SIM A (Driving Licence) for Foreign Residents in Indonesia
SIM A is Indonesia's domestic driving licence for private four-wheeled vehicles up to 3,500 kg, issued by Korlantas Polri through local Satpas units.
Foreign residents on a KITAS or KITAP follow the same six-step new-issuance flow as Indonesian citizens, with passport plus immigration card substituting for KTP throughout.
Estimated time
Half-day at the Satpas if all tests pass on first attempt
Cost
Rp120,000 plus clinic-set health and psychology test fees
What You Need
Tap to check off items as you gather them
Additional Items
- Around four photocopies of passport and KITAS or KITAP for the document file
- Driver education or training certificate (Sertifikat pendidikan dan pelatihan mengemudi) — listed for WNA applicants by PID Polda Kepri
- Work permit from the Ministry of Manpower — required for SIM B (commercial) and sometimes requested locally for SIM A
- SIM C (motorcycle) and SIM B (commercial) are separate licence classes with their own application fees under PP No. 76 Tahun 2020
- SIM Internasional is a separate Indonesian-issued international driving permit (IDP) for use abroad — it requires holding a domestic SIM first and is not the same as foreign-licence conversion
- Plan to apply at the Satpas serving your KITAS-registered residential address
Step-by-Step
- 1
Prepare your document file
- Gather passport, KITAS or KITAP, and around four photocopies of each
- Activate BPJS Kesehatan if not already active and download the proof from the Mobile JKN app
- Book a slot at a Polri-affiliated clinic for the physical health certificate (Surat Keterangan Sehat Jasmani) and the psychology test (Psikotes), or use the e-Rikkes and e-PPsi apps
💡 Tip: The health and psychology certificates have short validity windows. Time them so they are still fresh when you reach the Satpas counter.
- 2
Register and verify documents at the Satpas
Registrasi & verifikasi dokumen di Satpas
- Go to the Satpas covering your KITAS-registered residential address
- Submit the application form (Formulir Permohonan SIM) together with your full document set
- The counter officer verifies that passport, KITAS or KITAP, health certificate, psychology certificate, and BPJS proof are all present
⚠️ Watch out: Wrong-Satpas applicants are sent back. The Satpas of your registered KITAS domicile is the correct one — not your work address if it differs.
- 3
Pay the PNBP fee
Pembayaran PNBP
- Pay IDR 120,000 via BRI virtual account or at the Satpas counter
- Keep the TP3S payment-proof receipt — you cannot proceed past document verification without it
- 4
Photo, fingerprints, and digital signature
Identifikasi (Foto, Sidik Jari, Tanda Tangan Digital)
- The officer photographs you against a blue background (not a selfie)
- Fingerprints are captured digitally
- You sign on a digital pad — this signature appears on the printed SIM
💡 Tip: Wear a collared shirt or modest top; selfie-style photos are rejected and you will be asked to retake.
- 5
Pass the AVIS theory exam
Ujian Teori (AVIS)
- Sit the computer-based theory exam at the Satpas
- 30 questions in 30 minutes; pass mark is 70 percent (per Polrestabes Palembang published mechanism)
- The exam covers Indonesian traffic law and road-safety scenarios in Bahasa Indonesia
⚠️ Watch out: Fail the theory exam and you can retake it after a Satpas-set waiting interval. The waiting period is not nationally standardised — ask the counter officer for the local schedule.
- 6
Pass the practical exam (Ujian Praktik I and II)
Ujian Praktik I + II
- Practical I in a closed area: braking, U-turn, S-curve, emergency stop, and parking manoeuvres
- Practical II on a public road
- Bring a vehicle from the Satpas pool or as instructed locally
⚠️ Watch out: Failing either Practical I or Practical II means rebooking a later session. There is no same-day retake at most Satpas.
- 7
Collect your SIM A card
Pengambilan SIM
- After passing both practical sections, the SIM A card is printed and handed over
- Check the spelling of your name and your KITAS or KITAP number on the card before leaving the counter
💡 Tip: If your SIM A is issued against a KITAS expert-worker permit, it is valid for one year matching the KITAS expert-worker validity. Korlantas's no-grace-period rule means a SIM expired even one day requires full reapplication — not renewal. Plan your renewal at least 14 days before the expiry date so a Satpas slot delay does not push you over the cliff.
Costs
| Item | Amount | Payment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIM A new issuance (Penerbitan SIM A baru) | Rp120,000 | BRI virtual account or Satpas counter (TP3S receipt) | PNBP fee under PP No. 76 Tahun 2020. Excludes health and psychology test fees. |
| SIM A renewal (Perpanjangan SIM A) | Rp80,000 | SINAR app or virtual account | PNBP fee under PP No. 76 Tahun 2020. Applicable while your KITAS or KITAP is still valid and your SIM has not yet expired. |
- Payment:
- BRI virtual account or Satpas counter (TP3S receipt)
- Notes:
- PNBP fee under PP No. 76 Tahun 2020. Excludes health and psychology test fees.
- Payment:
- SINAR app or virtual account
- Notes:
- PNBP fee under PP No. 76 Tahun 2020. Applicable while your KITAS or KITAP is still valid and your SIM has not yet expired.
FAQ
Documents
Can a foreign national get a SIM A in Indonesia?
Yes. Foreign nationals (WNA) on a valid KITAS or KITAP can apply for a SIM A by substituting passport plus immigration card for the KTP requirement. Tourists on a short-stay visa can only obtain a tourist SIM valid up to one month and only in Bali, per PID Polda Kepri.
General
How long is my SIM A valid as a foreign worker?
Per PID Polda Kepri: KITAP holders five years, embassy staff and family five years, KITAS expert workers (tenaga ahli) one year, tourists one month and only in Bali. The SIM cannot outlast the underlying immigration document.
Do I need to take the theory and practical tests if I already hold a foreign driving licence?
Korlantas does not publish a foreign-licence reciprocity list or a test-waiver schedule. In practice the new-issuance path with the AVIS theory exam and the practical exam applies to most foreign residents. Some Satpas offices may handle experienced drivers differently in practice, but no national Polri rule waives the tests for foreign-licence holders.
What happens if my SIM A expires?
Per Korlantas: if your SIM is even one day expired you cannot renew it. You must reapply as a new applicant, restarting the full six-step procedure including theory and practical exams plus fresh health and psychology certificates.
Where do I apply?
At the Satpas (Satuan Penyelenggara Administrasi SIM) covering your KITAS-registered residential address. The SINAR (Digital Korlantas) app supports renewal and online registration steps but the practical exam remains in-person at the Satpas.
How much does the AVIS theory exam require to pass?
The theory exam is computer-based at the Satpas. Pass requires answering 70 percent of 30 questions correctly within 30 minutes (per Polrestabes Palembang published mechanism). The exam is in Bahasa Indonesia.
After This Process
- → Drive with the SIM A and your KITAS or KITAP on you — both are checked at routine traffic stops
- → Renew via the SINAR app at least 14 days before expiry to avoid the no-grace-period reapplication trap
- → Apply for a SIM Internasional (Indonesian-issued IDP) separately if you plan to drive abroad — it requires your domestic SIM A first
Sources
- Korlantas Polri — Panduan SIM (korlantas.polri.go.id ↗)
- Digital Korlantas — SIM (renewal portal) (digitalkorlantas.polri.go.id ↗)
- PID Polda Kepri — Masa berlaku SIM untuk WNA (pid.kepri.polri.go.id ↗)
- Korlantas Polri — Peraturan (regulation index) (korlantas.polri.go.id ↗)
- PP No. 76 Tahun 2020 (PNBP tariff for Polri services) (korlantas.polri.go.id ↗)
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More in Indonesia
5 sources cited last accessed 2026-05-06
T1 official portal · T2 embassy/consulate · T3 news · T4 community — higher tier wins on conflict. methodology →
- T1Korlantas Polri 2026-05-06
SIM A is the licence for private four-wheeled vehicles up to 3,500 kg. Minimum age 17. Required documents include identification, application form, physical health certificate, psychology certificate, and active BPJS Kesehatan proof. New-issuance flow: registration and document verification, PNBP payment, photo/fingerprint/digital-signature, theory exam, practical exam, SIM card pickup. SIM A new fee IDR 120,000; renewal fee IDR 80,000. If your SIM is even one day expired you cannot renew — you must reapply as a new applicant.
korlantas.polri.go.id - T1Digital Korlantas Polri 2026-05-06
SIM renewal supported via the SINAR application. Document checklist includes e-KTP (or foreign equivalent), blue-background photo, signature, health test result, and psychology test result. Psychology test fee IDR 77,500 via e-PPsi. Renewal processing time stated as 3-7 hari kerja (3-7 working days).
digitalkorlantas.polri.go.id - T1Pusat Informasi Dokumentasi Polda Kepri (Polri) 2026-05-06
WNA SIM validity periods. KITAP holders: 5 years. Embassy staff and family: 5 years. WNA workers in Indonesia as tenaga ahli (KITAS): 1 year. Tourists: maximum 1 month and only valid in Bali. Required WNA documents include passport plus the appropriate immigration document (KITAS, KITAP, or diplomatic visa with embassy member card), and for workers a work permit from the Ministry of Manpower. Driver education / training certificate listed.
pid.kepri.polri.go.id - T1Korlantas Polri 2026-05-06
Regulatory framework: UU No. 22 Tahun 2009 (Lalu Lintas dan Angkutan Jalan), PP No. 76 Tahun 2020 (PNBP tariff schedule for Polri including SIM fees), and Perpol No. 5 Tahun 2021 (penerbitan dan penandaan SIM).
korlantas.polri.go.id - T1Pemerintah Republik Indonesia (published by Korlantas Polri) 2026-05-06
PP No. 76 Tahun 2020 is the binding PNBP tariff schedule for Polri services, including the SIM A new-issuance and renewal fees applied at every Satpas nationally.
korlantas.polri.go.id