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.
- Wise (2021) describes the KITAS as the most important requirement. Without one it calls opening an account 'very difficult if not impossible'.
- Typical papers for a personal account: passport, KITAS or KITAP, proof of address in Indonesia and a tax number (NPWP). Some banks also ask for an employer letter (Emerhub, 2024; Wise, 2021).
- Emerhub (2024) says an account without a KITAS is possible but needs extra steps, and that it arranges these through partner banks in Bali. It does not name the banks.
- Most banks will not let you finish the process online from abroad. You usually have to confirm details or sign at a branch in Indonesia (Wise, 2021).
- Opening deposits are small. Sources cite about IDR 500,000 (Wise, 2021) or IDR 1,000,000 (Emerhub, 2024). Monthly fees of about IDR 15,000 to 20,000 were reported in 2021.
- Banks named in these guides include BCA, Mandiri, BNI, BRI, PermataBank, Standard Chartered and HSBC. Requirements vary by bank and branch.
- A PT PMA account needs the deed of establishment approved by the Ministry of Law, the NIB (business number), the company NPWP, a business address document, and the passport and KITAS of foreign directors (Invest in Asia, 2026).
- Banks also ask for a board or shareholder resolution naming the signatories and may ask for the beneficial owner (UBO) record. The signing director must usually appear in person. Review takes about 3 to 10 business days once papers are in (Invest in Asia, 2026).
Sources: wise.com, emerhub.com, investinasia.id
Checked 2026-11-08. Not legal or financial advice.
More guides
Visas and residence permits
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.
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.