Check Land Certificates Online Before Buying a House! Ensure the Land is Genuine & Dispute-Free with These Simple Steps You Can Do Yourself Now

Before purchasing land, it is a good idea to check certain documents first, one of the most important being the land certificate. The good news is that you can now check a land certificate online!

Checking a land certificate online is intended to confirm that the land you are buying is genuine and free from any disputes.

There are several ways to check a land certificate online. Read on to find out everything you need to know!

Why You Should Check a Land Certificate

There are several important reasons why checking a land certificate is necessary:

1. Avoiding Fraud: In Indonesia, one of the most common problems is the emergence of forged certificates and duplicates of genuine ones. Checking a land certificate therefore helps protect you from fraud.
2. Legal Protection: A land certificate proves legal ownership in the eyes of the law. Should a land dispute arise in the future, a genuine certificate provides crucial legal protection.
3. Preventing Financial Loss: Verifying a land certificate before purchasing can prevent financial loss for the buyer. If a certificate turns out to be fake, for example, it will not hold up legally if the land becomes the subject of a dispute.

For these reasons, it is strongly recommended to always verify a land certificate before completing any land or property purchase transaction.

How to Check a Land Certificate Online

Check via the BPN Sentuh Tanahku App

One way to check land before buying online is through the official BPN application called Sentuh Tanahku.

This application is the result of a collaboration between the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning and the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN).

Through Sentuh Tanahku, you can not only verify the authenticity of a land certificate, but also access additional information such as application requirements, the certificate processing procedure, and the geographic location of a particular plot of land.

However, not all features in this application are free — you must first register as a user.

Here are the steps to check a land certificate via the Sentuh Tanahku app:

• Open the Play Store on Android or the App Store on iOS and download the Sentuh Tanahku application
• After downloading, open the app and complete registration by clicking “Daftar Akun Baru” (Create New Account). Then enter your username, password, and email address
• The system will automatically send a confirmation email — open it and click the link provided to activate your account
• Log in to the application using your registered username and email
• Continue by clicking “Info Sertifikat” (Certificate Info). In this menu, you can view all land certificate data including ownership details

The application was created to, among other things, promote strategic programmes from ATR/BPN, support the inventory of state-owned assets (BMN), and help surveyors locate land plots in the field.

Sentuh Tanahku features a range of tools designed to make it easier for the public to access land information. Here are the main features available in the application:

1. Info Berkas (File Info): Displays a list of file processing progress, detailed information for a selected file, and a search function for specific files.
2. Info Sertifikat (Certificate Info): Shows a list of certificates owned along with detailed information. If a physical certificate is not yet available, users can report this through the app.
3. Plot Bidang Tanah (Land Plot Mapping): Allows users to plot land via the application by entering the certificate number and drawing the land parcel on the map according to its shape and location.
4. Lokasi Bidang Tanah (Land Location): Enables users to determine the location of a land parcel.
5. Info Layanan (Service Info): Provides information on service requirements along with an interactive fee simulation so users can estimate the cost of any given service.
6. Sertifikat Hilang (Lost Certificate): Allows users to report a lost land certificate.
7. Berkas Saya (My Files): Enables users to view the list of files currently being processed.
8. Scan: Allows users to scan a barcode on land documents to receive detailed information about the relevant plot.
9. Sertifikat Saya (My Certificates): Enables users to view the list of certificates they own.

All of these features are designed to provide convenience and transparency in processing and verifying land documents and certificates.

How to Check a Land Certificate Online via the BPN Website

Another way to check a land certificate online is through the BPN website at www.atrbpn.go.id

Similar to the Sentuh Tanahku app, you can also view land ownership status here.

Here are the steps to check a land certificate via the BPN website:

• Open the official BPN website in your browser, either on a PC or smartphone
• Once on the site, click the “Publikasi” (Publication) menu
• The page will then display four columns that you need to fill in
• Once you have filled in all the fields, click the “Cari Berkas” (Search File) button
• Wait a moment and the BPN website will display comprehensive information about the land you are searching for

How to Check a Land Certificate Online via the BPN Online Map

Another method you can use to verify a land certificate is through the official BPN map sites. In this option, land ownership status is displayed in a two-dimensional format.

There are two sites you can visit: bhumi.atrbpn.go.id and www.atrbpn.go.id.

Both map-based sites follow the same procedure. You can search for a specific location by dragging the cursor and using the zoom in and zoom out features.

Once you have found the land area you are looking for, click on the map and a “Feature Information” panel will appear showing details about ownership rights, land area, and coordinate points.

Land ownership information is indicated by three different colours: orange, green, and blue. Orange indicates that the land parcel has been registered, green indicates an unregistered area, and blue denotes a geographic element.

Using this information, you can verify whether a plot of land has been registered in the BPN land book. If the site shows that the land is not registered but you hold a certificate for it, exercise caution — there is a possibility the certificate is fraudulent.

Check a Certificate via the KiosK Machine

In addition to visiting a service counter, you can also check a certificate at the BPN office using a KiosK machine.

These machines are generally located in the lobby or service area of the BPN office.

Using the KiosK, you can obtain information related to land services, requirements, and processing timeframes.

You can even find out the cost of services and other relevant information without having to queue at the counter.

If you decide to check your certificate in person at the BPN office, make sure to prepare the necessary documents and requirements beforehand, including:

• The land certificate to be checked
• An assignment letter or power of attorney for the certificate check issued by a PPAT (Land Deed Official) to their staff
• A completed certificate verification request form (also available at the BPN office)
• A photocopy of the certificate owner’s national identity card (KTP)
• Payment of an administrative fee of IDR 50,000 per certificate

How to Check a Land Certificate in Person at the BPN Office

If you are still uncertain, you can verify the authenticity of a land certificate in person at the local land office.

You can also choose a BPN office close to the location of the land or property you wish to buy to avoid travelling too far.

Next, submit your verification request at the available service counter.

If the certificate is confirmed to be genuine, the BPN officer will stamp it officially as proof of verification.

However, if there are still doubts about the certificate’s authenticity, a plotting process will be carried out.

Plotting is a process for verifying the authenticity of a land certificate using GPS technology, with the aim of locating the actual land position within the BPN land registration map database.

If the location of the land on the certificate matches the BPN plotting data, the certificate is considered genuine.

However, if the land location does not appear, it is possible that the land has not yet been registered or that the certificate is fraudulent.