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Retiring in Indonesia

Residency routes, healthcare and pension tax · IDR

Routes to residency

Healthcare

Foreign residents holding a KITAS or KITAP (long-stay/permanent stay permit) for six months or more are generally required to enrol in BPJS Kesehatan, Indonesia's national public health insurance scheme, under Presidential Regulation No. 82/2018. Tourists and Second Home Visa holders are generally not covered by BPJS. Certain visa categories (e.g., the E33G remote-worker visa) are instead required to hold private international health insurance rather than BPJS.

Not clearly specified in sources; enrolment is tied to holding a qualifying stay permit (KITAS/KITAS index 312 or KITAP) typically valid for six months or more, with registration expected soon after permit issuance rather than after a separate waiting period.

Private health insurance is a condition of residency in Indonesia.

Most expats rely on private healthcare and insurance in practice, since BPJS-funded public hospitals involve referral chains starting at an assigned Puskesmas clinic, Indonesian-language documentation, long waits, and limited English-speaking staff; BPJS alone does not provide medical evacuation or coverage outside Indonesia, so many residents supplement it with private international health insurance.

US Medicare: US Medicare does not cover medical care received in Indonesia except in very limited circumstances (not documented for Indonesia specifically in sources reviewed); US retirees generally cannot rely on Medicare while residing in Indonesia and would need private or local coverage.

Pension income tax

Sources indicate Indonesia generally taxes residents on worldwide income, and certain skilled foreign residents may qualify under Indonesia's Job Creation/Omnibus Law for treatment limiting taxation to Indonesian-sourced income for up to four years, but a clear, sourced confirmation of the specific tax treatment of foreign-sourced pension income for ordinary foreign retirees was not established from the sources reviewed.

There is a US income tax treaty with Indonesia.

The United States and Indonesia have an income tax treaty, signed in Jakarta on July 11, 1988, intended to prevent double taxation and fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income; the specific treaty article provisions allocating taxing rights over pensions and Social Security between the two countries were not confirmed in detail from the sources reviewed.

Sources: Health Insurance in Indonesia: Guide for expats (2026) · Registration in the National Health System - Living In Indonesia · TAX CONVENTION WITH THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA (IRS) · Taxes in Indonesia: A 2026 guide for US expats

Checked Oct 2026

Customs & etiquette

• Greeting with the right hand — Indonesians shake hands with their right hand, as it is associated with positive actions, while the left hand is considered less polite or dirty. A smile and a simple greeting like 'selamat pagi' (good morning) are appreciated when meeting people.
• Eating and passing food with the right hand — Indonesians eat with their right hand and consider using the left hand for eating, giving, or paying impolite. Guests should keep both hands above the table and wait until the host indicates it is time to eat before starting.
• Finishing your plate signals a refill — Emptying your glass or plate completely is read as a request for more food or drink, which prompts the host to keep serving you. If you are full, it is better to leave a small amount rather than finish everything if you don't want to be served again.
• Modest dress, especially at religious and formal sites — A conservative, modest dress sense should generally be adopted, especially by women, with skirt hemlines below the knee and shoulders covered; business attire is generally conservative. When visiting temples, mosques, or churches, visitors are typically required to wear a sarong, cover shoulders, and dress especially modestly.
• Temple and religious site conduct in Bali — Visitors to Balinese temples (pura) are expected to show respect to the shrines and dress modestly, avoiding skimpy clothing, bare shoulders, or shorts; a sarong and ceremonial sash are often required and usually provided by the temple.
• Gift-giving customs — When giving gifts, especially to Chinese Indonesians, elaborate wrapping in red and gold is admired and appreciated, and the recipient may politely decline a gift two or three times before accepting. Certain items are considered taboo gifts due to their symbolic associations.

Religion

Muslim 87.4% · Protestant 7.5% · Roman Catholic 3.1% · Hindu 1.7% · other 0.8%

Other countries in East Asia & Pacific

Australia · Cambodia · Japan · Malaysia · New Zealand · Philippines · Singapore · South Korea · Thailand · Vietnam

Reference information compiled from the sources cited above and reviewed by hand. Immigration, healthcare and tax rules change and are applied at the authorities' discretion — confirm with the consulate, an immigration adviser or a tax adviser before making plans. Nothing here is tax or immigration advice.

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