Indonesia’s Investment Ministry to issue foreign workers’ stay permit

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3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming will assume control over the issuance of limited stay permit cards (KITAS) for foreign workers, a move designed to streamline bureaucratic processes and improve the country’s investment climate.

“Within the next two months, all KITAS will be issued by the Ministry of Investment,” Investment and Downstreaming Minister Rosan Roeslani announced here on Tuesday during the 2026 Indonesia International Sustainability Forum (ISF).

The policy shift follows a collaborative agreement between the ministries of Investment and Downstreaming, Manpower, as well as Immigration and Correctional Affairs. Under the newly integrated system, the permit issuance process is targeted for completion in six days.

“KITAS applicants only need to wait six days, and we will issue it automatically,” Roeslani said, adding that the accelerated timeline aims to boost Indonesia’s investment climate by offering service clarity.

The inter-ministerial integration – formalized via joint decrees on September 9 – connects Indonesia’s Online Single Submission (OSS) system with national employment and immigration databases.

It covers the approval of foreign worker utilization plans (RPTKA), limited stay visas (VITAS), limited stay permits (ITAS), and permanent stay permits (ITAP).

The government had previously aimed for a maximum five-day turnaround for the integrated foreign worker licensing system, which was scheduled to roll out in late September 2026. However, Roeslani’s latest remarks establish a six-day timeframe.

Under the initial framework, the Manpower Ministry processed worker plans while the Immigration and Correctional Affairs Ministry handled visas and stay permits, with the resulting data streamlined into the OSS system.

Beyond foreign worker permits, Roeslani emphasized the government’s ongoing push to strengthen overall business licensing through its risk-based OSS system, mandated by a 2025 government regulation.

He noted that the Investment and Downstreaming Ministry has now approved more than 370 business permits through a special mechanism which automatically issues licenses if relevant agencies fail to meet stipulated service deadlines. This marks an increase from the 300 permits reported in mid-September.

“This will provide much more certainty and clarity in processing all licenses and permits in Indonesia,” Rosan said, noting regulatory predictability as a crucial component for attracting high-quality and sustainable investments to the country.