NIB Indonesia refers to the Nomor Induk Berusaha, or Business Identification Number. It is the official identifier that Indonesia’s Online Single Submission (OSS) system issues to business operators. If you are setting up a foreign-owned company in Indonesia, obtaining an NIB will form part of your business registration process.
Receiving the number does not mean your company can begin every activity listed in its registration. Depending on the activity’s risk classification, you may need a Standard Certificate, a business license, or additional sector-specific approvals before starting commercial operations.
For foreign founders, the first task is to understand what the Indonesian company intends to do. Its business activities, ownership structure and operating locations determine which requirements OSS will apply.
Key Takeaways
- An NIB identifies the business operator and forms part of Indonesia’s risk-based licensing system.
- Each business entity has one NIB, but different activities and project locations may have separate licensing requirements.
- Low-risk activities generally use the NIB as their business licensing instrument. Higher-risk activities require additional certificates or licenses before commercial operations.
- A foreign-owned PT PMA obtains its own NIB after preparing the relevant corporate registration information.
- The government’s online NIB application is free. Company incorporation, other approvals and professional assistance may involve separate costs.
- Existing companies should check their OSS records when expanding, changing activities or reviewing the transition to KBLI 2025.
What Is an NIB in Indonesia?
Nomor Induk Berusaha (NIB) is the identification number issued to a business operator through Indonesia’s OSS system. The Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/BKPM administers OSS as the country’s integrated platform for risk-based business licensing.
The NIB connects the operator’s legal identity with its registered business information. It provides a reference for government administration and for parties checking the identity of an Indonesian business.
Article 16 of Minister of Investment and Downstreaming/Head of BKPM Regulation No. 5 of 2025 states that each business entity has one NIB.
The same regulation distinguishes an NIB that functions as business legality from one that provides limited legality while the operator completes additional licensing requirements.
That distinction matters if you receive your NIB while a Standard Certificate is awaiting verification or a sector authority has yet to issue a business license. Your company may be able to undertake permitted preparation activities while it completes those requirements.
NIB, KBLI, AHU and NPWP Have Different Functions
You will encounter several Indonesian registration terms during company setup. They refer to different parts of the process.
| Term | Meaning | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| NIB | Nomor Induk Berusaha | Identifies the business operator within OSS and forms part of its business licensing. |
| KBLI | Klasifikasi Baku Lapangan Usaha Indonesia | Classifies the economic activities the business intends to conduct. |
| AHU | Administrasi Hukum Umum | Maintains corporate legal administration records, including company establishment, approvals and recorded amendments. |
| NPWP | Nomor Pokok Wajib Pajak | Identifies the taxpayer for Indonesian tax administration. |
KBLI classification deserves attention before you submit your OSS application. Statistics Indonesia (BPS) established KBLI 2025 through BPS Regulation No. 7 of 2025.
For a new filing or an amendment, check the KBLI descriptions used by OSS, including the activities each code includes and excludes. Existing businesses converting older codes should also examine the official OSS KBLI conversion tool.
Our separate guide to KBLI Indonesia for foreign investors explains how to classify your activities, review foreign ownership eligibility and assess the investment requirements attached to your proposed business scope.
Does an NIB Also Work as an Importer Identification Number?
An NIB can also provide customs access and serve as an importer identification number for an eligible business operator.
Articles 17 and 18 of BKPM Regulation No. 5 of 2025 distinguish customs access according to the type of operator and require businesses that need an importer identification number to select the applicable importer category.
- API-U (Angka Pengenal Importir Umum): Used for importing goods intended for trading.
- API-P (Angka Pengenal Importir Produsen): Used for importing goods for the operator’s own production-related purposes, including capital goods, raw materials and supporting materials.
The regulation provides for the selection of one importer identification category during OSS registration.
A manufacturer importing machinery for its production facility may have a different importer identification requirement from a company bringing finished goods into Indonesia for resale.
The appropriate category depends on the operator’s business model and applicable import rules. Product-specific approvals, commodity restrictions and customs requirements remain separate.
Who Needs an NIB in Indonesia?
Business operators conducting activities covered by Indonesia’s business licensing framework generally need an NIB. The registration route depends on the operator’s legal form and the activities it plans to undertake.
Foreign-Owned Companies (PT PMA)
A foreign investor planning commercial operations through an Indonesian limited liability company will generally consider a PT PMA, subject to the ownership rules that apply to the proposed business.
A PT PMA obtains its NIB under the company’s own legal identity. The founders prepare the relevant corporate information before completing the OSS registration.
The NIB belongs to the Indonesian business entity. A foreign director’s passport, shareholder’s personal tax number or investor stay permit cannot replace the company’s business registration.
Founders should settle the proposed ownership structure and business scope before submitting the OSS application.
A KBLI classification tells you how Indonesia categorizes the activity. It does not establish whether your proposed foreign shareholding is permitted. Foreign ownership eligibility requires a separate review under Presidential Regulation No. 10 of 2021, as amended by Presidential Regulation No. 49 of 2021, and any applicable sector rules.
Investment and capital requirements also need their own assessment. A valid KBLI code and an issued NIB do not remove those obligations.
If you are still choosing your company structure, read our explanation of PT PMA companies in Indonesia before starting the registration process.
Domestic Companies and Individual Business Operators
Indonesian-owned companies and eligible individual entrepreneurs also use OSS to register their activities and obtain an NIB.
The information required for an individual differs from the documents needed for an incorporated company. An Indonesian limited liability company should apply using its corporate identity and registration details.
Foreign Representative Offices
Foreign companies considering a representative office should identify the office category before preparing their registration.
Representative offices such as KPPA and KP3A have office-type-specific NIB and regulatory requirements. BKPM Regulation No. 5 of 2025 includes NIB documentation formats for representative-office arrangements.
These offices follow a different registration pathway from an ordinary PT PMA. Their permitted activities and additional approvals depend on the representative-office category and applicable sector rules.
A foreign company should therefore establish whether it needs a representative presence or an Indonesian entity authorized to conduct its intended commercial activities.
How Does OSS Determine What Your NIB Allows You to Do?
OSS applies Indonesia’s risk-based licensing framework to each business activity. The relevant activity and project information determine the licensing instruments the operator must obtain.
Government Regulation No. 28 of 2025 governs this framework. It took effect on 5 June 2025 and revoked Government Regulation No. 5 of 2021.
The OSS portal identifies 5 October 2025 as the relevant implementation cut-off for certain projects carried over from the previous workflow. This date concerns transitional project handling and should not be confused with the regulation’s effective date.
Businesses reviewing older OSS records can consult the official transition-project guidance to determine which procedure applies to an unfinished application.
The Four OSS Risk Levels
Articles 128 to 133 of Government Regulation No. 28 of 2025 establish the general risk classification and licensing instruments.
| Risk Level | Licensing Instruments | When Operations Can Begin |
|---|---|---|
| Low | NIB | The NIB provides business legality for the low-risk activity. The operator must also satisfy applicable basic and sector requirements. |
| Medium-Low | NIB and self-declared Standard Certificate | The operator may undertake the activity under the applicable licensing instruments and must meet the declared business standards. |
| Medium-High | NIB and Standard Certificate requiring verification | An unverified certificate supports preparation. The operator needs a verified Standard Certificate before starting the relevant operational or commercial activity. |
| High | NIB and applicable business license (Izin) | The NIB supports preparation. The relevant authority must issue the required license before operational or commercial activities begin. |
The difference between preparation and commercial operations is particularly important for medium-high-risk and high-risk activities.
For example, a manufacturer may receive its NIB while preparing its facility. Where the business falls into the medium-high-risk category, an unverified Standard Certificate can support preparation. Article 132 of Government Regulation No. 28 of 2025 requires the verified certificate for the relevant operational or commercial activity.
For high-risk activities, Article 133 allows the NIB to support preparation while the operator obtains the required business license. The company needs that license before beginning the relevant operations.
You can review these provisions in the official government copy of PP No. 28 of 2025.
Other Requirements May Apply to Your Business Location
The business activity, premises and project location may introduce requirements beyond the main risk-based licensing instruments.
Depending on the project, the operator may need to address:
- KKPR: Spatial planning conformity for the proposed location.
- Environmental approvals: The applicable environmental requirements for the activity and its expected impact.
- Building-related approvals or certifications: Documents such as PBG or SLF where the premises or construction activity requires them.
- Sector-specific approvals: Additional requirements for regulated activities or products.
These requirements depend on the company’s circumstances. A consultancy renting space in an existing commercial building will not necessarily follow the same process as an investor constructing a new factory.
An issued NIB does not establish that every separate spatial, environmental, building or sector requirement has been fulfilled.
PB-UMKU and Supporting Business Activities Are Different
Some businesses must obtain Perizinan Berusaha untuk Menunjang Kegiatan Usaha (PB-UMKU), which refers to additional licensing instruments that support the relevant operations.
Article 135 of Government Regulation No. 28 of 2025 addresses PB-UMKU within the risk-based licensing framework.
Foreign investors should distinguish this licensing category from the separate classification of main and supporting business activities within a company’s OSS records.
A supporting activity describes what the company does and how that work relates to its principal business. PB-UMKU concerns additional permissions required under the applicable regulations.
Can One NIB Cover Several Business Activities and Locations?
A business entity generally retains one NIB when it registers additional activities or project locations. Each activity and location must still meet the licensing requirements that apply to it.
Imagine a PT PMA registered in Jakarta for consultancy services. Its directors later want the same company to operate a separate commercial activity in Bali.
The company does not obtain a second NIB solely because it adds another project under the same legal entity. It must determine whether its proposed Bali activity is permitted, whether the existing corporate scope covers it and which OSS licensing steps apply.
Foreign ownership restrictions, regional administrative requirements and location-specific conditions may affect that assessment. A Jakarta head office does not exempt a Bali project from requirements applicable to the project itself.
If the company plans to establish a new legal entity instead, that entity follows its own registration process and obtains its own NIB.
The same principle applies when a foreign-owned trading company adds manufacturing or technical services. The directors should review the new work before submitting it as an additional business activity.
Notes from InvestinAsia Consultants
When preparing an NIB application, we would start with the contracts the Indonesian company expects to sign. Who owns the goods? Who imports them? Which entity invoices the customer, and where will the work take place? The answers help determine which activities and project locations need to appear in the corporate documents and OSS records.
How to Get an NIB in Indonesia Through OSS
An incorporated company applies for an NIB through the official OSS portal. The applicant needs accurate company information and a clear description of the planned business activities.
For a PT PMA, the practical sequence begins before anyone opens the OSS application form.
1. Prepare the Company’s Legal Information
Collect the relevant corporate registration documents, management details, tax information and business contact details.
The information submitted through OSS should match the company’s legal records. Check the company name, address, management information and business scope before proceeding.
2. Define the Business Activities
Identify the products and services the Indonesian company will provide. Review the current KBLI 2025 descriptions and exclusions, then assess the applicable foreign investment and licensing conditions.
A trading company, for example, should establish whether it will own imported goods, act as an intermediary, provide installation services or perform several of those functions.
These distinctions affect the classification and licensing review.
3. Prepare the Project Information
OSS requires information about the proposed business and its projects.
Prepare the relevant operating locations and investment information. Check whether the planned premises and business activities introduce additional licensing requirements.
A foreign-owned company should also review the applicable investment and capital provisions before finalizing its project information.
For the separate financial requirements, see our article on PT PMA minimum capital and investment requirements.
4. Submit the Application Through OSS
Access the appropriate business operator account and complete the application using the company’s registered information.
Review the submitted activities, locations and other project details before confirming the application.
The relevant OSS workflow depends on the type of business operator and its proposed activities. Avoid relying on screenshots from an older interface when submitting a new application.
5. Review the Issued Licensing Documents
After OSS issues the NIB, examine the licensing results associated with the registered activities.
Where the activity requires a Standard Certificate, verification or an additional license, complete the applicable steps before starting the operations that depend on those instruments.
Save the issued records and keep them available for the company’s compliance team and relevant counterparties.
Founders who have not completed incorporation can follow our separate guide on how to set up a PT PMA in Indonesia for the wider company registration process.
How to Check an Existing NIB Before Doing Business
A company’s NIB is a useful starting point when reviewing an Indonesian supplier, acquisition target or prospective business partner.
The OSS portal provides a public search using the NIB number. You can use it for a preliminary identity check.
The public search alone should not be treated as proof that every activity or project location has completed its licensing requirements.
For a deeper review, request the company’s current OSS records and relevant supporting documents.
| What to Review | What You Need to Establish | Documents to Request |
|---|---|---|
| Business identity | The registered operator is the entity entering the transaction. | NIB and current corporate records. |
| Business activities | The relevant registered activities cover the proposed work. | OSS activity information and KBLI descriptions. |
| Project location | The relevant project location appears in the business records. | OSS project information and applicable location documents. |
| Licensing status | The operator has completed the licensing steps required for the activity. | Standard Certificates, verification records and business licenses, where applicable. |
| Additional approvals | The company has obtained applicable additional permissions. | Relevant sector approvals, PB-UMKU records and other required documents. |
A matching company name in a public search is an initial identity indicator. Compare the NIB with the company’s current legal records and the entity named in your contract.
You should also establish that the person signing on the company’s behalf has the necessary authority. The NIB alone does not settle that separate corporate question.
Notes from InvestinAsia Consultants
For an existing company, we would request the current OSS documents rather than rely on a screenshot of its NIB. A supplier may have a valid business identity while a particular activity still needs certification or approval. Compare the planned transaction with the activity records, project locations and relevant licensing documents before drawing a conclusion.
How Much Does an NIB Cost in Indonesia?
The government does not charge a fee for submitting an NIB application through OSS.
On 17 June 2026, Indonesia’s Ministry of Trade confirmed that business operators can obtain an NIB online through OSS free of charge.
This refers to the government’s NIB application. It does not make the entire company establishment or licensing process free.
An investor may still incur separate costs for incorporation, notarial work, professional services or other required approvals. The applicable charges depend on the service and the company’s circumstances.
If you engage a consultant, ask for a quotation that separates professional assistance from government charges and other third-party costs.
How Long Does NIB Registration Take?
Processing time depends on whether the company information is ready and whether OSS requires corrections or additional checks.
A straightforward application may progress faster than one involving inconsistent corporate information or an activity that requires further assessment.
The time needed to obtain the NIB should also be distinguished from the time needed to secure a verified Standard Certificate or sector-specific license.
For a new business, plan the proposed operating date against the full licensing process rather than the expected NIB issuance date alone.
Does an Existing NIB Need to Be Updated After KBLI 2025?
The introduction of KBLI 2025 does not require an existing business to obtain a new license solely because its activity code changes.
In its 27 April 2026 announcement, Statistics Indonesia confirmed that business licenses issued before KBLI 2025 implementation remain valid.
When the change only involves converting an existing code without changing the substance of the business, the government provides for adjustment through the AHU and OSS systems. A code-only conversion does not require a new license or an amendment to the company’s articles of association solely for that reason.
A different assessment applies when the company changes its stated business purposes or the substance of its activities. The operator must review the relevant corporate and licensing amendments.
Existing companies should inspect the codes and activity descriptions in their current records rather than assume that the conversion has worked as intended for every registered project.
What About New NIB Applications?
A new application requires you to check the KBLI descriptions and filing process that OSS uses for the proposed activity.
The transition from KBLI 2020 to KBLI 2025 may affect how an existing activity is classified. Some previous codes have been divided, combined or reorganized.
Where the company is adding a new activity, review the full description and exclusions under the current classification. The numerical code alone may not tell you whether it covers the proposed commercial work.
The official OSS conversion facility provides a starting point for checking the relationship between older and newer codes.
The company’s own activity description, corporate records and applicable licensing requirements still need to be consistent with the resulting classification.
Prepare Your NIB Application Around the Business You Plan to Run
Before submitting an OSS application, write down what your Indonesian entity will sell, which services it will perform and where those activities will take place.
For an existing company, compare that plan with the activities and locations in its current OSS records. Identify anything that needs a corporate amendment, licensing update or additional approval.
Once the scope is clear, you can prepare the registration documents and determine whether professional assistance would be useful.
InvestinAsia provides NIB registration assistance in Indonesia for businesses preparing or updating their OSS registration. Our Indonesia market-entry work is supported through vOffice and IZIN.co.id.
Need Help Preparing Your NIB Application?
Review our registration service or ask our Indonesia team about your proposed business activities and OSS requirements.
- Government of Indonesia. (2025). Government Regulation No. 28 of 2025 concerning Risk-Based Business Licensing. Official regulation record. Retrieved from
https://peraturan.go.id/id/pp-no-28-tahun-2025 - Government of Indonesia. (2025). Government Regulation No. 28 of 2025 concerning Risk-Based Business Licensing. Official government PDF, Articles 128 to 135. Retrieved from
https://ppid.kkp.go.id/media/uploads/document_regulation/PP_Nomor_28_Tahun_2025_compressed.pdf - Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/BKPM. (2025). Ministerial Regulation No. 5 of 2025 concerning Guidelines and Procedures for Risk-Based Business Licensing and Investment Facilities through OSS. Official regulation PDF, Articles 16 to 18 and 26. Retrieved from
https://www.peraturan.go.id/files/peraturan-bkpm-no-5-tahun-2025.pdf - Government of Indonesia. (2021). Presidential Regulation No. 49 of 2021 amending Presidential Regulation No. 10 of 2021 concerning Business Sectors for Investment. Retrieved from
https://peraturan.go.id/id/perpres-no-49-tahun-2021 - Statistics Indonesia. (2025). Regulation No. 7 of 2025 concerning the Indonesian Standard Industrial Classification (KBLI 2025). Retrieved from
https://www.peraturan.go.id/id/peraturan-bps-no-7-tahun-2025 - Online Single Submission. Official OSS portal and NIB search facility. Retrieved from
https://oss.go.id/en - Online Single Submission. Guide to Applications for Low and Medium-Low Risk Business Licensing. Retrieved from
https://oss.go.id/id/panduan/6910225e67aecc64abaeef35 - Online Single Submission. Guide to Applications for Medium-High and High Risk Business Licensing. Retrieved from
https://oss.go.id/id/panduan/69102b5d67aecc64abaeef41 - Online Single Submission. Transition-Project Licensing Guidance for the Implementation of Government Regulation No. 28 of 2025. Retrieved from
https://oss.go.id/id/panduan/6940c6d3f9a056e7711219eb - Online Single Submission. KBLI 2020 to KBLI 2025 Conversion Facility. Retrieved from
https://oss.go.id/id/kbli/konversi - Statistics Indonesia. (2026, April 27). Pemerintah Memastikan KBLI 2025 Tidak Memerlukan Perizinan Baru. Official government announcement. Retrieved from
https://www.bps.go.id/id/news/2026/04/27/898/pemerintah-memastikan-kbli-2025-tidak-memerlukan-perizinan-baru.html - Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia. (2026, June 17). Perkuat Legalitas dan Daya Saing di Perniagaan Elektronik, Mendag Busan Ajak Pelaku Usaha Segera Miliki NIB. Official ministry announcement. Retrieved from
https://www.kemendag.go.id/berita/siaran-pers/perkuat-legalitas-dan-daya-saing-di-perniagaan-elektronik-mendag-busan-ajak-pelaku-usaha-segera-miliki-nib
