Need BPJS for yourself, your family or your staff?
- We check whether you must register — and which programme applies
- We register foreign employees, directors and family members
- We fix inactive memberships and data errors
BPJS for foreigners: key facts
| Topic | What you need to know |
|---|---|
| Who must join | Foreigners who work in Indonesia for at least six months, plus their employer |
| Main document | A valid KITAS or KITAP (visit visas and VoA don’t qualify) |
| Health cover (employees) | 5% of monthly salary: 4% employer, 1% employee, salary base capped at IDR 12 million |
| Health cover (independent) | Fixed monthly fee per person by class, about IDR 42,000 to IDR 150,000. Changing to KRIS, so check current rates |
| Family | Covers a spouse and up to three children under the employee’s membership |
| Employment cover | JHT old-age savings, JKK work accident, JKM death benefit, and JP pension where eligible |
| Card | Digital card in the Mobile JKN app; a physical card is optional |
What is BPJS?
BPJS stands for Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial, which means Social Security Administering Body. It is Indonesia’s state social security system, and two separate bodies run it:
- BPJS Kesehatan runs the national health insurance programme JKN-KIS. It covers doctor visits, specialist care, hospital stays, maternity and many medicines.
- BPJS Ketenagakerjaan (also called BP Jamsostek) protects workers. It covers work accidents, death, old-age savings and pension.
Each body has its own registration, card and contributions. A foreign employee usually needs both. A non-working KITAS holder usually needs only BPJS Kesehatan.
Who must register for BPJS?
Under Presidential Regulation 82/2018 on national health insurance, foreigners who work in Indonesia for at least six months are mandatory participants. In practice:
- Foreign employees and resident directors with a Work KITAS must be registered by their employer in both BPJS programmes.
- Investors and company owners who also receive a salary from their PT PMA are registered like employees.
- Spouses and children on a dependent KITAS can join through the employee’s family membership.
- Retirees and other non-working KITAS or KITAP holders can usually join BPJS Kesehatan as independent members. Eligibility depends on your permit, so confirm it before you apply. Most retirement KITAS applicants also need private health insurance.
- Tourists and short-term visitors on a visit visa or VoA can’t join.
Some government services check BPJS status, and immigration may ask for proof of active membership when you apply for or extend a stay permit. Check the current requirements for your permit before you file.
BPJS Kesehatan: health cover and costs
BPJS Kesehatan covers medically necessary care through a referral system. You register with a first-level clinic or doctor (faskes tingkat pertama). That clinic refers you to specialists and hospitals when needed. In an emergency you can go straight to any hospital that works with BPJS.
What it covers
- General practitioner visits and basic treatment
- Specialist consultations and hospital care after referral
- Surgery, maternity care and many prescribed medicines
- Emergency care at participating hospitals
It doesn’t cover cosmetic treatment, care abroad, or services you choose without a referral. Many expats add private insurance for faster access and a wider choice of doctors.
How much it costs
| Membership type | Who pays | Monthly contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Employee (PPU) | Employer 4% + employee 1% | 5% of salary, salary base capped at IDR 12 million per month |
| Independent member (PBPU), class I | Member | About IDR 150,000 per person |
| Independent member (PBPU), class II | Member | About IDR 100,000 per person |
| Independent member (PBPU), class III | Member | About IDR 42,000 per person (part subsidised by the government) |
Indonesia is replacing the inpatient classes with one standard, KRIS (Kelas Rawat Inap Standar). Independent rates may change when KRIS takes full effect, so check the current rate on bpjs-kesehatan.go.id or ask us before you register.
BPJS Ketenagakerjaan: employment protection
Employers must register their workers, including foreign staff, in BPJS Ketenagakerjaan. The main programmes are:
| Programme | What it covers | Employer | Employee |
|---|---|---|---|
| JKK, work accident | Medical care and compensation for work accidents and occupational illness | 0.24% to 1.74% (by risk level) | – |
| JKM, death benefit | Lump-sum benefit to the family if the member dies outside work | 0.3% | – |
| JHT, old-age savings | Savings paid out when membership ends, for example when a foreign worker leaves Indonesia | 3.7% | 2% |
| JP, pension | Monthly pension, up to a salary cap | 2% | 1% |
Percentages are of monthly salary. Whether JP pension applies to foreign workers should be confirmed case by case with BPJS Ketenagakerjaan. Check current caps and rates on bpjsketenagakerjaan.go.id.
Documents foreigners need
- Passport, valid for the length of your stay
- KITAS or KITAP, plus your stay permit details from immigration
- Family card (Kartu Keluarga) or marriage and birth certificates if you are adding family members, with translations if required
- Tax number (NPWP), for employees and often for independent members
- An active email address and Indonesian phone number for the Mobile JKN app
- For employees: your employer’s BPJS registration and your employment details
Requirements can differ between branch offices, so bring originals and copies.
How to register for BPJS
If you are employed
- Your employer registers the company with BPJS Kesehatan and BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, if it hasn’t already.
- HR adds you, and your family members if applicable, with your KITAS and salary details.
- You choose your first-level clinic and activate your digital card in the Mobile JKN app.
- Contributions are deducted from payroll every month.
If you register independently
- Check that your KITAS or KITAP type allows independent membership.
- Register through the Mobile JKN app, the BPJS Kesehatan hotline, or a branch office.
- Choose a class and a first-level clinic, and register family members on the same account.
- Pay the first contribution through a bank or the app. Your membership becomes active after the waiting period set by BPJS.
Payment due dates
- BPJS Kesehatan: pay by the 10th of each month.
- BPJS Ketenagakerjaan: the employer pays by the 15th of the following month.
Late payment can deactivate membership until the arrears are paid. Set up auto-debit, or let your payroll provider handle it.
Common mistakes expats make
- Registering only for health and forgetting employment cover. Foreign employees usually need both.
- Letting membership lapse after a job change. Update your status when you change employer or permit.
- Using a hospital without a referral. Outside emergencies, start at your registered clinic.
- Mismatched data. Names and passport numbers must match your KITAS exactly, or claims and checks can fail.
- Not claiming JHT when leaving Indonesia. Foreign workers can claim their old-age savings when they leave for good.
BPJS questions from expats
Is BPJS mandatory for foreigners in Indonesia?
Yes, for foreigners who work in Indonesia for at least six months. Their employer must register them in BPJS Kesehatan and BPJS Ketenagakerjaan. KITAS and KITAP holders who don’t work can usually join BPJS Kesehatan as independent members, depending on their permit.
Can I join BPJS Kesehatan with a KITAS?
Yes. A valid KITAS or KITAP is the main document foreigners need. Tourists and visitors on a visit visa or Visa on Arrival can’t join.
How much does BPJS cost per month?
Employees pay 1% of salary for health cover and their employer pays 4%, on a salary base capped at IDR 12 million. Independent members have paid a fixed monthly fee by class, about IDR 42,000 to IDR 150,000 per person. Check current rates before you register, because the class system is changing to KRIS.
Does BPJS cover my spouse and children?
Yes. An employee’s contribution covers the member, a spouse and up to three children. Other family members can be added for an extra contribution.
Can I use BPJS at private hospitals?
Yes, at private hospitals and clinics that work with BPJS. You start at your registered first-level clinic (faskes 1) and get a referral for specialists or hospital care, except in emergencies.
Is BPJS enough, or do I still need private insurance?
BPJS gives solid basic cover at a low cost, but you have less choice of doctor, and waiting times can be long. Many expats keep both. Retirement KITAS applicants usually need private health insurance anyway.
What happens if I pay late?
Late payment can deactivate your membership until the arrears are paid. If you need hospital care soon after reactivating, you may pay an extra fee. Pay before the monthly due date to stay covered.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Rates and rules are set by BPJS Kesehatan, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan and government regulation, and they can change. Always confirm current figures before you register.
Not sure what applies to you?
Tell us your permit and situation. We’ll tell you which BPJS programmes apply and what they cost, and we’ll register you, your family or your staff.