Jakarta. Foreign nationals can now apply for a limited stay visa (VITAS) to pursue non-formal education in Indonesia, effective from July 15.

This new policy was announced by the Directorate General of Immigration. It is expected to provide broader access for foreign nationals who want to study outside formal education pathways.

The visa is issued under the E30 index, and the permitted stay duration ranges from 1 to 2 years, depending on the applicant's choice. This policy applies to foreign nationals who want to take language courses, skill training, or other non-formal education programs in Indonesia.

Acting Director General of Immigration, Yuldi Yusman, said the application process is conducted online.

“Applications for non-formal education visas are submitted online through evisa.imigrasi.go.id. To apply for this visa, foreign nationals need to have a guarantor. The guarantor can be an individual or the targeted non-formal educational institution,” Yuldi said, as reported by Antara on Wednesday.

To apply for this visa, foreign nationals must prepare supporting documents such as a passport valid for at least 6 months, proof of living funds equivalent to US$2,000, and a recent colored photo.

The visa application fee is set at Rp 6 million for a 1-year stay and Rp 8.5 million for 2 years.

Additionally, the Directorate General of Immigration has updated the formal education visa system. For primary-secondary education visas (E30A) and higher education visas (E30B), the allowed stay period is now up to four years, increased from the previous maximum of two years.

“Previously, the validity period for formal education stay permits was only one or two years,” Yuldi explained.

For formal visas, applicants can also be guaranteed by an individual or the educational institution where they study. The fee is Rp 12 million for a 4-year stay, while the 1- and 2-year options remain the same as the non-formal scheme.

Yuldi said this policy is part of the government’s efforts to make Indonesia an international education destination. Currently, there are more than 3,000 universities in Indonesia, with 125 of them being public campuses.

Several campuses have even ranked among the top 300 universities worldwide, particularly in cultural studies, which are quite popular among foreign students.

“We hope this policy will open more opportunities for foreign nationals who want to develop themselves through education in Indonesia, both formal and non-formal. This is also a strategic step to support Indonesia’s competitiveness on the global stage through the education sector,” Yuldi said.