Rumah247.com – Moving to a new country might be a stressful process for you and your family. The time it takes for someone to feel settled in a new place is different for each person; thus, living in an expat-friendly residential area is beneficial, as it allows you and your family to settle faster. With a growing economy and low cost of living, Indonesia is becoming more attractive to expat.
Currently, there are more than 95,000 expats living in this country, scattered in Indonesia’s vast archipelago. While a lot of people think that Indonesia is identical to Bali, the generalisation does not hold true today. More and more expats can be found in Java and Borneo (Kalimantan) islands, namely in Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Balikpapan, and other large cities.
There is a lot to love about Indonesia. The weather is sunny all year long, the cuisine is one of the best in the world, and locals are most welcoming to expats. Those three factors alone are enough for a lot of expats to consider Indonesia as their next working destination.
If you are interested in moving to Indonesia, you should know which industries employ expats. There is a significant need for expats in the growing sector of telecommunication, marine, and information technology.
Before you go ahead and apply for jobs in Indonesia, you need to know the legal process and the expat-friendly location to live. To legally work in Indonesia, you would need a KITAS (Kartu Izin Tinggal Terbatas) or Work Permit that is issued by the government after you find a job.
You can know more about KITAS here. But here are some quick points to keep in mind:
- Any employer that hires an expat should apply to the government to allow expats to work in the company. The detailed process could change every year, so it is best to communicate with your employers to settle your visa and work permit before arriving.
- After the visa gets settled, you might want to start looking for accommodation options.
Expat-friendly locations are primarily areas which are close to facilities like schools, churches, and shopping malls. Living in an expat-friendly location enables you to network with fellow expats living next door.
In Jakarta, most expats live in the in North Jakarta. They live in a rented house or apartment as expats can’t own homes in the country. They only have the right of use over apartments as long as they hold a Temporary Stay Permit Card (KITAS). Choosing the right apartment for expats is influenced by several factors namely the school in the vicinity, availability of stores, accessibility to commuting to their workplace and other strategic locations. They are likely to consider living in the place with an international school available nearby their home as they want to make sure their children get the best education within their reach. They also tend to pick the nearest place from their office because Jakarta is notorious for its traffic jam, which means that a 30-minute ride could stretch to two hours on some occasion. Several expat-friendly facilities, such as supermarkets that sell foreign ingredients, are also commonplace.
Recent immigration statistics stated that just under 2,000 expatriates are living in Bandung, with the majority being Koreans, British and Americans. In Bandung, the northern parts of the city such as Ciumbuleuit and Setiabudi are preferred by most expats due to cooler climates and lesser traffic jam than southern Bandung. Similar to the situation in Jakarta, expats mostly live in rented houses or apartments. There are a lot of expat-friendly facilities concentrated in those areas, allowing expats to settle in faster and more comfortably. Over time, expats have developed a community in Bandung. For instance, a teachers’ community has been established in Dago Atas. Expatriates with higher incomes tend to live in Setra Sari, Setia Budhi, with a few in the Buat Batu and Kopo areas.
In Bali, there are a lot of expats living in the Canggu and Ubud area, particularly because they are attracted to the rich Balinese culture in these areas. Canggu and Ubud also attract digital nomads – expats who travel the world and work remotely. Digital nomads usually work in start-ups and the technology sector remotely.
Another city that attracts expats is Yogyakarta. A rich culture combined with laid-back living pace attracts many expats to live in Yogyakarta. The expat community, which consists mostly of artists, art exporters and teachers, is in the Malioboro area. The area allows easy access to the entire Yogyakarta, so it is preferred by expats living there. Close to Malioboro is the Keraton, which was built by Sultan Hamengkubuwono I in 1755. Still functioning as the official palace and standing as the landmark in the city centre, this historic property is where the current Sultan resides and is open to the public. Going north, you will find mountains and nature to rejuvenate your mind, while the south side boasts of beaches with breathtaking panorama of the Indian Ocean.
Lastly, expats are starting to live in Surabaya, which now has a small but thriving expat community. The city is surrounded by beaches and has the perfect combination of tradition and modernity. Expat-friendly amenities and facilities are also available, allowing expats to settle in easier.
With those references, we hope that it helps you to find your place in Indonesia. Good luck with your move!
