Cross-border insolvency cases are increasingly common as Indonesian companies and individuals operate globally. However, differences between national legal systems create uncertainty in creditor and debtor protections, particularly regarding asset execution and recognition of foreign court rulings. Indonesia’s regulatory framework highlights both progress and structural limitations.
The Growing Complexity of Cross-Border Insolvency
Global economic integration has expanded cross-border lending, investment, and commercial transactions. As a result, financial distress or payment default increasingly involves multiple jurisdictions. Defined as bankruptcy involving assets, creditors, or legal proceedings in more than one country, cross-border insolvency has become an unavoidable feature of modern insolvency law and Suspension of Debt Payment Obligations (PKPU) practice.
Indonesia’s legal system faces mounting pressure to provide legal certainty and adequate protection for stakeholders, including creditors and debtors, when foreign elements arise. However, Indonesia’s insolvency regime largely adheres to the territorial principle, which limits the enforcement of bankruptcy rulings to national jurisdiction. This restriction complicates asset execution abroad, recognition of foreign judgments, and coordination among regulatory authorities across jurisdictions.
These challenges have intensified discussions regarding harmonizing Indonesia’s insolvency framework with international standards such as the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency, which promotes cooperation and efficiency in resolving international insolvency disputes.
Indonesia’s Bankruptcy Legal Framework
Indonesia’s primary legal framework governing insolvency and PKPU is Law No. 37/2004 on Bankruptcy and Suspension of Debt Payment Obligations (the “Bankruptcy Law”). This law establishes the primary mechanism for resolving debt disputes involving matured and collectible obligations, including cases containing foreign elements.
Article 1 point 1 of the Bankruptcy Law defines bankruptcy as follows:
“Bankruptcy is a general seizure of all assets of a Bankrupt Debtor, the administration and settlement of which are carried out by a Curator under the supervision of a Supervisory Judge as regulated under this Law.”
This provision confirms that bankruptcy constitutes a general seizure over all debtor assets, transferring control of those assets to a court-supervised curator. The Bankruptcy Law establishes insolvency as a collective proceeding designed to protect creditors equally and prevent individual enforcement actions that may disadvantage other creditors.
The law also recognizes creditor classifications—secured, preferred, and unsecured—based on the pari passu pro rata parte principle. Curators play a central role in administering and liquidating bankruptcy estates to satisfy creditor claims.
However, the Bankruptcy Law does not comprehensively regulate cross-border insolvency. Limited provisions address foreign elements as stipulated by Article 212 of the Law
While this provision imposes restitution obligations on creditors who independently enforce foreign assets, it does not provide a mechanism enabling Indonesian courts or curators to directly execute assets located abroad. Enforcement therefore depends on foreign domestic law or international cooperation arrangements.
Creditor and Debtor Rights in Cross-Border Insolvency
- Creditor Rights
Creditors maintain several key rights in insolvency proceedings. First, they may initiate bankruptcy or PKPU proceedings individually or collectively, subject to statutory requirements. Second, creditors are entitled to repayment from bankruptcy estates according to statutory priority classifications. Third, creditors may participate in creditor meetings, vote on restructuring proposals, and challenge curator actions that potentially harm creditor interests.
In cross-border cases, creditors also expect equal treatment with foreign creditors to prevent unilateral asset enforcement that could undermine collective proceedings.
- Debtor Rights
Debtors similarly retain fundamental protections. Debtors may file for PKPU as a restructuring measure to preserve business continuity and avoid liquidation. They also retain the right to fair and non-discriminatory treatment across jurisdictions and to legal certainty regarding asset status and enforcement authority.
Cross-border insolvency often exposes debtors to parallel proceedings across multiple jurisdictions. Without coordinated frameworks, these parallel processes increase costs, procedural burdens, and enforcement inconsistencies.
Legal Obstacles in Executing Bankruptcy Assets Across Jurisdictions
Asset execution remains the most significant challenge in cross-border insolvency. Legal difficulties arise primarily from recognition and enforcement of foreign insolvency rulings. Recognition acknowledges a foreign judgment’s validity, whereas enforcement authorizes asset seizure or liquidation.
Indonesian law imposes strict territorial limitations as stipulated by Article 436 of the Reglement op de Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering (RV) Similarly, Article 431 RV establishes that Indonesian court judgments have executorial force only within Indonesian territory. These provisions prevent Indonesian curators from directly enforcing bankruptcy rulings against foreign assets and restrict automatic recognition of foreign insolvency decisions.
This limitation reflects Indonesia’s adherence to the territorial sovereignty principle, which holds that judicial decisions cannot be enforced outside national jurisdiction without legal cooperation or treaty mechanisms.
The territorial principle also affects immovable property. Under Indonesian private international law, Articles 17 and 18 of Algemene Bepalingen van Wetgeving voor Indonesië (AB) apply the lex rei sitae doctrine, meaning immovable assets are governed exclusively by the law of the country where the property is located. Consequently, Indonesian bankruptcy rulings cannot directly govern foreign real estate assets.
Also read: Cross-Border Renewable Energy in ASEAN: Opportunities and Legal Strategies for Green Investment
Available Mechanisms and Practical Solutions
In practice, cross-border insolvency disputes involving assets or creditors in multiple jurisdictions may be resolved through several mechanisms.
First, parties may seek recognition and enforcement of bankruptcy rulings through foreign courts where bankruptcy assets are located. Second, bilateral agreements between states may facilitate cross-border enforcement cooperation. Third, diplomatic channels may support intergovernmental cooperation in complex insolvency matters. Fourth, jurisdictions may adopt international frameworks such as the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency, which provides standardized procedures for recognition and cooperation.
However, reliance on general litigation or diplomatic coordination often results in prolonged proceedings, increased costs, and procedural uncertainty, particularly when legal systems differ significantly.
Also read: Comparative Analysis of Cross-Border E-Commerce Regulations in Indonesia and China
Practical Takeaway
Indonesia’s insolvency framework provides strong domestic protections but remains limited in addressing cross-border asset enforcement and jurisdictional coordination. The absence of comprehensive cross-border insolvency regulations creates legal uncertainty for creditors and debtors engaged in international business activities.
Businesses with cross-border exposure should proactively include dispute resolution clauses, asset protection strategies, and jurisdictional enforcement provisions in financing and commercial agreements. From a policy perspective, greater international cooperation and potential adoption of global insolvency standards may strengthen Indonesia’s ability to manage increasingly complex cross-border insolvency cases.***
Regulations:
- Undang-Undang Nomor 37 Tahun 2004 tentang Kepailitan dan Penundaan Kewajiban Pembayaran Utang (“UU K-PKPU”).
- Reglement op de Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering (“RV”).
References:
- Cross Border Insolvency, Tantangan dan Arah Baru Hukum Kepailitan Nasional. HukumOnline. (Diakses pada 2 Februari 2026 pukul 10.21 WIB).
- Memahami Cross Border Insolvency dalam PKPU dan Pailit. HukumOnline. (Diakses pada 2 Februari 2026 pukul 10.42 WIB).
- Cross Border Insolvency dalam Hukum Kepailitan di Indonesia. SIP Law Firm. (Diakses pada 2 Februari 2026 pukul 11.33 WIB).
- Perlindungan Hukum Bagi Kreditur dalam Memperoleh Hak-Haknya Atas Putusan Pailit Debitur Terkait Keberadaan Asset Dibetur di Luar Negara/ Cross Border Insolvency (Perbandingan Penyelesaian Asset Debitur Lintas Batas Negara). Jurnal Sosial dan Teknologi (Sostech), Vol 5, No. 4 April 2025. (Diakses pada 2 Februari 2026 pukul 13.02 WIB).