If you have embarked on the path of investing in real estate in Bali and Indonesia as a whole, you may have already come across an important certificate called Pondok Wisata. In this article, you will be able to understand why it is needed, how to obtain it, and what is so special about it.
Pondok Wisata is a license to provide accommodation services for tourists in places where there are no large hotels. For old licenses, these are premises with up to 3 bedrooms, for new ones - up to 5 rooms. Pondok Wisata is required for those who want to open a guesthouse or hotel in an unofficial zone of tourist development. This zone can be anywhere, from beaches to mountain villages. To open a guesthouse or hotel with more rooms, a full hotel license will be required.
This license can only be issued in the name of an Indonesian citizen or a PT company that manages villas.
Note: PT stands for Perseroan Terbatas, a limited liability company whose capital is divided into shares and the liability of shareholders depends on the number of shares they own.
The issuance of the Pondok Wisata license is valid for 5 years, after which it must be renewed. You will also need to file property tax returns, ranging from monthly to yearly, depending on the requirements of local tax authorities in your region. If the property does not generate income, you still need to file the appropriate tax documents. If you have a local friend who is interested in doing business with you, he as a citizen can obtain a license for a guesthouse without creating a business.
Foreigners need to open a business (PMA) to request a license for a guesthouse.
Note: PMA (Penanaman Modal Asing) is an Indonesian term that refers to a company fully or partially owned by foreigners. This is not a regular representation of a foreign company, as it can obtain a license for a full business, not just for local customer service, as a representative office does.
After opening a PMA, a foreigner can obtain a license for a guesthouse by entering into an agreement with an Indonesian citizen who will be appointed as a nominal holder, in this case, it is always the property owner, whose name will be used to obtain the Pondok Wisata license.
Note: It is issued to the property owner and is only available to Indonesian citizens. If you have acquired land rights from an Indonesian partner, their name should be listed in the Pondok Wisata.
To apply for Usaha Pondok Wisata, it is necessary to prepare and provide 5 documents on behalf of the property owner:
1. UKL - UPL: (Environmental management and impact analysis)
2. Building permit
3. IMB (Izin Mendirikan Bangunan) - a permit for building a structure
4. Proof of ownership or lease agreement of the property
5. Tax ID card (NPWP) - a document confirming the taxpayer's registration
The period of time to process "Usaha Pondok Wisata" will take between 6 months to 1 year.