Indonesian D-type multiple-entry visas are one of the most flexible methods for long-term stays in the country. It is important to understand a key distinction: visa validity and stay duration are two separate mechanisms. The visa itself determines when you can enter Indonesia, while the ITK permit received upon entry determines how long you can remain inside the country.
Below is a complete, up-to-date, and simple explanation of all rules, including useful strategies that allow you to legally stay in Indonesia for up to 2 years on a visa issued for just 1 year, as well as rules for converting to a KITAS without leaving the country. For comparisons with other visa types, see also: rules for B visas, rules for C visas, rules for E visas.
What is a D-Type Visa
Visa D is a long-term multiple-entry electronic visa (multiple-entry) granting the right to enter Indonesia an unlimited number of times within 1, 2, or 5 years. After each entry, a separate ITK permit (Izin Tinggal Kunjungan) is automatically formed — the authorized stay period.
The visa validity period and the ITK validity period are not connected to each other: they operate under different rules.
Main D-Type Visa Indexes and Their Purposes
Type D includes several indexes with different travel purposes. Below is a brief overview of the main categories:
- D1 — Multiple-entry tourist visa for 1, 2, or 5 years;
- D2 — Multiple-entry business visa for 1, 2, or 5 years;
- D3 — Multiple-entry visa for medical treatment for 1 or 2 years;
- D4 — Multiple-entry government business visa for 1 or 2 years;
- D7 — Multiple-entry visa for art and cultural performances;
- D8 — Multiple-entry sports visa for non-commercial sports events;
- D12 — Pre-investment multiple-entry visa for 1 or 2 years;
- D14 — Multiple-entry visa for filming for 1 or 2 years.
All these visas allow multiple entries into the country during the visa’s validity period. The specific duration of the ITK (60 or 180 days) and the possibility of extension depend on the index and are described below.
D Visa Validity Period
Visa D is valid for:
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 5 years
The validity period is from the Date of Issue to Must Be Used Before. During this period, you can enter the country an unlimited number of times.
Important:
Most D-type visas do not have the “enter within 90 days” rule. This rule classically applies to B, C, and E visa types. Exceptions are the special multiple-entry visas D7 (artists) and D8 (sports), which are subject to the rule of first entry within 90 days from the date of issuance, similar to B, C, and E type visas.
Stay Period (ITK) and Extensions
ITK is the authorized stay period granted after each entry, independent of the visa’s validity period. for precise planning of departure dates, we recommend using our visa stay calculator.
ITK for Visas D1, D2, D3, D4, and D14
For most “classic” multiple-entry D visas (tourism, business, medical, government business, filming), a unified ITK scheme applies:
- Initial ITK term: 60 days after each entry;
- Extension #1: +60 days;
- Extension #2: +60 days;
- Maximum per single entry: 180 days.
This scheme applies to:
- D1 — tourist multiple-entry visa for 1, 2, or 5 years;
- D2 — business multiple-entry visa for 1, 2, or 5 years;
- D3 — multiple-entry visa for medical treatment for 1 or 2 years;
- D4 — government business multiple-entry visa for 1 or 2 years;
- D14 — multiple-entry visa for filming for 1 or 2 years.
Meaning, upon each entry with one of these visas, you receive 60 days of ITK, which can be extended twice, for a total maximum of 180 days per single entry. After exiting and re-entering, the ITK cycle starts over, as long as the visa itself remains valid.
Special Multiple-Entry Visas D7 and D8
A separate category exists for artist and athlete visas. They are structured differently than tourist and business multivisas.
- D7 — Art and Cultural Performance Multivisa — multiple-entry visa for artistic and cultural performances. The total stay period is limited to 30 days in total across all entries during the visa’s validity.
- D8 — Non-Commercial Sports Multivisa — sports multiple-entry visa for participation in non-commercial sports events. The total stay period is limited to 60 days in total across all entries.
Unlike other D visas, what matters here is not so much the ITK of a single entry, but the total limit of days stayed across all trips on this visa.
However, the logic is similar to short-term artist visas like type C7: artists and athletes can enter the country several times on such visas, and then, with regular performances and competitions, it is logical to switch to a Working KITAS:
- for artists — Working KITAS for Artists E23R (see section on working visas and KITAS);
- for athletes — working KITAS for Sports Athletes E23S and KITAS for Sports Officials E23T (details also in the working KITAS section).
In terms of entry rules, D7 and D8 are closer to B, C, and E type visas: the rule of first entry within 90 days after visa issuance applies to them.
ITK for D12 Visa
- Initial term: 180 days
- Extension: +180 days
- Maximum per single entry: 360 days
D12 Pre-Investment Multiple Entry Visas can be issued for 1 or 2 years. Upon each entry, you receive 180 days of ITK with the possibility of one extension for 180 days. This category is convenient for those studying investment projects, real estate, creating, or structuring a business in Indonesia without immediately obtaining a KITAS.
How ITK Works Upon Entry
A new ITK is formed with every trip. It indicates:
- date of entry,
- date of expiration of authorized stay (60 or 180 days, or within the total limit for D7/D8).
Every new entry → new ITK.
If you are in Indonesia, you can extend the ITK even if the visa has already expired. The main thing is to submit the extension before the current ITK expires. For comparison with extension rules for C type visas, see the section on C visas.
Sponsorship for D-Type Visas
As with C-type visas, the correct choice of sponsor for D visas is critically important: the visa type, the safety of your activities, and, most importantly, the possibility of an onshore transition to a KITAS depend on it.
When Flado Can Be Your Sponsor for D Visas
In a number of cases, Flado can act as a full sponsor for D-type multiple-entry visas, especially if it concerns general-purpose visas not tied to a specific venue or employer:
- D1 — tourist multiple-entry visa (for classic tourism tasks and trips);
- D2 — business multiple-entry visa (business meetings, negotiations, inspections, without executing an employment contract in Indonesia);
- individual cases for long-term visits to the country on D12 for pre-investment and business activity, if admissible by the client’s profile and migration regulations.
In such scenarios, Flado manages the entire process, submits the application, and serves as your official sponsor for the duration of the visa, complying with all Indonesian immigration law requirements. Read more about sponsorship.
When a Specialized Sponsor or Venue is Required
Some D-type visas are strictly tied to a specific organization or venue. In these cases, Flado cannot be the sponsor directly but can help correctly arrange the sponsorship:
- D3 — multiple-entry visa for medical treatment: the sponsor is often a clinic, hospital, or medical institution;
- D4 — government business visa: the sponsor is a government institution or organization related to official visits;
- D7 — visa for artistic and cultural performances: the sponsor must be the venue, festival, concert organizer, or cultural event where you are actually performing (analogous to C7 visas under type C);
- D8 — sports multiple-entry visa: sponsor — sports club, federation, tournament or competition organizer;
- D14 — visa for filming: sponsor — film studio, production house, or company actually conducting the filming process in Indonesia.
There is exactly one legal path here:
- either the venue/organization itself submits the application for your visa as the official sponsor;
- or they transfer the company’s incorporation and registration documents to us, and we register their sponsor account in the immigration system and process your D visa through it.
Any schemes where one sponsor is listed on the visa, but the actual place of performance, filming, seminar, or sports event is another, involve high risks and often end in deportation, fines, and serious stress. We always recommend establishing sponsorship honestly and transparently.
Linking D Visas with Long-Term Strategy (Working and Family KITAS)
D visas can be part of a broader migration strategy if sponsorship continuity rules are followed:
- artists and athletes can first use D7 and D8 visas for individual events, and then transition to working KITAS E23R, E23S, E23T;
- investors can use D12 Pre-Investment to research the market, and then process investment statuses (see rules for E visas);
- for family scenarios (marriage to an Indonesian citizen, family KITAS), transitions are also possible given sponsorship from the Indonesian spouse (see section sponsorship by an Indonesian citizen).
Converting D Visa to KITAS (ITAS)
Can a D-type visa be converted to a KITAS onshore (without flying out)?
Answer: Yes, but not always.
There are strict conditions for such a procedure.
Condition 1: Full Sponsor Correspondence
If your D-type visa is sponsored (issued with the help of a sponsor company), obtaining a KITAS is possible only under the exact same sponsorship. In the immigration system, there must be a complete match of the sponsor company on the current D visa and on the future ITAS.
- If the sponsor on visa D is company “A”, and the KITAS is processed by company “A” → Conversion is possible.
- If the sponsor on visa D is company “A”, but you want the KITAS from company “B” → Direct conversion is impossible (requires sponsor change procedure or flying out).
- If there was no sponsor (visa without a guarantor) → Obtaining a KITAS onshore is impossible.
What to do if the sponsor is different? (Sponsor Change Procedure)
If you intend to convert your D-type visa ITK into an ITAS, but the future sponsor differs from the current one, a sponsor change procedure is possible. This allows for the transition without leaving the country, but requires additional time and actions.
What is needed to change the sponsor?
- The second (future) sponsor must also be registered in the migration system. If there is no registration, time must be spent on this. Usually, this takes 5-7 working days.
- Next, an official application to change the sponsor for your current permit is made. This can also take a period of 5-7 working days.
- And only after that, once your ITK is officially listed under the new sponsor, can the transition to ITAS be carried out.
Important: These timeframes must be taken into account to manage all procedures before your authorized stay period expires (see “The 31-Day Rule” below).
Condition 2: The 31-Day Rule
A mandatory technical condition for obtaining a KITAS onshore (this procedure is officially called “conversion of ITK stay permit to ITAS temporary stay permit”) is having a sufficient validity period on the current permit.
At least 31 days must remain on your current ITK.
If there are fewer days, the immigration system technically will not allow starting the conversion process. In this case, the following logic applies:
- Option A: If you still have available ITK extensions (e.g., you just entered or extended the visa once) — you must first extend the visa so that the reserve of days becomes greater than 30, and then apply for the KITAS.
- Option B: If the visa can no longer be extended (extension limit exhausted), it is necessary to issue a Bridging Visa (transitional visa). It is issued for 60 days and serves as a “bridge” between your current D visa and the future KITAS. While already on the Bridging Visa, you apply for the ITAS.
Below is a visual scheme of the transition from ITK (Visa D) to ITAS:
| Step 1. Check Sponsor | Sponsor matches? | Yes → Go to Step 2 No → Sponsor Change Procedure (10-14 days) → Go to Step 2 |
| Step 2. Check ITK Term | Remaining ≥ 31 days? | Yes → Direct conversion to ITAS No → Go to Step 3 |
| Step 3. Extension or Bridging | Has extension limits? | Yes → Extend ITK → Conversion to ITAS No → Issue Bridging Visa (60 days) → Conversion to ITAS |
Legal Strategy: How to Stay in Indonesia up to 2 Years on a 1-Year Visa
Thanks to the fact that the visa determines only the right of entry, and the ITK determines the stay period inside the country, the total period of stay in Indonesia can be significantly increased. That is why many combine the long-term stay strategy between D, C visa types and the Bridging Visa tool.
D12 for 1 year → effectively up to 720 days (~2 years)
- Entry: 180 days ITK.
- Extension: +180 days.
Total: 360 days.
- Before visa expiration → fly out and return to Indonesia.
- New entry: again 180 days ITK.
- Extension: another +180 days.
Total: 360 + 360 = 720 days (~2 years).
D1 for 1 year → effectively up to 540 days (~1.5 years)
- Entry: 60 + 60 + 60 = 180 days.
- Fly out → return → another 180 days.
- On the last day of visa validity — one more entry → another 180 days.
Total: 540 days (~1.5 years).
Comparison Table of D1, D2, and D12 Visas
| Visa Type | Initial ITK | Maximum per single entry | Maximum per strategy |
| D1 / D2 for 1 year | 60 days | 180 days | 540 days (~1.5 years) |
| D12 for 1 year | 180 days | 360 days | 720 days (~2 years) |
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I work on a D visa? — No. For legal work, a corresponding Working ITAS (KITAS) is needed, see more in the section on working visas.
- Can I get a KITAS? — Yes, but only if the sponsor of your D visa matches the sponsor of the future KITAS, and the ITK term is at least 31 days (or a Bridging Visa is used). If the sponsor is different, a sponsor change procedure will be required.
- Can I extend the ITK if the visa has expired? — Yes, if you are in Indonesia and submitted the ITK extension on time.
- How many times can I enter? — Unlimited, as long as the visa is active.
- If I enter on the last day? — You will receive the full ITK: 60 or 180 days (or be able to use the remainder of the limit for D7/D8) just as with a regular entry.