Spouse visa

Hold on, sorry to say, but nothing you wrote makes any sense.  A KITAS (ITAS) is a temporary resident visa whereas a KITAP (ITAP) is a permanent resident visa. 

A KITAP visa is a higher lever visa than a KITAS, and it would be entirely redundant (not to mention impossible) to have both at the same time.

What you were told by immigration is 100% correct in that you must first have a KITAS visa before applying for a KITAP visa.  I believe that the current regulations are that you must be on a KITAS for at least two years (it used to be five years) before upgrading to a KITAP visa.

Hi Ubudian,

Sorry Im a bit confused as on the expat.or.id site they mention ITAP 5 year visa, I imagine they mean KITAP

If KITAP and ITAP are same thing and as you say resident visa.  This would this would mean after 2 years on KITAS I could apply for KITAP and then no need for KITAS if non working resident.

This would make it worth doing.

Regards
Ken

Yes Ken, KITAP/ITAP are one in the same as are KITAS/ITAS. 

The “K” in both simply mean “kartu” (or card but it's actually a booklet) and thus often dropped when discussing these resident visas.  In other words, the letter K is redundant.

Without doubt, and either having an Indonesian wife or not, your best long term arrangement for permanent residency in Indonesia is the KITAP/ITAP visa.