Research Procedures for Foreign Researchers in Indonesia

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Indonesia No. 100/1993, dated on November 1, 1993, is to enable researchers of other countries to carry out research in the Republic of Indonesia. This applies to research of all types. Initial clearance for research proposals is given by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI). LIPI, assisted by other concerned agencies within the Indonesian government, known as Coordinating Team, holds a monthly meeting to review research proposals. The application takes up to two months to approve, mainly due to the security clearances needed.

 

APPLICATION

Researchers must submit the following supporting documents to obtain permission to carry out research in Indonesia. All must be submitted to the Education and Cultural Attaché in Canberra, who then forwards them on to the Coordinating Team to review the research proposal:

1. A formal letter of request to LIPI to undertake research in Indonesia. An additional copy of the letter should be addressed to the Indonesian Representative abroad ( e.g. Indonesian Ambassador, Consul General or Consul). Both letters should explicitly state the address of the Indonesian consulate from which the researcher will obtain their visa. If this address is not given, delays can be caused.

2. Six copies of detailed research proposal which should have a title, stated objectives and description of the methodology and concepts. The proposal must clearly state the locations where field research will be done, including a listing of village(s), town(s) and or city(ies), starting dates and durations.

3. Six copies of researcher’s curriculum vitae including a list of publications.

4. Two letters of recommendation, one from a professor or equivalent senior researcher in the researcher’s discipline, and the other from an official of the researcher’s home institute or university.

5. A letters of recommendation supporting the research plan from the Indonesian counterpart. A letter from Indonesian academic institution and/or a Research & Development Center agreeing to serve as a counterpart for the researcher’s tenure in the country is a key document required by LIPI before the application can be forwarded to the Coordinating Team. If a researcher cannot arrange a sponsor, LIPI will endeavor to do so, but this is a much more time consuming process.

6. A letter guaranteeing sufficient funds to cover research and living expenses in Indonesia and (any) fees for the Indonesian counterpart(s).

7. A health certificate from a doctor stating that the researcher is in good health, both physically and mentally, and is fit to carry out research in Indonesia.

8. A letter of recommendation from an Indonesian representative abroad, usually the Indonesian Ambassador or Consul. This letter will be prepared by the Education and Cultural Attaché after all other documents, especially the two letters in (1), have been submitted.

9. Three recent photographs (passport size with red background).

10. Three copies of researcher’s passport. NB: For entry into Indonesia, passports must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry, even if the visitor is staying for less time. This applies to all foreigners entering Indonesia.

11. A list of the equipment brought to Indonesia, if any, to support the research. The value of this equipment should be stated in US dollars.

12. If researcher plans to bring his or her spouse with him/her to Indonesia, the researcher must submit a copy of the marriage certificate, spouse’s resume, children’s birth certificates(s), photographs and clear photo copies of his/her family’s passports.

 

These documents should be submitted in full, with the correct number of photocopies, to:

Education and Cultural Section

Embassy of the Republic of Indonesian Embassy

8 Darwin Ave

Yarralumla, ACT, 2600

 

The Education and Cultural Attaché will then prepare a letter of recommendation (see No. (8) above), and forward the entire application to LIPI in Jakarta by express courier.

APPROVAL

If the request for a research permit is approved, LIPI will request the Directorate General of Immigration to issue a visa authorization number which will be sent to the Indonesian Embassy or Consulate where the researcher will apply for a visa. This place should be explicitly nominated by the researcher (see No (1) above).

Please note that this visa can only be issued outside of Indonesia. This visa cannot be issued or processed in Indonesia, and researchers should not travel to Indonesia on another type of visa with the intention of obtaining their research visa once they are in the country. Past cases have involved researchers having to travel back to Australia to have their research visa processed and issued.

For visits of less than four months, a kunjungan sosial budaya visa (a socio-cultural visa) will be issued. However, the researcher must still visit LIPI on arrival in Indonesia, and obtain the same letters and permits as long term researchers.

 

RESEARCH VESSEL

Permit for a research vessel to enter Indonesian waters should be obtained from:

Centre for Survey and Mapping

Indonesian Armed Forces (PUSSURTA — TNI)

Jl. Dr. Wahidin I, No. 11

Jakarta Pusat

Indonesia

ARRIVAL IN JAKARTA

Researchers must enter Indonesia through Jakarta. Upon arrival in Jakarta, it is essential that the researcher informs the Immigration Officials at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport of his/her research site(s). The researcher will be given three to seven days by the Immigration Officials to report to the Immigration Office in the research site(s).

Within the given period of time, the researcher must report to LIPI and several other offices in Jakarta. It is useful to carry a number of passport sized photographs with a red background and copies of your passport.

The first place that should be visited is LIPI, at the following address:

Bureau of S & T Cooperation

Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia (LIPI)

Sasana Widya Sarwono Building, 7th floor

Jl. Gatot Subroto No. 10

Jakarta Selatan

Phone: (021) 522-5711 ext. 240 or 237

The researcher should contact Mr Marngembang Tarihoran or Mrs Ina Syarief; 7th floor; Rooms 714 and 716, of the Sasana Widya Sarwono Building. Phone (021) 522-5711 ext. 237/240. Having reported to LIPI, there follows a few days of visiting various institutions to receive the necessary permits. The following necessary documents will be provided:

1. On the first day, LIPI will provide a letter to be taken to the Police Headquarters (POLRI) at the Directorate INTELPAM, Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3, Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan, to obtain a Surat Keterangan Jalan (SKJ — a travel permit). The researcher should provide two passport sized photographs and a photocopy of their passport.

2. LIPI will then provide:

  • a Surat Izin Penelitian (SIP — the research permit)
  • a letter for the General Directorate KESBANGLINMAS (formerly SOSPOL) in Jakarta. One copy of the SKJ should be enclosed.
  • a letter to the local Immigration Office nearest to the research site in order to obtain a kartu izin tinggal sementara (KITAS — a stay permit), if a researcher is going to stay in Indonesia for six months or more.
  • a letter for the researcher’s Indonesian counterpart.

3. These documents must be taken to the Direktorat Pengkajian MASTRA Daerah (in the Ministry of Home Affairs), Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara No 7 — 8, Jakarta Pusat. Researchers will also need one passport sized photograph and a copy of their SKJ.

4. After 0 — 1 days, Direktorat MASTRA Daerah will issue the researcher with;

  • a Surat Pemberitahuan Penilitian (SPP — A letter of explanation regarding your research)
  • A letter for the local MASTRA DAERAH offices in the places where you will live/research.

ADMINISTRATIVE FEE

For the services provided by LIPI an administration fee of US$100 is payable by the researcher to LIPI upon arrival in Jakarta. Accompanying spouses must pay US$25, and an extension of the research permit will incur a cost of US$50.

ARRIVAL AT THE LOCAL RESEARCH SITE(S)

Upon arrival at the research site, researchers must report to the following offices, to present:

  • the letter from LIPI to the counterpart.
  • the letter from LIPI to the Local Immigration Office in order to obtain a KITAS (if the researcher is to stay six months or more)
  • the letter from LIPI to the local MASTRA Daerah (formerly SOSPOLDA)
  • A copy of the SKJ issued by Police Headquarters in Jakarta, must be presented to the local police station.

 

REPORTING ON RESEARCH PROGRESS

Researchers are required to submit to LIPI six copies of a Quarterly Progress Report. Failure to fulfill this requirement will oblige LIPI to revoke the research permit and its support. Consequently, the researcher will be advised to leave the country.

 

EXTENDING RESEARCH ACTIVITY

Should researchers need to extend their research and stay permits, they must submit the following documents to LIPI three months prior to the expiration date of the initial permit;

  • A letter explaining the reason for an extension.
  • Six copies of Provisional Final report, and
  • A letter of support from the researcher’s Indonesian Counterpart.

 

OBLIGATIONS OF RESEARCHERS

1. The researcher is prohibited to undertake activities other than stipulated in his/her research permit.

2. The researcher is required to respect the customs, traditions, and culture values prevailing in the region of his/her research.

3. When traveling within the country, the researchers should take with him/her copies of all immigration and police documents. Researchers should also take along his/her letters of permission to conduct research from LIPI and the SKJ from the Police Headquarters in Jakarta.

 

TEMPORARY ABSENCE OR COMPLETION OF RESEARCH

If the researcher wishes to leave the country temporarily, they must obtain a letter of agreement from their counterpart and write to LIPI, to obtain an Exit Re-entry Permit (ERP).

Upon completion of the research, long term researchers must obtain an Exit Permit Only (EPO) from the Immigration and fiscal exemption from the tax office. The fiscal exemption (bebas fiskal) exempts the researcher from paying the Indonesian exit fee or fiscal. It is only given by the Indonesian Tax Office and only to researchers when they complete their research.

The procedure to obtain an EPO and fiscal exemption through LIPI is as follows:

1. One month prior to departure, the researcher should submit an interim report of 25 — 30 pages to LIPI and inform LIPI of the exact date of departure from Indonesia. The researcher and his/her counterpart should write directly to Kepala Biro Kerjasama Iptek LIPI, notifying that his/her research is almost completed and he/she plans to leave Indonesia on (date of departure). Five copies of the interim research report should be attached to the counterpart’s letter. In the letter, the counterpart should request LIPI to prepare a cover letter to the Immigration Office requesting to issue an EPO and a cover letter to the Tax Office for a bebas fiskal for researchers.

2. The Researcher should submit LIPI’s cover letter and a completed application form, passport, immigration documents (KITAS) and the letter from their counterpart to the Immigration Office that issued the KITAS.

3. Researchers should submit LIPI’s letter to the Tax Office in Jakarta three days prior to his/her departure.

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FURTHER INFORMATION

Further information on research procedures for foreign researchers in Indonesia may be obtained from:

Education and Cultural Section

Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia

8 Darwin Ave, Yarralumla, ACT, 2600

Ph: (02)6250 8628

Email: diknas@bigpond.com

or

Bureau of S & T Cooperation

SasanaWidya Sarwono Building, 7th floor

Jalan Gatot Subroto No. 10

Jakarta, 12710

Phone: 62-21-522-5711

Fax: 62-21-520-7226

Email: kal_bki@sig.net.id