Company formation in Indonesia involves several institutions with different functions. A notary prepares and executes the company deed within the notary’s statutory authority; the Ministry of Law’s AHU system handles legal-entity approval or registration; tax administration and the OSS system deal with separate registrations and business licensing. Treating these steps as one “notary licence” creates avoidable confusion.
What the notary does in company formation
For a limited liability company, the appointed Indonesian notary records the founders’ agreed corporate terms in an authentic deed and submits the relevant information through AHU. The deed normally addresses the company name, domicile, purposes and business activities, capital structure, shareholders, directors and commissioners. The parties remain responsible for providing accurate information and approving the commercial terms.
Jakarta Legal ID provides document and administrative coordination. The appointed notary—not Jakarta Legal ID—performs the regulated notarial act and remains responsible for the deed within the scope of the Notary Law, as amended.
Information to settle before signing
- the proposed company name and registered address;
- the business activities and appropriate KBLI classifications;
- the identity, authority and ownership of each founder or shareholder;
- issued and paid-up capital and the allocation of shares;
- the composition and authority of directors and commissioners; and
- any foreign documents that require translation, legalization or apostille.
A KBLI code is an important licensing input, but it does not by itself determine whether every licence is available. Ownership, sector rules, project location, business scale and the actual activity also matter.
Deed, AHU, tax and OSS are separate steps
Execution of a deed does not automatically complete tax registration or risk-based business licensing. After the relevant AHU stage, the company may still need tax administration, an NIB through OSS and, depending on the activity and risk level, standard certificates, licences or sector approvals. An NIB should not be presented as proof that every operational requirement has been fulfilled.
Foreign founders and powers of attorney
Foreign identity documents, corporate records and powers of attorney should be checked early. Depending on the issuing country and document type, an apostille or another authentication route and a sworn Indonesian translation may be required. The notary decides what is acceptable for the notarial process. See our guide to apostille in Indonesia and our explanation of powers of attorney.
Amendments after formation
Changes to shareholders, directors, capital, name, domicile or articles of association may require a new deed and an AHU notification or approval. They can also trigger updates in tax, OSS, bank and sector records. Read the focused guide to company amendments.
Timeline and result
No responsible provider can guarantee a universal completion time. Timing depends on document completeness, name availability, system availability, the selected activities and any review by the competent authority. A notarial deed also cannot cure inaccurate ownership information or make an otherwise restricted activity lawful.
Practical workflow
- Map the proposed activity, ownership and management structure.
- Collect identity, corporate and authority documents.
- Confirm the deed terms and identify any translation or authentication need.
- Execute the deed before the appointed notary.
- Complete the applicable AHU, tax, OSS and sector steps.
- Reconcile the final records before the company begins the relevant activity.
For the broader role and limits of the profession, read Notary Services in Jakarta. To scope administrative coordination for a new company, visit Notary Services or contact our team.
This article provides general information and is not a substitute for advice on a specific transaction.