Can Foreigners Work as Influencers in Indonesia? Understanding the Immigration Rules

LEGAL & IMMIGRATION · 2026 

Can Foreigners Work as Influencers in Indonesia? Understanding the  Immigration Rules 

Indonesia — and Bali in particular — has become one of the world’s most popular destinations for foreign influencers and  content creators. But posting from a beach in Canggu is one thing; being paid by an Indonesian business to promote it is  another. Foreigners who create content or promote businesses in Indonesia must ensure their activities remain consistent  with the purpose of their visa or stay permit. Holding a valid KITAS (Kartu Izin Tinggal Terbatas — Limited Stay  Permit) does not, by itself, authorize a foreigner to work or conduct commercial activities in Indonesia. 

What Is Allowed for Foreign Content Creators? 

Indonesia’s immigration framework draws a clear line between visiting the country for personal activities and performing  work or commercial activities. A foreigner creating personal social-media content should keep that activity within the  scope of their immigration status. The situation changes once the foreigner starts receiving payment, providing promotional  services, or actively working for an Indonesian business. 

For example, posting personal travel content about Bali is treated differently from being hired by an Indonesian hotel to  produce promotional content for that hotel. What matters is the actual nature of the activity, the relationship with the  Indonesian business, and any remuneration received — not simply what the arrangement is called. 

Does an Investor KITAS Allow You to Work as an Influencer? 

An Investor KITAS is not automatically a work permit. A foreigner may hold shares in an Indonesian company as an  investor without being authorized to perform operational or marketing work for that company. This distinction becomes  particularly important when an investor actively promotes their own Indonesian business through social media. 

The latter may require a separate work authorization. A foreigner holding an Investor KITAS should not automatically  assume that owning shares in a company also allows them to act as its influencer or marketer. 

Source: Law No. 6 of 2011 on Immigration, as amended by Law No. 63 of 2024; Government Regulation No. 31 of 2013  on the Implementation of the Immigration Law, as amended by Government Regulation No. 40 of 2023 

Can a Foreigner Get a Working KITAS as a Marketer? 

Yes. Indonesia’s current immigration classification includes dedicated work-visa categories for marketing and digital  marketing: 

● E23 — Employment (Work in Marketing)  

A foreigner who is genuinely employed by an Indonesian company in an appropriate marketing or digital-marketing  position may obtain the corresponding work-based immigration status, subject to the applicable requirements.

However, the work authorization is tied to the approved employment, sponsor, and position. A foreigner working  under a Marketing Working KITAS for “Company A” should not assume the same KITAS allows them to  independently provide marketing services or promotional work for other Indonesian businesses. The permitted work  must correspond with the approved position and employment arrangement. 

Source: Decree of the Minister of Immigration and Corrections No. M.IP-08.GR.01.01 of 2025 concerning Visa  Classification 

What About the C5A Content Creator Visa? 

The C5A Content Creator Visa is a new category included in Indonesia’s current visa classification, specifically intended  to cover activities related to creating social-media content. There is an important distinction, however, between being  included in the legal visa classification and being operationally available for application. 

As of the publication of this article, the C5A visa has not yet been officially launched and implemented by Immigration  as an available visa category. Foreigners should not currently rely on C5A as an available immigration option for entering  Indonesia or conducting content-creation activities. 

Once Immigration officially launches the category, its practical scope, application process, and implementation will need  to be observed — particularly how paid brand collaborations, promotional content, and commercial arrangements with  Indonesian businesses will be treated. For now, C5A should be viewed as an introduced but not yet operational visa  category. 

Source: Decree of the Minister of Immigration and Corrections No. M.IP-08.GR.01.01 of 2025 concerning Visa  Classification 

Brand Collaborations: What to Check Before Accepting 

Foreign influencers should be careful when receiving offers from Indonesian businesses — hotels, restaurants, villas,  tourism companies, fashion brands, and other local businesses. Before accepting a collaboration, the following should be  considered: 

● Who is paying the influencer? 

● Is the payer an Indonesian company or an individual? 

● Is the influencer providing a service or promotional activity? 

● Is the activity considered work under Indonesian immigration law? 

● Does the activity fall within the scope of the foreigner’s current visa or KITAS? 

Comparison: Investor KITAS vs. Working KITAS vs. C5A Content Creator Visa

Key Takeaway 

Being a foreign influencer in Indonesia is not prohibited. However, the foreigner’s immigration status must  correspond with the activities they actually perform in Indonesia. 

● Investor KITAS → intended for investment activities; does not automatically authorize marketing or  operational work for the company. 

● Marketing Working KITAS → may allow work in an approved marketing position for the relevant Indonesian  employer, subject to the applicable requirements. 

● C5A Content Creator Visa → included in the visa classification but not yet officially launched or  implemented, so its practical availability and scope remain pending. 

Foreigners who intend to combine investment, content creation, and commercial activities should review their  immigration status before starting the activity, rather than assuming an existing KITAS covers all of their activities. 

Sources: Law No. 6 of 2011 on Immigration, as amended by Law No. 63 of 2024 · Government Regulation No. 31 of  2013 on the Implementation of the Immigration Law, as amended by Government Regulation No. 40 of 2023 · Decree of  the Minister of Immigration and Corrections No. M.IP-08.GR.01.01 of 2025 concerning Visa Classification —  imigrasi.go.id. This guide reflects Indonesia’s immigration classification as of September 2026. Always verify current  visa categories at evisa.imigrasi.go.id.