Visa Bottleneck Limits Indonesia's Ability to Fill Jobs in Turkey

Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Minister Mukhtarudin said around 30,000 verified job openings in Turkey remain only partially filled because of limitations in visa processing capacity.

"The obstacle is visas, as the Turkish Embassy in Indonesia can only process around 12,000 to 15,000 visas per year," Minister Mukhtarudin said during a working meeting with Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) in Jakarta on Thursday, September 17, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He explained that the deployment of migrant workers depends not only on the readiness and qualifications of workers, but also on the administrative preparedness of destination countries, including their ability to handle visa applications.

Minister Mukhtarudin said his ministry has repeatedly requested an increase in visa issuance capacity. However, limited staffing at the Turkish diplomatic mission remains a challenge.

"We have raised the issue several times and have formally asked the Turkish side to increase personnel. The main difficulty lies in the processing capacity on their side. That is the core issue regarding Turkey," he emphasized.

Minister Mukhtarudin noted that Turkey is not the only destination facing administrative constraints. Several other countries also have complex visa procedures that can affect the realization of overseas job placements for Indonesian workers.

"When we talk about migrant worker placement, it is not only about ensuring workers are competent. It is also about how destination countries manage administrative processes and other requirements," he said.

Despite those challenges, Indonesia continues to make progress toward its placement targets. The ministry aims to deploy 350,000 Indonesian migrant workers in 2026.

As of September, approximately 260,000 workers had already been placed overseas, leaving the potential for around 90,000 additional placements by the end of the year.

Minister Mukhtarudin emphasized, however, that the ministry's priorities extend beyond increasing placement numbers. He said worker protection remains at the core of the institution's mandate.

"The ministry's name itself is the Ministry of Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection. While placement is important, our main focus must be ensuring stronger protection for migrant workers," he concluded.

The minister added that balancing employment opportunities with legal safeguards and administrative readiness remains essential to ensuring Indonesian workers can access overseas jobs safely and sustainably. ***