How to RENEW the Social Budaya in BALI: Cost and Process

After you receive your Sosyal Budaya Telex (Visa Sticker) from the Consulate, you will have 3 months until the Visa expires so you need to enter Indonesia within that time.

Once you enter Indonesia / Bali, the visa’s allowable 60 days starts running.

Then, 7-10 days before the 60^th day, you need to RENEW your SosBud.

Note of WARNING: 

Renewing the Sos Bud is a time-consuming and tedious process as one is expected to go to the Immigration a total of 3-4 times! This is why most expats use an agent in sorting this out. But if you don't mind the hassle or would like to learn how this is done, read on..

Here’s HOW: 

There are many other Immigration (Kantor Imigrasi) in Indonesia but since we live in Bali, I can only tell you about how we do it here.

But first, know that:  

1) Renewing your SosBud visa is dependent on the location of residence or address of your sponsor. Also, if your sponsor is a bule, you may encounter difficulties as they prefer local (Indonesian) sponsors due to the relevance of the KTP (local I.D.).

My experience with Sos Bud Renewal story here.

So, if your sponsor's residence is in Banyuwangi for example, then you can only renew it in the Immigration nearest to it in Java, not Bali or Sumatra or anywhere else...

2) In Bali there are 3 Immigration Offices:

    -- Renon:  Kantor Imigrasi Kelas I
       Jl. D.I. Panjaitan No. 3, Kel. Dangin Puri Kelod, Kec. Denpasar Timur, Denpasar
       Tel. No.:  0361-227828

    -- on the By Pass:  Kantor Imigrasi Kelas I Khusus Ngurah Rai
        JL. Raya By Pass Ngurah Rai, No. 300 B, Tuban, Badung
        Tel. No.:  0361-9351038 / 0361-9357011

    -- in Singaraja:  Kantor Imigrasi Kelas II
       Jl. Seririt - Singaraja, Pemaron, SIngaraja
       Tel. No:  0362- 32174

IMIGRASI.CO.ID has all the addresses and telephone numbers of the Immigration Offices in Indonesia.


3)  And each is responsible for a certain area in Bali. 

     -- Renon (Denpasar) is for the Central areas of Denapsar and Tabanan. 

     -- The By Pass office is for the South areas and Badung Regency (Kuta, Bukit, Seminyak, Canggu, Kerobokan). 

     -- The Singaraja Office is for anywhere North(Lovina, Singaraja), North-East (Medewi, Negara), and North-West (Karangasem).


*It is wise to call and check with the immigration Office if they can handle your visa renewal.*


Before you read on about the requirements, I recommend you read My Sos Bud Experience for enlightenment. Don't worry, it is very much related to the topic especially if your sponsor is a bule.

If your sponsor is a local, you can read on.... 


What are the REQUIREMENTS for Renewing?

The Office (in this case, Singaraja) will provide you the list of requirements and documents you and your sponsor need to fill out and sign. You will need to use 1 set for each monthly renewal.

These are:

1) The Red Folder. 

     This folder is NOT FOR SALE. It is FREE. I've heard down in the By Pass Office, applicant's are made to buy this (corruption obviously!).

2) The Perpanjangan Izin Kunjungan Form (Extension for Sosyal Budaya)

3) The Surat dari Sponsor (Sponsor's Letter)
     
    This letter is already written in the government regulated format and all you ned to do is fill in the details.

4) The Surat Pernyataan dan Jaminan (Letter of Representattive and Guarantee) + Materai Stamp (Rp 6,000) you can get from either the Kantor Pos (Post Office) or Notaris (Notary Public Attorney).

*TIP:  Photocopy these documents 3 times more so you won't have to go back and get copies. 



Then, with all these letter documents, you then need to include:

5) A Photocopy of the Sponsor's:

    if local:
    -- KTP 

    if foreigner:
    -- Passport:  Front, Visa Stamp for KITAS  
    -- Re-entry Permit Stamp
    -- KITAS: Front & Back

For privacy reasons, details are blacked-out and can only
provide a copy of the Visa Stamp, Re-entry,
and the back part of KITAS

6)  A Photocopy of YOUR:
   
    -- Passport: Front, Visa Sticker from Consul
    -- Stamp of Date of Entry into Bali

Visa Sticker and Date of Entry

PRICE:
1st month renewal =    Rp  355,000
2nd month renewal =   Rp  300,000
3rd month renewal =    Rp  300,000
4th month renewal =    Rp  300,000


Now, here's the tedious part:  =(

As I mentioned, apart from going to the Imigrasi to obtain these documents, you will need to go 3 times more!! 

The 1st time is for submitting the application.
The 2nd time is for Photo, Fingerprint scanning, and Payment.
The 3rd time is for Passport Pick-up.

One can have someone else do the 1st (submission) and 3rd (Pick-up) but NOT for the 2nd time.

I don't know why they can't just do everything in 1-2 days. My theory is that they intentionally do this so: 
a) Expats will opt for agents (provides work for locals)
b) Give foreigners are difficult time so they will just leave Bali after their trip. It is a known fact that the government doesn't like foreigners establishing themselves long-term on the island. They like foreign tourist sure, but not foreign residents.
c) Their system is simply too corrupt which makes everything so inconvenient for foreigners.

Either way, if you don't mind all this trouble or you're conveniently located to a Kantor Imigrasi, then go ahead and do this as it is definitely a more economical way of sorting out your visa.



So you'd just rather use an AGENT?

If you can't be bothered and have cash to spare, they just use an agent. I rang one up to check the costs:

Here's the breakdown:

Rp 760,000 (~$75) for the Sponsor Letter c/o the Agent Company

US $100-200 for your Sg ticket

SgD $100-200 Hotel stay -- Processing in Sg takes 2-3 days. Unless you use an agent in Sg that handles processing there. Some guy named Ismael (loads of info on him online). His fee ranges from SgD $200-250. You can get the visa processed in 1 day.

SgD $160 -- Processing fee at the Embassy

Renewal:
Rp  760,000 (~$75) per month

It's actually not that cheap really.

More...

Then, 2 weeks into your renewed visa, you will need to visit the Immigration Office and do the process all over again.

And, on your 3rd renewal, your sponsor has to go with you for an interview.

After your 4th renewal (your 6 month in Indo), you will need to go out of the country and start the Sosyal Budaya Application ALL OVER AGAIN!