Can foreigners buy property in Lombok? Yes. Here is how it legally works.
The honest answer first: freehold like in a German or Swiss land register does not exist for foreigners in Indonesia. Anyone promising you "freehold for foreigners" is selling a construct that will not survive a courtroom. What does exist are three legal, established routes, and set up properly they are secure, extendable, sellable and inheritable.
Legal structures, costs, taxes and visa rules in this section are current as of . Indonesian regulation changes. Treat every figure here as a starting point and have your own case confirmed by a licensed notary (PPAT), lawyer and tax advisor.
The three legal structures for foreign buyers
| Structure | What it is | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Leasehold (long-term lease) |
A notarized, registered lease, typically 25 to 30 years with contractually fixed extension options. The contract is transferable, so you can sell it on. | The simplest entry with the lowest side costs. Good for personal use and smaller budgets. |
| Hak Pakai (right of use) |
A title registered with the BPN land office that foreigners holding an Indonesian residence permit (e.g. KITAS) can hold personally. Initially 30 years, extendable in stages up to 80. | For people who live on Lombok permanently or regularly and want the title in their own name in the registry. |
| PT PMA with HGB (your own company) |
You establish an Indonesian company with foreign ownership (PT PMA). It holds the HGB title (right to build), initially 30 years, extendable in stages. The company belongs to you, is sellable and inheritable, and may legally earn rental income. | The strongest structure for investors: if you want to rent out or plan multiple properties, there is rarely a way around the PT PMA. |
Deadlines, minimum purchase prices and requirements (such as the minimum capital of a PT PMA) change regularly in Indonesia and vary by region. You get the current numbers for your case from our licensed partner lawyers, not from a website.
The buying process in Lombok, from first call to keys
Buyer profile and first call
Lombok Horizon clarifies your goal (personal use, rental, mix), budget and timeline, and which structure makes sense for it. Free and without obligation.
Selection from verified inventory
You only see properties that have passed our checks. Each comes with a dossier: legal structure, cost breakdown, verification status.
Due diligence
Title check against the land office (BPN), the owner's identity and right to sell, building permit (PBG), zoning and encumbrances. You receive the result as a written report before you sign anything. Exactly what we check.
Notary (PPAT) and escrow
Contracts are drawn up by a licensed notary, bilingual, so you understand what you sign. Payment runs through escrow or official bank channels and is only released once documents are confirmed. Never cash, never deposits under pressure.
Build and handover
For off-plan projects, payments are tied to build milestones. We are on site, check progress and document it for you with photos and reports.
Rental, management, reporting
If you wish, we run the rental and operations with transparent accounting and conservative numbers: low season and vacancy are in the model, not hidden from it.
Frequently asked questions about buying in Lombok
Can foreigners buy land in Lombok?
Not freehold (Hak Milik), which remains reserved for Indonesian citizens. But leasehold, Hak Pakai and a PT PMA holding an HGB title are legal, registered and established routes. What matters is clean execution: a licensed notary and a verified title.
Isn't that "just renting for 30 years"?
For a leasehold, in a sense yes, with contractually fixed extensions. Hak Pakai and HGB, however, are rights registered with the state land office, extendable in stages over decades, and the PT PMA that holds an HGB is itself sellable and inheritable. Economically that is much closer to ownership than "lease" sounds. What it means legally in your specific case is something our partner lawyers explain before you commit.
What is the safest structure for a foreign buyer?
It depends on what you want the property to do. For personal use, a properly notarized leasehold or a Hak Pakai is often enough. If you intend to rent out and run the villa as an investment, a PT PMA holding the HGB title is usually the strongest route: the company belongs to you, may legally earn rental income, and is sellable and inheritable. Nominee arrangements, where an Indonesian citizen holds the freehold title on your behalf, are unenforceable, and we tell every buyer to refuse them.
What does buying cost on top of the purchase price?
Notary, taxes, registration and, depending on the structure, company formation. As a rule of thumb, budget roughly 7 to 9 percent in side costs. You receive a complete cost breakdown from us before any reservation, with no hidden items.
How does payment work?
Payments run through an escrow account or official bank channels and are released only after a licensed notary (PPAT) has confirmed the documents. The taxes (BPHTB for the buyer, PPh for the seller) are paid before the deed of sale (AJB) is signed. Cash handed over under time pressure is the most common warning sign of fraud on Lombok.
Do I need to be in Indonesia to buy?
Not for most of the process. Viewings can be done by video, and documents can be handled with powers of attorney through the notary. We are your eyes and hands on the island. For some structures and bank matters a personal presence helps; we tell you exactly when it is genuinely needed.
Ready for the first step?
Create your buyer profile. We reply within 48 hours, in English or German, without sales pressure.
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