Indonesia to Cut Foreign Worker Permit Processing to 5 Days

2 hours ago 1

September 9, 2026 | 04:50 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government has signed a joint agreement between three ministries to integrate the licensing systems for foreign workers in Indonesia, aiming to simplify permit applications linked to investment projects and give investors greater certainty over processing times.

The agreement was signed by Investment and Downstreaming Minister and Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Chair Rosan Roeslani, Manpower Minister Yassierli, and Immigration and Corrections Minister Agus Adrianto on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.

Rosan said the integrated system would streamline the foreign worker licensing process, from approval of the Foreign Worker Utilization Plan (RPTKA) to the issuance of Limited Stay Visas (VITAS), Limited Stay Permits (ITAS), and Permanent Stay Permits (ITAP).

"Through this agreement, the government continues to simplify and integrate services to provide businesses with greater convenience, certainty over processing times, and transparency," Rosan said at a press conference at his office on Wednesday.

Indonesia Targets Five-Day Foreign Worker Permit Process

The integration connects the Online Single Submission (OSS) system operated by the Investment and Downstreaming Ministry/BKPM with the Manpower Ministry's SIAPkerja system and the Immigration and Corrections Ministry's All Indonesia application.

Rosan said the integrated system would allow businesses to know how long it will take to obtain foreign worker permits. The government is targeting a processing time of five days, in line with Government Regulation No. 28 of 2025 on risk-based business licensing.

"It will take roughly four to five days. I am confident it can be completed within five days. Once that is done, the permit will automatically be issued," he said.

Rosan said greater certainty over permit processing times would help improve Indonesia's investment and industrial climate. The streamlined process is expected to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) while creating jobs.

He said foreign workers remain necessary in several industrial sectors, adding that their presence could also support the transfer of knowledge and technology to Indonesian workers.

Integrated Data to Strengthen Oversight

Meanwhile, Manpower Minister Yassierli said the integrated system would also help the government monitor investment developments and foreign worker employment in Indonesia.

By integrating data from the three ministries, the government will be able to track projected investments, the distribution of approved RPTKAs, and the status of foreign worker employment, he said.

The integration is expected not only to speed up services for businesses but also to strengthen the government's oversight of foreign worker employment in Indonesia.

"We have been waiting for this integration of data across the three ministries. It demonstrates that different ministries can work together and collaborate," Yassierli said.

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