Indonesia Pushes Visa Acceleration, MoU Plan for Migrant Workers in Bulgaria

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is seeking to expand labor cooperation with Bulgaria, as Deputy Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI) Christina Aryani met with Bulgarian Ambassador Tanya Dimitrova on Friday, February 20, 2026, to discuss visa acceleration and new placement opportunities.

According to a press release from the Ministry of P2MI, Christina noted that demand for Indonesian migrant workers, particularly in the hospitality sector, has been rising, as conveyed by Bulgarian labor agencies. However, lengthy visa processing threatens to delay the departure of workers scheduled to begin employment in Bulgaria in early April.

“We requested the Ambassador’s support to expedite visa issuance at the Bulgarian Embassy in Jakarta, given that nearly 3,000 hospitality workers are expected to arrive in Bulgaria by April,” Christina said, adding that the Indonesian Embassy in Sofia has also been asked to accelerate job order verification to ensure placements proceed on schedule.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that the meeting underscored Indonesia’s commitment to ensuring that the placement of skilled workers in Bulgaria is conducted procedurally and with adequate protection.

Data from the Bulgarian Embassy shows that 804 visas for Indonesian workers were issued in 2025, while 407 visas were granted in January-February 2026. As of March 15, around 1,500 applications remain in process.

Beyond visa acceleration, Christina also discussed plans for a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on migrant worker placement between the two countries. Potential sectors include hospitality, agriculture, construction (including welders), and nursing.

For nursing placements, she explained, accreditation requirements must be met, including one year of additional training in Bulgaria before full employment. “We see strong opportunities for cooperation. The government will ensure every process follows proper procedures and provides certainty of protection for Indonesian migrant workers,” she concluded. ***