident director for KYC.
Can a foreigner own 100 percent of an Indonesian company?
A PT PMA is by definition a foreign-invested company and requires at least two shareholders, individuals or entities of any nationality. Foreign ownership can go up to 100 percent in most sectors, with the cap set per KBLI code under the positive investment list. Some sectors are capped or closed to foreign ownership; we check the exact code at the KBLI mapping stage.
Do I really need to commit IDR 10 billion?
The IDR 10 billion is an investment plan per KBLI code per project location, not a cash requirement. It is realised over time through the LKPM reports and includes both capex and operating expenditure. The IDR 2.5 billion paid-up capital is the actual cash commitment, and it stays inside the company as usable working capital.
Do I need an Indonesian director?
You need at least one director who is resident in Indonesia and holds an Indonesian tax number. This can be a foreigner with a working KITAS, so a relocating founder qualifies. If no one is relocating, we assist in recruiting a qualified resident director.
Can I incorporate without coming to Indonesia?
Yes, the incorporation itself is fully remote. Shareholders sign the deed of establishment through a power of attorney we prepare in advance, and the notary handles the rest. Corporate banking is the exception: it requires the physical presence of the resident director for KYC.
Can I use a virtual office?
For most KBLI codes, yes. Some activities require a physical premise, particularly medium-to-high risk classifications, and specific KBLI codes in Bali carry additional restrictions. We check this at the address stage before the deed is drafted.
What about nominee shareholders?
Nominee arrangements are void under Article 33 of the Investment Law. We do not structure them, and we advise against firms that offer them. If foreign ownership is capped for your activity, there are legitimate structures (joint venture with an Indonesian partner, KBLI restructuring) that we can discuss.
What is the NIB exactly?
The Nomor Induk Berusaha is the company’s business identification number, issued through the OSS system. It serves as the company’s business licence for low-risk activities, its import identifier for customs, and the trigger for BPJS enrolment. For medium and high-risk activities, the NIB is issued alongside a Sertifikat Standar or a full licence.
What changed with KBLI 2025?
Indonesia migrated from KBLI 2020 to KBLI 2025 in December 2025 under BPS Regulation 7/2025, introducing new codes for AI, crypto-assets, carbon markets and platform businesses. New companies register directly under the 2025 codes.
The transition window for existing PMAs closed on 18 June 2026. If a registration was never migrated that is now a live problem rather than a planning item, and we can review whether the current codes still match what the company actually does.
What is LKPM and do I have to file it?
LKPM is the quarterly investment realisation report filed to BKPM through OSS. Every PT PMA files, whether or not it has started trading. Missed reports build into warnings that can eventually freeze the NIB, blocking imports, licence changes, and visa sponsorships until resolved.
The conversation happens in the language you think in.
Talk to us before you commit.
A first conversation costs nothing and usually saves more than it costs. Tell us what you are planning; we will tell you straight what it takes.