Indonesia Seeks Faster Visa Process for Migrant Workers

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia has identified visa processing delays as a major obstacle to the timely placement of its migrant workers. The government raised the issue during talks with an overseas recruitment agency in Jakarta on Monday, February 9, 2026.

The issue was raised by Deputy Minister of Migrant Workers Protection (P2MI) Christina Aryani during a meeting with representatives of Opus Recruitment SRL at the ministry’s office in Jakarta.

“We want to ensure that the placement process becomes more efficient without compromising prudence and worker protection,” Christina said, as reported by the ministry's official website on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.

She acknowledged that visa processing in several destination countries remains lengthy due to manual procedures, which can delay deployment schedules.

For example, she pointed to the placement of Indonesian workers in Bulgaria’s hospitality sector, which is seasonal, with employment periods lasting around five to six months. Workers are expected to arrive in early April, coinciding with the start of the tourism season.

“If the visa process takes too long, these job opportunities could be missed. This requires a joint solution,” she said.

The meeting also discussed opportunities for placing Indonesian migrant workers in the hospitality sector in Malta and Cyprus.

Christina added that Indonesia holds an advantage in the hospitality sector compared with countries such as Nepal, India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

“Especially migrant workers from Bali, who are already accustomed to the hospitality ecosystem. Bali has a strong hotel industry and serves as an excellent training ground for gaining direct experience in the sector,” she said. ***