Can a foreigner buy property in Indonesia?
Indonesia reserves full ownership of land (Hak Milik) for Indonesian citizens. Foreigners can hold a right of use or a lease, and can buy certain flats in permitted areas.
Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Land
Only Indonesian citizens may hold full ownership of land. A foreigner who lives in Indonesia can hold a right of use (Hak Pakai), which lasts for a fixed time and can be extended.
Houses and flats
A foreigner may hold a house on a right of use, and may buy a flat unit in an approved building under the conditions that the law sets for foreigners.
Buying through a company
A foreign-owned company set up under the investment rules can hold rights such as a building-use right, but not full ownership.
Limits and closed zones
- Rights held by foreigners are time-limited and tied to a residence permit in some cases.
What to watch for
- An arrangement where an Indonesian holds the title for a foreigner, often called a nominee, is risky. The land law can make such an agreement void.
- Check the exact type of land certificate with the land office before paying.
Understand the legal system first
Indonesia belongs to the Civil law family. Property is registered and transferred differently in different traditions, so it helps to know how the system works.
Read the Indonesia legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Compare Indonesia with another country →
Official sources
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TheLawToKnow Tools’s guide to foreign property ownership is an educational overview of general rules. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace the official source or a lawyer in the country. Report a mistake.
