Markit wrote
I'm wondering, much like happens in Europe and America, if it might not be cheaper to simply marry a local girl? Pay her say 5 million a year and live under the married Kitas? Possible a stupid question as I don't know how much it costs for a married Kitas... any ideas?
A one year spouse sponsored Kitas (with one year MERP) costs Rp. 2,055,000. A five year spouse sponsored Kitap (with two year MERP) costs Rp. 5,305,000, which can be renewed for an indefinite period (still have to renew the MERP every two years) for Rp. 10,200,000. The fly in the ointment, however, is the interview. For a Kitas processed in Renon, it is in the immigration office, where one possibly could get away with blagging a 'marriage of convenience', but the Kitap interview is at your home and is pretty intense (neighbors are also interviewed). And, if one managed to skate past the Kitas interview but ever got caught or more likely ratted out, the fraudulent application would certainly result in deportation and black listing for the foreigner, plus a huge fine and potential jail term for the complicit local.