In Indonesia's OSS system, the business activity description (Deskripsi Kegiatan Usaha) is completed after you choose a KBLI code, enter the location and capital, and run the risk validation. It should state concretely what the company does, for whom and how, consistent with the KBLI 2025 code and the objects clause in the deed of establishment.
What has changed in OSS RBA as of October 2026?
Two things: the legal basis is now Government Regulation (PP) 28 of 2025, and since 15 June 2026 every new OSS application uses KBLI 2025.
PP 28 of 2025 on risk-based business licensing was enacted on 5 June 2025 and revoked PP 5 of 2021. The OSS portal states that the system implemented it from 5 October 2025. In December 2025, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) released KBLI 2025 under BPS Regulation 7 of 2025. It follows ISIC Revision 5 and now has 22 sections (A–V).
According to the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/BKPM notice on oss.go.id, licences issued before 15 June 2026 remain valid without adjustment. Because one KBLI 2020 code can split into several new codes (or several can merge into one), any amendment or new activity now passes through a conversion step to KBLI 2025.
What are the 8 steps to fill in business data in OSS?
The sequence follows the official OSS guides: log in, business actor data, location, KBLI, business details and risk validation, description, products or services, then self-declarations.
- Log in to OSS. Sign in at oss.go.id and open Perizinan Berusaha, then Kelola Usaha. For a PT, corporate data and KBLI codes flow in from the Ministry of Law's AHU system, so the deed must already list the code.
- Complete the business actor data. Check the company tax ID (NPWP) and enter BPJS Ketenagakerjaan and BPJS Kesehatan numbers if you already have them. The OSS guide states the process can continue without them.
- Enter the business location. Select the location and answer the questions on National Vital Objects, National Strategic Projects and pre-Job Creation Law licences.
- Choose the activity type and business field. Select the activity type (main, supporting, administrative branch office or UMKU support), pick the KBLI 2025 code marked in blue, then choose the scope of activity. The KBLI description fills in automatically.
- Add business details and run the risk validation. Enter land area, full address, business name and business capital, then click Validasi Risiko. The system shows the business scale and risk level.
- Write the business activity description. Add the expected operating period and Indonesian headcount; this free-text field is most often filled in carelessly.
- Add products or services. Enter the product or service type, annual capacity and capacity unit, then click Selesai.
- Complete environmental approval and self-declarations. For certain codes, OSS asks for the environmental document (SPPL, UKL-UPL or AMDAL). Read and tick every self-declaration before processing the licence and printing the NIB.
What should the OSS business activity description say?
Write factual sentences that answer: what you sell or do, to whom, how and where. Do not simply repeat the KBLI title.
OSS already fills in the official KBLI wording, so this field should add specifics about your business model. Technical ministry officers read it during verification.
| Business type | Weak description | Strong description |
|---|---|---|
| IT consultancy | "Computer consulting services." | "Consulting on ERP system design and network security for corporate clients, delivered from an office in South Jakarta and at client sites." |
| Wholesale trading | "Trading of various goods." | "Distribution of imported industrial machine spare parts to factories and workshops in West Java; no retail sales to consumers." |
| Restaurant | "Food business." | "Japanese restaurant with 60 seats, serving dine-in and delivery through ordering apps." |
| Representative office | "Office activities." | "Promotion and market research for the parent company's products; no sales transactions in Indonesia." |
| Manufacturing | "Plastic production." | "Manufacture of PET bottle packaging for beverage producers using injection moulding machines in the Cikarang industrial estate." |
Rule of thumb: one description per code, consistent with the products, capacity and capital entered elsewhere. If an activity really belongs to another code, add that code separately.
What does the risk level after validation mean?
The risk level decides which licence you receive: low, medium-low, medium-high or high. The higher the risk, the more requirements apply before the business may operate.
| Risk level | Licence issued | Practical effect |
|---|---|---|
| Low | NIB | Can operate once the NIB is issued |
| Medium-low | NIB and Standard Certificate by self-declaration | Compliance statement is ticked in OSS |
| Medium-high | NIB and verified Standard Certificate | Wait for verification by the technical ministry |
| High | NIB and Licence (Izin) | Technical and environmental requirements must be met first |
For a PT PMA, note that foreign investment companies are classed as large businesses, and for many codes business scale feeds into the risk level. Minister of Investment and Downstreaming/Head of BKPM Regulation 5 of 2025, Article 26, sets the minimum foreign investment at more than IDR 10 billion excluding land and buildings per five-digit KBLI per project location (with sector exceptions), and issued/paid-up capital of at least IDR 2.5 billion per limited liability company.
Why are OSS applications delayed or rejected?
The usual cause is inconsistent data: the KBLI is missing from the deed, the description does not match the code, or the field is closed or restricted for foreign investment.
- KBLI missing from the deed or still an old version. The OSS conversion guide asks companies whose codes are still identified as KBLI 2009/2017 to update them through a notary and AHU Online first.
- Description too generic. Text that only repeats the KBLI title makes it hard for the verifier to confirm your activity fits the code.
- Location inconsistent with spatial planning. The suitability of space use is checked against the address you enter.
- Field restricted for foreign investors. Before choosing a code, check the positive investment list rules, including any foreign ownership cap.
- Capital and capacity that do not add up. Very small capital relative to production capacity invites questions.
During the KBLI 2025 transition, verification may take longer. For wider context on foreign-owned entities, see our guides to foreign companies in Indonesia, the company registration number (NIB) and the SIUP trading licence and what replaced it.
When should you get professional help?
Consider support if you are a PT PMA, applying for more than one KBLI, operating in a medium-high or high risk sector, or converting older licences to KBLI 2025.
KBLI errors lead to deed amendments, resubmission and delays to expatriate work permits. JCSS Indonesia maps KBLI codes against the business plan, drafts activity descriptions, and aligns the deed, OSS and initial tax registrations through its PT PMA setup service for foreign investors.
Frequently asked questions
How long should the OSS business activity description be?
There is no official word count to aim for. Two or three sentences are usually enough if they state what the company does, for whom, how and where. What matters is not length but consistency with the chosen KBLI 2025 code, the products or services entered in OSS, and the objects clause in the company's deed of establishment.
Do NIBs issued under KBLI 2020 need to be changed?
Not automatically. According to the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/BKPM, licences issued before 15 June 2026 remain valid and need no adjustment. Conversion to KBLI 2025 is only required when you apply through OSS for an amendment, expansion, update or renewal of a business activity, because all of those processes now use KBLI 2025 as their reference.
What is the difference between main and supporting activities in OSS?
A main activity is the one that generates the company's core revenue. A supporting activity serves the main activity, such as an in-house warehouse or administrative office, without being a separate source of sales. OSS also offers administrative branch office and UMKU support options. Choosing the wrong type can change the licence requirements the system generates.
Can one PT hold several KBLI codes?
Yes, provided each code appears in the objects clause of the deed and is submitted in OSS as a separate business activity with its own location, capital and description. For a PT PMA, the minimum investment value is counted per five-digit KBLI per project location, with exceptions for certain sectors such as wholesale trade.
Why did my risk level change after I entered the capital?
Because OSS calculates business scale from the capital you enter and combines it with the inherent risk of the KBLI code. A change in scale, for example from small to large, can change the risk level and the type of licence required. Enter capital that reflects your actual investment plan rather than a rough placeholder figure.
General information only, not legal or tax advice for your specific facts. Regulations change; confirm the current position with JCSS Indonesia before acting.