How to obtain Indonesian business permits and licenses

To engage in general trading, goods, or other services as a business in Indonesia, you’ll need to do two things. First, set up a business and acquire an Indonesian business license. Aside from a general business license, some companies may need more specific permits and licenses to operate legally, such as a commercial alcohol license.

For example, a company in the manufacturing industry outside of oil, gas, and geothermal energy should have an industrial business license, and a construction company should have a construction business license.

Commercial and Operational Licenses

The Ministry of Investment (BKPM) is the regulatory body responsible for processing licenses for several sectors in Indonesia. These licenses cannot be obtained via OSS, so you must apply directly to the Ministry of Investment to acquire them.

Sectors Licensed by Ministry of Investment/BKPM:

• Electricity
• Mineral and Coal
• Oil and Gas
• Public Housing and Work
• Customs and Taxation
• Capital Investment

To register your business, you must use the Online Single Submission System (OSS). The OSS is a one-stop shop for business licenses. Here you can apply for a business identification number (Nomor Induk Berusaha, or NIB), business license, and other commercial and operational permits.