Indonesia to Cut Foreign Worker Permit Processing Time to Five Days
JAKARTA — Indonesia is moving to simplify the licensing process for foreign workers, with the government aiming to complete permit processing within a maximum of five days under a newly integrated digital system.
The reform brings several existing services together through the Online Single Submission (OSS) platform, giving companies a single entry point for foreign-worker licensing instead of requiring them to navigate separate systems operated by different ministries.
Investment Minister Rosan Perkasa Roeslani said the streamlined process is expected to provide businesses with greater certainty about the time required to obtain permits. Under the planned system, applications are expected to take around four to five days, after which the permit would be automatically issued.
The integrated service is scheduled to begin operating toward the end of September 2026. The arrangement was formalized through two joint ministerial decrees involving the ministries responsible for manpower, immigration and investment.
The government believes faster processing could help attract additional foreign direct investment, particularly in industries where demand for skilled foreign workers remains strong.
Officials also said foreign professionals can contribute to knowledge and technology transfer, allowing Indonesian employees to gain expertise through collaboration with international specialists.
The new system will connect the OSS platform with Indonesia’s SIAPkerja employment system and the All Indonesia application. An integration team will oversee coordination between the participating government agencies.
At the same time, the government said the reform will not remove the individual responsibilities of the participating ministries. Each ministry will continue carrying out its duties according to existing regulations.
The move forms part of Indonesia’s broader effort to improve public services while making the investment environment more predictable for businesses. Authorities are also expected to use the integrated data to monitor investment activity and the distribution of foreign-worker permits.
