Guides

Indonesia has several long-stay permits for foreigners who want to live on Sumba. They differ in who qualifies, how much money you must show and whether you may work.

Opening a bank account

A personal account is much easier to open once you hold a KITAS. A company account for a PT PMA needs the company's full set of papers and, in most banks, the director in person.

Sending money to buy property

Large payments for property usually go by bank transfer and are paid in rupiah inside Indonesia. Banks report cross-border transfers, and cash over IDR 100 million must be declared at the border.

Annual property tax and running costs

The yearly land and building tax (PBB-P2) is set and collected by each regency, within a national cap of 0.5%. A foreign-owned company also has recurring reporting duties.

Building permits: PBG and SLF

Before you build you need a zoning approval and a building approval (PBG), and before anyone moves in or rents the building you need a certificate of fitness (SLF).

Solar, water and internet

Sumba has long, dry seasons and patchy grid power and mobile data. Many owners plan for their own solar, water storage and satellite internet.

Culture, land and respect

On Sumba, land is tied to clans, ancestors and ritual. Disputes over coastal land for tourism have turned violent, so slow, respectful contact with the village matters as much as the paperwork.

Holiday rental rules

Renting a villa to guests is a licensed tourism business in Indonesia. Booking platforms now ask for a business number, and some licences are closed to foreigners.

Sumba vs Bali vs Lombok

Sumba is about twice the size of Bali but has around a fifth of Bali's people and a small fraction of its air traffic. Foreigners also face a lower minimum house price there.

Tourism and infrastructure

Visitor numbers on Sumba are small and air traffic has fallen since 2018. Airport upgrades are planned, but most have no fixed date.