Indonesia (ID)
Bali and beyond — Indonesia is a vast tropical archipelago of 17,000+ islands offering affordable living, extraordinary cultural diversity, world-class nature, and a rapidly growing digital economy that attracts digital nomads, retirees, and professionals from around the globe.
Learning the Language in Indonesia
Courses, certifications, funding, and online resources to reach fluency.
Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian) is one of the most learnable languages for English speakers. Key advantages: Roman alphabet, no tones, no grammatical gender, no verb conjugation for tense (context and time words indicate tense), no plural irregularities, and straightforward pronunciation. A1 to A2 is achievable in 4–8 weeks of daily study, A2 to B1 in 3–6 months. B1 level enables comfortable daily life, shopping, and basic workplace interaction. C1 fluency requires 2–3 years of immersive use. The official government Indonesian language for foreigners programme is BIPA (Bahasa Indonesia bagi Penutur Asing), with certification via UKBI (Uji Kemahiran Berbahasa Indonesia). Speaking even basic Bahasa Indonesia earns enormous goodwill from Indonesians and dramatically reduces daily friction.
BIPA Programme (Bahasa Indonesia bagi Penutur Asing)
Open to all foreigners wishing to learn Indonesian. No KITAS requirement — tourists and short-stay visitors can enroll. Recommended for KITAS holders, Second Home Visa holders, and those planning KITAP application (where basic Indonesian is assessed).
Government Balai Bahasa centres: Rp1,000,000–3,000,000 per level (A1–B2). Private providers: Rp2,000,000–8,000,000 per course. Online private tutors (Italki): Rp50,000–150,000/hour.
3–6 months per CEFR level at standard pace. Intensive (daily 2–4 hours): faster progression.
UKBI (Uji Kemahiran Berbahasa Indonesia) certificate — A1 to C2 levels. UKBI certificate may be useful for KITAP application as evidence of language integration. Internationally, UKBI is not widely recognised by employers outside Indonesia.
Find nearest Balai Bahasa (Language Development Centre) at badanbahasa.kemdikbud.go.id. BIPA programme contact: bipa@kemdikbud.go.id. Also available at Indonesian embassies and cultural centres abroad (KBRI language classes).
BIPA at Pusat Bahasa / Balai Bahasa
Government-run Indonesian language programme for foreigners at Balai Bahasa regional centres and affiliated universities (Universitas Indonesia, UGM, ITB, UNPAD). Courses available at A1 to C2 levels. Classes typically 3–4 hours/session, 3–5 sessions/week. Both group and private lesson formats available. UKBI standardised testing available at official examination centres.
Any foreigner who wishes to learn Indonesian. Priority admission for KITAS/KITAP holders.
Rp1,000,000–5,000,000 per level. UKBI exam: Rp200,000–500,000 per sitting.
Contact nearest Balai Bahasa or visit badanbahasa.kemdikbud.go.id for list of BIPA-accredited centres. University BIPA programmes: register directly with university language centre (Pusat Bahasa UI, Lembaga Bahasa UGM, etc.).
Language Levels — What Each Means
Basic greetings, numbers, ordering food, asking directions. "Saya mau nasi goreng" (I want fried rice). Core 300–500 vocabulary.
Required for: Immediate daily life — reduces friction at warungs, taxis, and markets immediately
Simple conversations, time expressions, describing yourself and surroundings. Can handle most daily transactions independently.
Required for: Comfortable daily life in Indonesia without relying on English. Basic business interactions.
Can discuss most everyday topics, handle most office and professional interactions, follow TV news with effort. Understand regional accents with difficulty.
Required for: Working in mixed Indonesian-English office environments. Negotiating lease agreements and service contracts.
Fluent in most contexts, can read newspapers and formal documents, participate in meetings conducted in Indonesian.
Required for: Professional workplace fluency. KITAP application language assessment. Academic study.
Near-native fluency — nuanced expression, regional dialect comprehension, professional writing. Can handle legal and technical documents.
Required for: Senior roles in Indonesian-owned companies. Legal proceedings. Official government dealings.
Near-native Indonesian proficiency in all four skills.
Required for: Translation, interpretation, academic publishing and top-level professional roles in Bahasa Indonesia.
Courses & Community Learning
Tandem Language Exchange
Free (Tandem basic) or USD 10/month (Tandem Pro)Find Indonesian language exchange partners via Tandem app — practice Indonesian in exchange for English. Extremely popular in Indonesia due to high English learning motivation.
www.tandem.net ↗Language Exchange Meetups (Jakarta and Bali)
Free or cost of cafe consumptionWeekly meetups at cafes in Kemang, Sudirman, and Canggu where Indonesians and foreigners practise languages together. Often listed on Meetup.com, Couchsurfing events, and expat Facebook groups.
Indonesian Language Classes at EF Indonesia
Rp1,500,000–5,000,000 per courseEducation First (EF) Indonesia offers Bahasa Indonesia courses for foreigners alongside their English programme. Professional instructors, structured curriculum.
www.ef.co.id ↗Warung Immersion Learning
FreeInformal but highly effective — commit to ordering, shopping, and negotiating only in Bahasa Indonesia at local warungs, markets, and daily interactions. Real-world vocabulary accelerates rapidly.
LIA (Lembaga Indonesia Amerika)
Rp500,000–2,000,000 per courseIndonesian-American cultural and language organisation offering Indonesian language courses. Budget-friendly, focus on practical communication skills.
Official Certifications
| Certificate | Provider | Levels | When Needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UKBI (Uji Kemahiran Berbahasa Indonesia) | Badan Pengembangan dan Pembinaan Bahasa, Kemendikbud-Ristek | Semenjana (Basic) / Madya (Intermediate) / Unggul (Advanced) / Istimewa (Exceptional) — roughly A1–C2 | KITAP application may require evidence of Indonesian language ability. Useful for professional roles requiring formal Indonesian qualification. Academic admission to Indonesian universities. | Rp200,000–500,000 per sitting |
Online Resources
Duolingo Indonesian
FreeGamified Indonesian language course — A1 to B1 level content available. Good for vocabulary and basic grammar. Best as supplementary resource.
www.duolingo.com ↗Pimsleur Indonesian
PaidAudio-focused Indonesian language course — excellent for pronunciation and conversational phrases. 30-lesson programme builds solid oral foundation.
www.pimsleur.com/indonesian ↗IndonesianPod101
PaidComprehensive online Indonesian learning platform with audio/video lessons, vocabulary lists, and cultural notes. A1 to C1 content.
www.indonesianpod101.com ↗Learn Indonesian with Ibu Kusmayanti (YouTube)
FreePopular free YouTube channel with structured Indonesian lessons by an Indonesian teacher. Excellent for beginners establishing grammar fundamentals.
Italki Indonesian Tutors
PaidOne-on-one Indonesian tutoring with professional and community teachers. Indonesian tutors available from USD 5–25/hour — excellent value and flexibility.
www.italki.com ↗Anki with Indonesian Frequency Lists
FreeFlashcard-based vocabulary learning using the top 1,000 most common Bahasa Indonesia words. Spaced repetition maximises retention.
apps.ankiweb.net ↗BBC News Indonesia / Tempo.co
FreeReading Indonesian news for intermediate to advanced learners. BBC Bahasa Indonesia and Tempo.co newspaper at B2–C1 reading level.
www.bbc.com/indonesia ↗Babbel Indonesian
PaidEuropean language app with Indonesian course — good for structured beginner curriculum with practical dialogue focus.
Funding Your Language Courses
Government-funded BIPA scholarships exist for certain foreign nationals through Darmasiswa programme (for students/academics) and KNB Scholarship. Darmasiswa: 1-year scholarship for studying Indonesian language and culture at Indonesian universities — open to citizens of countries with cultural agreements with Indonesia. Apply via Indonesian embassy in home country. LPDP (Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan): scholarships for studying at Indonesian universities including language programmes.
Practical Tips
-
Start immediately — even 15 minutes/day of Duolingo before arrival makes your first weeks dramatically easier
-
Indonesian is a listening language — tune to Indonesian radio (Prambors, Gen FM) in the car to develop ear
-
Commit to daily practice for the first 3 months — Indonesian grammar patterns need to become automatic, not translated
-
Learn the numbers 1–100 first — essential for prices, addresses, and phone numbers
-
Master "Bisa tolong..." (Can you please...) and "Saya tidak mengerti" (I don't understand) — reduces frustration enormously
-
Indonesian people are extraordinarily encouraging of any attempt to speak their language — make mistakes freely
-
Colloquial Indonesian (Jakarta slang/Betawi) differs from formal Bahasa Indonesia — focus on standard Bahasa Indonesia first
-
Bahasa Gaul (youth slang): "gue" (I, informal), "elu/lo" (you, informal), "emang" (indeed), "dong" (emphasis) — you'll hear these constantly
-
Javanese, Sundanese, Balinese are distinct languages — not dialects of Indonesian. Learning a few phrases in local language earns exceptional goodwill in their regions
Language Learning
Unlock the complete Language Learning guide for Indonesia — including every detail, document, tip and link you need.
Become a SupporterSupport the guide on Ko-fi · Unlocks every premium section, everywhere