Families weighing an Indonesia Golden Visa usually ask one question before anything about bonds or property: where will the children go to school? Bali and Jakarta both host established international schools teaching IB and Cambridge curricula, and because the golden visa grants a 5- or 10-year e-ITAS with linked dependent status for spouses and children, your family can settle in for an entire school career without annual renewal anxiety.
This guide covers the curricula on offer, indicative fee ranges by level, how waiting lists interact with your visa timeline, and the documents your child needs once their dependent stay permit is issued — written for investor families planning a 2027 intake.
Why Education Access Drives Golden Visa Decisions
Among the benefits investors cite for the Indonesia Golden Visa, long-term access to education, healthcare, banking, and property in Jakarta and Bali ranks near the top. The visa is a limited stay permit (e-ITAS) issued for 5 or 10 years against a qualifying investment, with no local sponsor required and multiple entry throughout its validity. For a family, that stability is the point: children can start Year 1 and finish their diploma under one immigration status, and because spouses and children are included through dependent permits tied to the main investor’s status, one qualifying investment covers the whole household’s right to live near the school gate.
Curricula Available: IB, Cambridge, and National-Plus
International schools in Bali and Jakarta broadly cluster around three frameworks. Availability varies school by school, so treat this as a map rather than a directory, and confirm accreditation directly with each admissions office.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Several schools in both cities offer the IB continuum — Primary Years, Middle Years, and the Diploma Programme. The IB Diploma remains the most widely recognised route into universities in the UK, Australia, Europe, and North America, which makes it a common default for globally mobile families who may not stay in Indonesia beyond graduation.
Cambridge International (IGCSE and A Levels)
Cambridge-pathway schools teach the Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary programmes, then IGCSE at 14–16 and, at some schools, A Levels. Families coming from British-curriculum schools in Singapore, Dubai, or Hong Kong often find this the smoothest academic transfer.
National-Plus and Other Systems
Jakarta in particular also offers Australian, American, and other national-system schools, plus “national-plus” schools that blend the Indonesian curriculum with English-medium instruction at lower fee points. These can suit families planning a long-term Indonesian future, especially under the 10-year golden visa route, where children may spend a full decade in one system.
Indicative Fee Ranges by School Level
Fees vary widely between schools, cities, and tiers, and they change annually. The figures below are indicative only, expressed in USD per year, and every school publishes its own current schedule — always verify directly before budgeting.
| Level | Indicative annual tuition (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Early years / kindergarten | from ~4,000–10,000 | Part-time and full-time options affect pricing |
| Primary | from ~7,000–20,000 | Top-tier Jakarta schools sit at the upper end |
| Secondary (IGCSE / MYP) | from ~10,000–25,000 | Exam fees often billed separately |
| Diploma (IB DP / A Levels) | from ~12,000–30,000+ | Highest tier; final figures on request from each school |
Beyond tuition, budget for one-time capital or enrolment fees, applications, uniforms, transport, and exam registrations. Bali’s schools generally price below Jakarta’s most established campuses, though the gap narrows at the premium end. Set against a qualifying investment starting from USD 350,000 (5-year portfolio route) or USD 700,000 (10-year), the education line is a meaningful but manageable share of the relocation picture.
Waiting Lists and Enrollment Timing vs Your Visa Timeline
The single most common planning error we see is sequencing school admissions after the visa, when the two clocks should run in parallel.
Most international schools in Indonesia follow an August-to-June academic calendar, and sought-after year groups — especially early primary and the first IGCSE year — can carry waiting lists. Admissions typically involve an application, prior school reports, and an age-appropriate assessment or interview, which is straightforward but takes weeks, not days.
The golden visa, meanwhile, is applied for online through the official e-visa system (evisa.imigrasi.go.id), and once you arrive, qualifying funds must generally be placed within 90 days of e-ITAS issuance. A workable 2027 sequence looks like this:
- 12+ months before intake: shortlist schools, visit campuses, join waiting lists where relevant.
- 9–12 months before: submit school applications; begin preparing golden visa documentation and source-of-funds evidence.
- 6 months before: lodge the golden visa application online; accept a school place and pay the deposit.
- On arrival: complete e-ITAS formalities, place the qualifying investment within the 90-day window, and finalise dependent permits before the school’s document deadline.
Schools will usually accept an enrolment while immigration paperwork is in progress, but most require valid stay-permit copies before or shortly after the first day of term — which is exactly why the two timelines should be planned together.
School Documents Your Child Needs with a Dependent KITAS
Once the main applicant’s golden visa is issued, spouses and children obtain dependent stay permits linked to the investor’s status. For school enrolment, families are typically asked for:
- The child’s passport, valid for at least six months, plus recent photographs;
- A copy of the child’s dependent KITAS / e-ITAS and, often, the main applicant’s permit;
- Previous school reports and transfer or leaving certificates, translated into English where needed;
- Birth certificate establishing the parent-child relationship (the same document family used in the dependent visa application);
- Immunisation records and any relevant learning-support documentation.
Exact lists differ by school, and immigration document requirements differ by category, so build in buffer time for legalisation or translation. Our family and dependents guide covers the immigration side of these documents in detail.
Bali or Jakarta: Which Base Suits Your Family?
The trade-offs are consistent. Jakarta offers the deepest bench of long-established international schools, the widest curriculum choice, and proximity to head offices — a natural fit for investors on the company routes (E28A/E28B) acting as directors of an Indonesian entity. Bali offers lifestyle, a growing international school scene, and a large expatriate family community, pairing naturally with the property and portfolio routes where daily office presence is not required. Because publicly available guidance sets no hard minimum physical-stay requirement, some families split the year between both, keeping the children anchored at one school.
Settling In: Support Beyond the School Gate
School choice is one strand of a family relocation; housing near campus, transport, healthcare, and day-one logistics are the others. Families basing themselves on the island often lean on Bali expat and relocation support services for villa sourcing, secure transportation, and on-the-ground concierge help during the settling-in months, which frees parents to focus on assessments and orientation days rather than logistics.
Disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal, immigration, tax, or financial advice. Visa categories, investment thresholds, document requirements, and school admission policies change and are applied case by case. Verify current requirements with the Directorate General of Immigration, the schools concerned, and licensed legal and financial professionals before making decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my children attend international school on a golden visa dependent permit?
Yes. Children of the main investor receive dependent stay permits linked to the investor’s golden visa, and schools accept these permits as the immigration basis for enrolment. Confirm each school’s exact document list during the application stage.
Do Bali and Jakarta schools offer the full IB Diploma?
Both cities have schools offering IB programmes, including the Diploma, alongside Cambridge IGCSE and A Level pathways. Availability is school-specific, so verify authorisation and accreditation directly with the schools on your shortlist.
How early should we apply to schools relative to the visa?
Run the processes in parallel. Join waiting lists up to a year before your intended intake, and lodge the golden visa application several months before the school year starts so dependent permits are in hand around the first day of term.
Are school fees part of the golden visa investment requirement?
No. Tuition is a separate family expense. The qualifying investment — indicatively from USD 350,000 for the 5-year portfolio route, or from USD 700,000 (or a USD 1,000,000+ qualifying apartment) for 10 years — must be placed in the applicant’s own name and maintained for the visa’s duration.
Is a 10-year visa better for school-age children than a 5-year visa?
For younger children, a 10-year permit can cover primary through diploma in one span, avoiding a mid-schooling renewal. Families with teenagers may find the 5-year route sufficient. Both are renewable if requirements continue to be met — model the timeline against your children’s ages.
Plan Your Family’s Move for 2027
The families who land smoothly are the ones who treat school admissions and the golden visa as one project, not two. If you would like help sequencing both — route selection, document preparation, and timing against a 2027 school intake — talk to our advisory desk on WhatsApp at +62 811-3941-4563 or email [email protected], and we will map your family’s timeline end to end.