**A PT PMA is the foreign-owned limited company (Perseroan Terbatas Penanaman Modal Asing) that lets non-Indonesians legally run a business and hold certain land rights in Bali. As of mid-2026, BKPM guidance points to a planned investment of IDR 10 billion-plus per business line, with registration handled through the OSS system. Figures and rules below are date-stamped and subject to change.**
For most foreigners, the PT PMA is the only clean, on-the-record vehicle for doing business in Bali. It replaces the workarounds people still whisper about — the nominee “borrow a local’s name” structure, the dormant local PT — both of which carry real legal exposure under Indonesian law. A PT PMA puts your name on the company, your capital on the books, and your business inside the OSS (Online Single Submission) system that the government actually monitors.
Bali Investor Club is an independent community and guide. We are operated by Bali Premium Trip, a concierge and broker — not a law firm, not a tax adviser, and not a part of BKPM. Treat this page as orientation, then confirm specifics with a licensed Indonesian notary, legal consultant, and tax adviser before you commit capital.
What exactly is a PT PMA?
A PT PMA is an Indonesian limited liability company with foreign ownership. It is governed by the Investment Law and administered through BKPM (the Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board, now folded into the Ministry of Investment/BKPM). The “PMA” suffix simply means foreign capital is involved — even one percent foreign ownership makes a company a PMA.
Why it matters in Bali specifically:
- It lets you legally generate revenue (villas, restaurants, consulting, trading, tourism services) and issue invoices.
- It can hold Hak Pakai (right to use) and, for the company itself, Hak Guna Bangunan (HGB, right to build) — the legitimate routes for a foreign-linked entity to control property, rather than freehold (Hak Milik), which foreigners cannot hold.
- It supports work and stay permits (KITAS) for directors and key staff.
How much capital does a PT PMA really need?
This is where most people get confused, so let’s separate two numbers.
| Item | Figure (mid-2026, subject to change) | What it actually means |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum planned investment | IDR 10,000,000,000 (~USD 615k) per 5-digit KBLI per project location | A plan you declare; it excludes land and buildings |
| Issued/paid-up capital | Commonly IDR 10,000,000,000 stated; practice on actual deposit varies | The amount recorded as shareholder capital |
| Realistic working capital | Project-specific | What you genuinely need to operate |
The IDR 10 billion figure is a planned-investment threshold per business classification, not necessarily cash you wire on day one. Many founders capitalise a portion and treat the rest as a committed investment plan executed over time. How strictly this is interpreted has shifted before and can shift again — this is exactly the kind of detail to verify with a current notary, not a blog from two years ago.
Which KBLI codes will you need?
KBLI (Klasifikasi Baku Lapangan Usaha Indonesia) is Indonesia’s business-activity classification. Every revenue activity must map to a KBLI code, and each code carries its own foreign-ownership rules, licensing, and risk level under the OSS risk-based system.
Common Bali examples:
- 55130 — villa / short-term accommodation
- 56101 — restaurants
- 68111 — real estate on owned or leased property
- 70209 — management and business consulting
- 79111 / 79121 — travel agency and tour operator activities
A few cautions worth stating plainly:
- Some activities are open to 100% foreign ownership; others are capped or closed. The Positive Investment List defines this and has been revised more than once.
- Picking the wrong code, or too many codes, can complicate licensing and capital requirements.
- Tour operator and certain tourism codes have specific conditions that change — check the live OSS classification, not an old summary.
What does the BKPM/OSS process look like, step by step?
The modern route runs almost entirely through OSS. The broad sequence, as of mid-2026:
| Step | What happens | Typical time (estimate, varies) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Deed of establishment | Notary drafts articles; shareholders/directors defined | 3–7 days |
| 2. Ministry of Law approval (SK Kemenkumham) | Legal entity recognised | 1–3 days |
| 3. NIB via OSS | Business Identification Number issued | Days |
| 4. Risk-based licensing | Standard/operational permits per KBLI risk level | Days to weeks |
| 5. NPWP + tax registration | Company tax ID, VAT if applicable | Days |
| 6. Sector permits | E.g., tourism (TDUP), building, environmental | Weeks+, sector-dependent |
Total realistic timeline for a clean, low-risk setup is often a few weeks to set up the entity, with operational and sector permits trailing depending on your KBLI. Anyone promising “your PT PMA in 3 days, fully licensed” is describing entity registration only — not the full operating-ready picture.
Common mistakes we see foreigners make
- Believing a nominee arrangement is “how everyone does it” — it is legally fragile and can void your control.
- Treating IDR 10 billion as a hard cash gate and walking away, or treating it as fiction and ignoring it.
- Choosing KBLI codes by guesswork, then discovering ownership caps after paying for incorporation.
- Confusing company-held HGB/Hak Pakai with personal freehold ownership.
- Forgetting that a PT PMA is an ongoing obligation: monthly/annual tax filings, LKPM investment reports, and accounting.
When should you bring in help?
If your setup is straightforward — one clear activity, open to foreign ownership, modest scale — a good local notary and tax adviser may be all you need, and you can engage them directly. The PT PMA route gets genuinely complex when you stack multiple KBLI codes, mix property holding with operations, or layer KITAS, sector permits, and cross-border tax.
That is where Bali Investor Club can help you orient before you spend. As an independent concierge, Bali Premium Trip can walk you through the structure questions, flag the date-sensitive thresholds, and connect you with vetted licensed notaries, legal consultants, and tax advisers who do the regulated work. We don’t replace those professionals — we help you reach the right ones without the trial and error.
For complex setups — multiple activities, property plus operations, or anything that feels uncertain — reach the concierge directly on WhatsApp +62 811-2859-0000 or email info@baliinvestorclub.com. We’ll help you map your route before you commit a rupiah.
*Figures, thresholds, and procedures on this page reflect publicly available guidance as of mid-2026 and are subject to change. Final decisions rest with Indonesian authorities. Nothing here is legal, tax, or financial advice.*