Avoid Costly Legal Mistakes - Guidance From Setup to Operations
I provide expert advice to foreign investors navigating Indonesia’s post-2021 investment framework. My focus includes the setup and compliance for PT PMAs (foreign investment limited liability companies), property acquisition and licensing, immigration coordination, and tax risk management.
Areas of practice
I advise foreign investors on the legal steps necessary to invest in and operate in Indonesia. My services include transaction structuring (property and contracts), corporate setup, business licensing and compliance, immigration coordination, and tax risk management.
The goal is straightforward: ensuring compliance from the moment of business entry through day-to-day operations.
Since 2021, Indonesia's investment framework has undergone significant reform. The legal framework is now new, more centralized, managed online, and subject to closer scrutiny. Many issues arise when investors or their agents do not fully understand the changes and how this framework is applied in practice, which can lead to risks of non-compliance, potential sanctions, and even deportation.
I specialize in helping foreign investors navigate the areas where they often encounter challenges, including:
Investment and Company Law,
Immigration Law,
Property Law,
Tax Law, and
Related Public and Private Business Law.
Think of me as your guide through this complex legal landscape, allowing you to focus on building your business.
Legal Services
Company Law / PT PMA Set-Up
Establishing a PT PMA and aligning company structure, licensing, immigration, and tax requirements.
Incorporation through the Online Legal Administration system (AHU)
Business licensing through Online Single Submission – Risk-Based Approach (OSS-RBA)
Corporate compliance: General Meeting of Shareholders, Ultimate Beneficial Owner reporting, officer changes
Foreign Investment Law
Advising on investment eligibility, conditions, and licenses required to operate.
Confirm what you can invest in and under what conditions
Map requirements across the company, licensing, immigration, and tax
Plan the OSS-RBA filing sequence
Obtain and update relevant business licenses
Property / Real Estate Law
Structuring and documenting lawful property arrangements and managing transaction risk.
Lawful options for land titles and leasehold (and what is not lawful)
Contract review and negotiation with sellers and notaries
Due diligence on title, boundaries, and intended use; registration and compliance (PKKPR/KKPR, building permits)
Legal Services
Immigration for Investors
Planning the immigration route and aligning it with investment and the company's position.
Route planning: Business Visit → Investor KITAS → KITAP or Golden Visa
Sequencing with company filings and capital injections
Coordination with trusted agents (one point of contact; clear updates)
Tax Strategy
Tax structuring and risk management; filings handled by licensed professionals.
Map activities to taxes: Corporate Income Tax (CIT), Value Added Tax (VAT/PPN), payroll, withholding
Align tax steps with company set-up, banking, and immigration
Assessment of cross-border transactions and international tax law compliance
Coordination with licensed tax consultants for registrations, filings, and tax office responses
Ongoing Compliance & Operations
Keeping the business compliant after launch across agencies and reporting systems.
OSS-RBA updates, renewals, and sector permits
Corporate duties: RUPS, officer changes, UBO reporting
Compliance coordination across labour, immigration, property, and tax; audit preparation
Pricing
Most matters are quoted with a fixed fee after a brief intake. Retainers are available for ongoing compliance.
Advisory:
USD 100/ hour
Complex/ Written Memo:
USD 150/ hour
Company Law/ PT PMA Set Up
Starting a business in Indonesia requires incorporating a PT PMA, which involves navigating a complex two-tier system with specific capital thresholds for investment, immigration, and regulations. If you get the sequence wrong, you risk facing blocked licenses, fines, or visa complications.
I can assist you with the following:
Structure and lawfully incorporate your PT PMA using the Online Company Registrar (AHU) and Online Investment Service Platform (OSS-RBA).
Meet capital requirements and ensure compliance with immigration eligibility.
Maintain annual compliance, including shareholder meetings, Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) reporting, and officer changes.
Align governance with work permits and manpower filings.
(Foreign) Investment Law
Indonesia completely reformed its investment regime by amending approximately 80 laws and enacting hundreds of regulations, all centered around the Online Single Submission Risk-Based Approach (OSS-RBA). The goal was to liberalize the investment process; however, this led to widespread confusion and discrimination against smaller investors. Understanding eligibility and the correct order of operations is crucial from the very beginning.
Here’s how I can assist you:
Confirm what you can invest in and under what conditions.
Outline the post-2020 requirements, including company registration, licensing, immigration, and taxation.
Plan the OSS-RBA filing sequence to ensure nothing hinders your operations.
Provide complete guidance from start to finish, offering you a single point of contact and helping you establish a legally operational business. You get one point of contact and a legally operational business
Property/ Real Estate Law
Indonesia's land regulations pose significant challenges for foreign investors and are often poorly understood. Foreigners cannot own freehold land, and "nominee" structures are illegal. Recent reforms have introduced legal pathways for more liberalized land “ownership”, but these come with more complex procedures and stricter verification processes.
I can assist you with the following:
Identify your lawful options for obtaining land titles or leasehold agreements
Review and negotiate land or villa agreements with sellers and notaries
Coordinate due diligence on title, boundaries, and intended use
Guide you through the registration process and ongoing compliance (PKKPR/KKPR, building permits)
Assess the tax implications of land acquisition.
Immigration for Investors
(Execution by Trusted Partners)
Your legal right to stay in the country must align with your investment and role within the company. A mismatch between your visa status, ownership share, and job position can lead to significant risks, including denied permits, violations, or worse consequences. I ensure that your visas are properly aligned with your PT PMA setup, allowing you to enter, work, and live in the country lawfully.
I can assist you by:
Planning the appropriate route (e.g., Business Visit → Investor KITAS → KITAP or Golden Visa)
Coordinating immigration processes with company filings and capital investments
Managing filings through trusted agents, providing a single point of contact and clear updates
Establishing compliance guidelines and reminding you of necessary extensions and upgrades
Tax Strategy
(Execution by Trusted Partners)
Indonesia's tax regulations are complex and time-sensitive. The key to navigating them successfully is having the right structure and sequence—if you get those wrong, you risk facing penalties, license suspensions, or visa complications. I develop a comprehensive tax playbook, while licensed consultants manage the filings and audits.
Here’s how I can assist you:
Identify the appropriate taxes for your activities (Corporate Income Tax, Value Added Tax, payroll, and withholdings)
Align tax procedures with company formation, banking, and immigration processes
Analyze cross-border transactions and ensure compliance with international tax regulations
Establish clear guidelines for pricing, contracts, and withholdings
Coordinate with trusted tax consultants for registrations, filings, and responses to tax office inquiries
Ongoing Compliance & Operations
Once established, the main priority is to ensure compliance. Indonesia’s regulatory environment requires timely renewals and coordinated filings across multiple agencies. Missing a deadline or submitting inconsistent data can lead to suspended licenses, blocked visa renewals, or failed audits.
I can assist you by:
Maintaining licenses (updating OSS-RBA, sector permits, and tracking renewals)
Meeting governance obligations (handling RUPS, officer changes, and UBO reports)
Coordinating compliance in areas such as labor, immigration, property, and taxation
Managing expansions, changes, and preparing for audits